Luzon aerial photographs or old maps

I'm looking for aerial photographs or old maps of Luzon. In particular of the Clark Airfield/Fort Stotsenburg area around January 1945. My great-great uncle was killed in the recapturing of the airfield and in my research, I found the grid coordinates (27.7 35.7) of the hill and a sketch (see attachment) of the engagement he was killed in. I would like to locate the hill and make a visit to the location.

Thanks in Advance,
Buck

 

I'm looking more for maps that were used on the battlefield. That way I can try to make up the grid coordinates.

 

I would suggest using one of the links provided to find what units where where. Then contact any units that are still active or have historians and see if by chance they have maps you can get digital copies of.

Just my 2 cents

 

Green Books?

 

He was in Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 129th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division. He was killed in action on January 29, 1945 in the recapturing of Clark Field/Fort Stotsenburg. He was killed in the afternoon when six Japanese tanks supported by infantry launched a counterattack on the hill his unit had captured an hour before. In my initial post, there is a sketch I found of the of the engagement and I'm trying to determine the exact location.

 

There are a series of books, US Army in World War II, which are referred to as "The Green Books" because they all have green covers. The volume you will find helpful is Triumph in the Philippines. The link is for the HyperWar website. There is also a version that can be downloaded as a PDF if you prefer. Anyway, the following map of the Clark-Stotsenburg battle is from that volume. It's not exactly what you're looking for, but it is a decent overview of the battle.

 

I just found a XIV Corps map of the Clark-Stotsenburg battle which shows the position of 3/129 relative to Fort Stotsenburg and the town of Sapangbato. Notice the railroad on the right flank of 3rd Bn. That is probably the same railroad on the sketch in your original post.

View attachment 25187

 

Thanks for the maps. I have been using Triumph in the Philippines as one of my main sources, but apparently the pdf I downloaded was corrupted because it didn't contain this map.

 

I extracted the sketch map in post #11 from the XIV Corps AAR of the M-1 Operation which can be downloaded from CARL.

 

Buck, in fact my own great uncle, Robert W. Larson was killed on January 31st, 1945. He was with the 129th infantry regiment and thats about all I know in terms of his location at the time of his death. He was awarded the bronze star posthumously for attempting to save another wounded soldier and being killed within 5 yards of the wounded man, by an enemy rifleman. I'm very curious to know what you could share with me regarding what you have dug up about your own uncle, and any other 129th information.

Best Regards,

Bill S.

 

I found SSG Robert W. Larson of Company B listed on the roster in the 129th Regimental history, but not on the Honor Roll list. I have run into this before, so I also checked the Honor Roll list for the 37th Infantry Division which does have him listed as TSgt Robert W. Larson of Company B, KIA on 31 Jan 1945. I'm not sure why he is on one and not the other, but it's not the first time I have seen that.

On 31 Jan 1945, Company B and other elements of 1st Battalion were assaulting a large hill mass known as "Top of the World" just west of Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg. Top fo the World held a commanding view of the entire Clark/Stotsenburg area. The enemy poured heavy 20mm, 25mm and 40mm fire from well prepared positions on both flanks pinning down B Company. Company G, which was in reserve, was sent around Co. B's left flank and successfully took out the machine gun position and allowing B Company to continue its advance up the hill. They advance several hundred yards when they reached a wooded draw where they were stopped and forced to withdraw by a combination of brutal enemy anti-aircraft fire and an unfortunate salvo of friendly artillery fire. Once the artillery fire was lifted, B Company continued the attack but were once again stopped at the entrance to the draw by 25mm fire from outside the Battalion sector. (Summarized from the 129th Infantry in WWII unit history)

While there is no specific mention of him (or anyone else for that matter) in the narrative , it was likely that he was killed at some point during this assault

 

Bill, please email at buckusmc00#hotmail.com and I can provide you with more details. The file I have is too large to post on the forum.

 

buckusmc00@hotmail.com