13. MacArthur’s plan of defending Luzon collapsed almost as fast as his air forces
For the next several days the Japanese Air Forces pounded American and Filipino positions in the archipelago, including the Navy base at Cavite and the remaining small airfields. Clark Field was bombed several more times, and American resistance in the air all but eliminated. The main assault on the Philippines was launched from the island of Formosa. MacArthur blamed the Navy for not being more active against the Japanese as well as the Air Forces for not informing him of the need to strike at Formosa. In short, he blamed everyone, slipping the responsibility off of his own shoulders. When the Japanese landed on Luzon, MacArthur’s forces outnumbered the enemy, and were in supposedly prepared positions.
Within 48 hours of the landings, it was evident to MacArthur that his plan to defend Luzon was ineffective. Although his troops outnumbered the enemy, they were spread too thinly, and the Japanese outflanked most of his positions by multiple landings. MacArthur blamed they are being able to land seemingly at will on the Asiatic fleet. On Christmas Eve, MacArthur returned to the plan of withdrawing most of the defenders to Bataan, supported by blocking positions as the bulk of his forces retreated. By the end of the month, most of the remaining American and Filipino forces were withdrawn to Bataan, though Corregidor was still held by American troops.
