Japanese invasion of Batan Island

Japanese invasion of Batan Island
Part of Philippines campaign (1941–1942), Pacific Theater
A map of Luzon Island showing Japanese landings and advances from 8 December 1941 to 8 January 1942.
Date 8 December 1941 Location Batan Island, Philippines Result Japanese victory
Belligerents
Empire of Japan	United States  Commonwealth of the Philippines

The Japanese invasion of Batan Island (Filipino: Paglusob ng mga Hapones sa Isla ng Batan) was the first step in their invasion of the Philippines, an American commonwealth territory. The U.S. had acquired the former Spanish colony half a century earlier, when it defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War. The purpose was to obtain control of local airstrips which could be used as forward bases by fighter aircraft for operations further south in the Philippines. The attack on Batan Island was the first of several other advance landings; the other landings took place at Aparri, Vigan, Legaspi, Davao, and Jolo Islands.^[1]