US Army Signal Corps Photos taken while in the town of Lipa in 1945

This is the second article featuring photographs taken by the United States Army Signal Corps while stationed in Batangas. Those posted earlier, taken while the corps was stationed at Camp R in Batangas City, were mostly taken from 1945 to 1947. The pictures contained in this article, meanwhile, were taken in 1945 while the soldiers of the corps were stationed in the then-town of Lipa. At the time most of the pictures were taken, the war was still ongoing.

All pictures have been downloaded from the United States National Archives, and the descriptions used for each photograph are as they are provided from the National Archives. Where necessary, such as when additional information is necessary, annotations are provided to add to the description provided.

Ruins of the cathedral in Lipa, Batangas in May 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Americans watching artillery fire exploding in Lipa, 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original Caption: Artillery shells, fired by the 457^th Parachute Field Infantry, bursting on target, Hill 2380, Lipa. Taken 27 April 1945.

A Bailey bridge built in Lipa by the US Army.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original Caption: 1129^th Engineer Combat Group, Single Section Bailey Bridge at Lipa, constructed by men of the 1129^th Engineering Combat Group. Taken 1945, photographer unknown. [A Bailey bridge is a portable, prefabricated truss briddge¹.]

US Army soldiers exercising while at Lipa Airfield.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original Caption: General view of one of the calisthenics classes. After executing every exercise in the book, boys from the 11^th Airborne Division double time a few miles. Lipa Airstrip [present-day Fernando Air Base], Batangas Province, Luzon. Taken 22 May 1945.

Parachute practice at Lipa Airstrip.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Group of parachutists of the 11^th Airborne Division about to hit the ground at the Parachute Jump School, Lipa Airstrip [present-day Fernando Air Base] Batangas Province. Taken 24 May 1945.

US Army soldiers getting ready to board plane for parachute practice at Lipa Airstrip.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Men of the 11^th Airborne Division wearing chutes, running to enter plane from which they will jump at Parachute Jump School, Lipa Airstrip, Batangas Province. Date taken 24 May 1945.

US Army soldiers boarding plane at Lipa Airstrip in 1945 for parachute practice.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Men of the 11^th Airborne Division approaching plane to go up for high jump at the Parachute Jump School, Lipa Airstrip, Batangas Province. Taken 24 May 1945.

US Army soldiers firing artillery at cave in Lipa, Batangas in 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Battery “D,” 457^th Parachute Field Artillery, fire their 75mm gun point blank at the cave on the hill side. This gun had to be carried on foot piece by piece, up slick mountain trail. Lipa, Batangas. Taken 27 April 1945.

Filipinos carry ammunition to the artillery guns in Lipa, 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Filipino pack party brings ammunition to the mountain top to be used by the 457^th Parachute Field Artillery. Lipa, Batangas. Taken 27 April 1945.

US Army soldier buying banana at Lipa Airstrip before flying out to Okinawa.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Pfc. Bernard Stingley of Powell, Wyoming, a member of the 188^th Infantry, 11^th Airborne Division, buys bananas from Filipino girls, while waiting to take off from an airfield, in Lipa, Luzon. The 11^th Airborne Division is en route to Ryukru, Okinawa. Taken September 1945. [Okinawa was regarded by war planners as the final stop before the hop to invade Japan.]

US Army soldiers relaxing before boarding plane en route to Okinawa in 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Troops of the 11^th Airborne Division relax before taking off by plane from Lipa, Luzon, en route to Ryukyu, Okinawa. Taken April 1945.

Injured US Army soldiers compare notes while at sick bay at Lipa, Batangas in 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Alphonse Ruggiero of 1340 Herkimer Street, Brooklyn, N.Y., left, was hit by a fragment of the same shell that hit the helmet of Fay Green of Tulsa, Oklahoma, right. The men are comparing notes at Lipa, Batangas, Luzon, P.I. (for Philippine Islands). Taken 18 April 1945.

A Japanese prisoner is being interviewed by US Army Intelligence in Lipa, 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Lt. Rabinowitz of G-2 [G-2 is the Intelligence Branch of the United States Army²], 11^th Airborne Division, right, through an interpreter, center, questions a Japanese member of the 114^th Fishing Battalion, Suicide Fleet, left, in order to obtain information about Japanese units and arms. Lipa, Batangas, Luzon, P.I. (for Philippine Islans.) Taken 18 April 1945.

US Army bigwigs review the troops at Lipa Airstrip, 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Lt. General Walter Krueger, Commanding General, U.S. Sixth Army, left, and Maj. General Joseph Swing, Commanding General, 11^th Airborne Division, salute the colors during review of the Division by General Krueger. Lipa Airstrip, Batangas Province, Luzon, P.I. (for Philippine Islands). Taken 19 July 1945.

The runway at Lipa Airstrip, 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Airstrip at Lipa, Batangas Province, Luzon Island, P.I. (for Philippine Islands), taken during a survey of reportable and non-reportable airports in the Philippine Islands for Real Estate Division of Chief Engineers Office at Army Forces Western Pacific Area. Taken 19 July 1945.

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Original caption: General Joseph G. Stillwell, Commanding General, Army Ground Forces, left, Lt. General Oscar W. Griswald, Commanding General, XIV Corps, center, and Major General Joseph W. Swing, Commanding General, 11^th Airborne Division review troops of the division at ceremonies held in honor of Stillwell at Lipa, Luzon, P.I. (for Philippine Islands). Taken 9 June 1945.

Harness class for parachute jumping at the Lipa Airstrip, 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: The harness class of the 11^th Airborne Division get lessons in parachute jumping during one week of ground school instruction at the Lipa Airstrip, Batangas Province, Luzon, P.I. (for Philippine Islands). Taken 22 May 1945.

Passing in review at Lipa Airstrip in 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Passing in review during ceremonies honoring General Joseph W. Stillwell at Lipa, Luzon, P.I. (for Philippine Islands) are troops of the 11^th Airborne Division. Taken 9 June 1945.

Lipa, Batangas in ruins, April 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

Original caption: Lipa was demolished when Americans took the city from the Japs. Batangas, Luzon, P.I. (for Philippine Islands). Taken 18 April 1945.

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