Japs raided at breakfast today, something new. Large landing party at Lingayen. Navy must be asleep or not strong enough to keep them out. Or maybe some plan.
The main Japanese invasion force landed at Lingayen Gulf, only 70 miles north of Clark Field. In the remaining P-40Es of the 24th Pursuit Group, pilots of the 17th Pursuit took off from Clark and strafed the troop-laden Japanese transports, followed later, relay-fashion, by the 20th Pursuit. Unknown to Burns, the Asiatic Fleet had been withdrawn south to the Dutch East Indies except for its 29 submarines. Five were ordered to Lingayen to contest the invasion ships but only one entered the shallow Gulf and actually attacked the transports.