Japanese invasion of Lingayen Gulf

Japan launched an attack on Batan Island on 8 December 1941, to get control of the airbase on the island. Japan used this airbase to launch attacks on other islands. After taking most of the islands with little to no resistance, Japan was getting a very good position on the Philippines.

The invasion
On 21 December 1941, just hours before the Japanese had encountered their first organized resistance at Bacnotan, the 14th Army had begun to land across the beaches at Lingayen Gulf.