MacArthur, War Plan Orange & the defense of the Far East

Continuing a conversation on another thread...


I'm interested in opinions on MacArthur, Brereton and their role in defending the PI and the Far East.
I'm much more familiar with the situation in Malaya, but I don't want to wander into a long discussion of Malaya, I'm merely using it as a comparison to the planning and options used in the Philippines.

In Malaya it was planed to raise the prewar forces from 3 brigades to 3 divisions, and the goal was to defend for up to 90 days until a relief force arrived. Following the Fall of France, it was acknowledged that a sizeable naval relief force could take 6 months or more, so the force requirements were revised upwards, to 36 combat battalions. (IE: 4 divisions + 4 brigades, plus 500 aircraft )
Percival was instructed in event of war to defend as far forward as possible, to allow time for additional forces to arrive.




What was the plan for the defence of the PI?
Was the plan solely devised by Mac, or was it reviewed/approved by the joint chiefs?
Were other options explored? (Other than withdraw to Bataan).
Was the role & planning for the air force made by Mac, or by Brereton?

Were Mac and Brereton responsible for operational failures, or was the outcome inevitable?

 

Indeed, but was the plan for the defense of the PI updated?

 

Indeed I have, it doesn't go into detail on the PI, except to say that "The defense of the (Pacific, and other) territories... is the responsibility of the respective commanders"

 

Rainbow underwent a minor update on, IIRC, November 19, 1941, but I don't recall the changes pertaining to the Philippines.

 

I seem to recall reading that somewhere in the 1938 to 1941 time frame (perhaps earlier) the USN realized that it was going to take them at least a year to be able to relieve the Philippines. I'm not sure the original plans had precise timing for the relief of the Philippines but the implication was faster than that I believe. At one point the US didn't really plan on defending the Philippines but Mac managed to convince the powers that be that it was worth doing.

 

There must have been a more detailed ground defense plan presented by Mac?

 

There was, but you are going to have to dig through the MacArthur Archives to find it.