Reclaiming the Philippines In late October 1944, 2 years and 7 months after leaving the Philippines, troops under the command of General Douglas MacArthur waded ashore on the island of Leyte, beginning the liberation of the islands. Three days later, the largest naval battle of World War II took place in the Gulf of Leyte. The intense fighting lasts for three days before the Japanese naval forces under the command of Admiral Kurita retreat northward. The IJN lost a total of 26 ships, including the carrier
Zuikaku, to both airstrikes and naval bombardment, while managing only to sink 6 of the US Navy ships. Hellcats and Avengers from the American carriers claim several ships during the retreat.
Four days after MacArthur's landing at Leyte, The 7th and 9th Fighter Squadrons of the 49th Fighter Group arrive at the island, and begin preparations to operate out of Tacloban, Leyte. The P-38s and P-47s of the 49th begin to escort bombers leaving from Morotai in the south, as well as attacking Japanese naval forces and land forces on the islands of Mindanao.
The Japanese in response to the attacks prior to the Oct. 20th landing, bring in several squadrons of N1K's to the island of Luzon to help with defense. Several wings of A6M's, B5Ns and B6Ns remain in the carrier arm, but not anywhere near the strength at the height of Japanese Naval Air power. G4M Bettys are employed to strike at the advancing Allied ground forces on Leyte, as well as utilized as torpedo bombers against the American naval vessels. The 18th Hiko Sentai, with approximately 30 Ki-61s, was ordered to move to Bacolod on Negros Island in the Central Philippines to commence attacks on Allied airfields on Leyte and on invasion shipping in Leyte Gulf. The Battle of Leyte Gulf also marked the first time the Japanese employed Kamikaze, or
Divine Wind, strikes.
Allied Aircraft F4U-1D (C41)
F6F-5 (C37, C41)
P-38L (A4)
P-47D-25 (A4) (edited wrt info from Sancho!
)
TBM-3 (C37, C41)
Allied Fleets
C37, C39: 3 carriers, 3 cruisers, 7 destroyers
C41: 3 carriers, 3 destroyers
C49: 3 cruisers, 4 destroyers
Axis Aircraft
A6M5b (A5, C25)
Ki-61-I-KAIc (A1)
N1K1 (N1K2-j subbing in) (A7, A10)
G4M (Ju88 subbing in) (A7, A10)
B6N (TBM-3 subbing in) (C25)
Axis Fleets
C17: 3 cruisers, 4 destroyers
C19: 3 cruisers, 4 destroyers
C25: 3 carriers, 3 destroyers
* Ju88 substituting for the Betty
* TBM-3 substituting for the Jill
* Allied forces control Leyte only (airfield on Bohol substituting for the Tacloban airfield)
Ok, squad CO's. Gimme your side preference and I'll see what I can do. (standard disclaimer of I'll try my best to give you what you ask for, but no guarantees! 
)
one other note. It's possible that the terrain team will get the Philippines updated and Ronni will "bless" it before Friday the 22nd. If that happens, we'll have the Tacloban airfeld on Leyte island, so only Leyte will have Allied fields (V6 and whatever the new A field will be.)
