Aparri (121.661E 18.317N) is a small port on the northern coast of Luzon, near the mouth of the Cagayan River. In 1941, it had a population of 26,500 and some modest port facilities.
Aparri was the target of the First Surprise Attack Force on 10 December 1941, which landed 2000 men of the Tanaka Detachment. There was minimal opposition from a company of 11 Philippine Division, and the Japanese found themselves hindered more by heavy surf than the enemy. Only two companies were landed before the transports were forced to move twenty miles east to land the remaining forces. An American air raid destroyed W-19, but with no meaningful ground opposition the Japanese quickly secured the nearby airstrip. This proved unsuitable for light bombers, making the whole landing operation pointless.
Aparri was recaptured by American paratroops and Filippino guerrillas on 23 June 1945.
References
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia (c) 2007 by Kent G. Budge. Index