This document, Terrain Handbook 55, is a classified military intelligence report prepared by the Allied Geographical Section (AGS) of the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. Issued on February 1, 1945, the handbook was part of a series of tactical manuals created to provide "basic topographical information of military interest for the use of officers in forward areas" during the final, decisive stages of the Philippines Campaign. It specifically focuses on the vast and complex region of Central Mindanao, detailing its terrain, infrastructure, military importance, and resources. The intelligence contained within this volume was crucial for Allied forces planning the eventual invasion and liberation of the southern Philippines, allowing them to anticipate challenges related to the island's diverse geography and assess the enemy's logistical capacity in the region.
Terrain handbook 55: Central Mindanao (Philippine series)