Mindoro (Tagalog pronunciation: [mɪnˈdoɾo]) is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located in Luzon, and northeast of Palawan
In past times, it has been called Ma-i or Mait by ancient Chinese traders and, by Spaniards, as Mina de Oro (meaning "gold mine") from where the island got its current name. The island was divided into its two present-day provinces, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, in 1950. Before then, since 1921, the entire island was one province.
According to the late historian William Henry Scott,[1] an entry in the official history of the Sung Dynasty for the year 972 mentions Ma-i as a trading partner of China. Other Chinese records referring to Ma-i or Mindoro appear in the years that follow.
Prehispanic Source Materials enumerates the products that Mindoro traders exchanged with the Chinese as "beeswax, cotton, true pearls, tortoise shell, medicinal betelnuts and yu-ta [jute?] cloth" for Chinese porcelain, trade gold, iron pots, lead, colored glass beads and iron needles.
Mindoro is also home to the Tamaraw or Mindoro dwarf buffalo (Bubalus mindorensis), which is endemic to the island. The Tamaraw is a bovine related to the water buffalo and is an endangered species.
During World War II Mindoro was the site where Bill Frederick's aircraft and crew intercepted and participated in defeating a Japanese Naval Force preparing to attack the joint U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth armed Forces on Mindoro Island in the South Pacific. Flying through intense anti-aircraft fire, Frederick's aircraft, the Sticky Kitty, was credited with attacking below deck level and sinking a task force lead Japanese Cruiser. Frederick's aircraft was only one of eight aircraft that was available to defend this island garrison and installation. The aircraft flew repeated sorties during the night resulting in a successful defense of the island.
When the stronghold local Filipino troops and officers under the 4th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 46th and 47th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was sending the military special operations in the island province of Mindoro from December 1944 to August 1945 and helpful the local Mindoro guerrilla fighters and the U.S. and Australian troops to defeating the Japanese Imperial forces during the Battle of Mindoro in 1944 to 1945 and ended World War II.
The aftermath of the First Battle of Mindoro from the Philippine Commonwealth and Allied military forces in December 16, 1944, when the local Filipino soldiers of the 4th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 46th and 47th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary during the Second Battle of Mindoro in January to August 1945 during the Second World War and helpful the local guerrilla resistance fighters around the capturing the islands of Mindoro included the province of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro and defeated to fought against the Japanese Imperial forces. The casualties of the second battle of Mindoro in 1945 included over 34,000 Filipino troops and local recognized guerrillas killed and wounded in action and over 253,000 Japanese troops killed, wounded and captured in action.
