The Imperial Japanese Navy's 1st Air Fleet, based at Manila, was assigned the task of assisting the Japanese ships that would attempt to destroy Allied forces in Leyte Gulf.
Armada Udara ke1 Angkatan Laut Kekaisaran Jepang, yang berpangkalan di Manila diberi tugas membantu kapal Jepang yang akan mencoba menghancurkan pasukan Sekutu di Teluk Leyte.