Post by The Phantom on Apr 22, 2009 1:49:15 GMT 8
I have heard that the area around Battery Denver used to be known as Wilson Park Ridge.
What was Battery Denver's area's previous function as Wilson Park Ridge?
Was Battery Denver hastily built as a fortification in 1941 as it appears to have been today?
What's there today you ask?
There is A tunnel from the road below on the north side of the ridge.
The tunnel starts at road level and cuts through the ancient crumbling gray colored Lahar of the ridge, and then goes straight up to the former gun positions. Probably a ladder system that is now long gone was at the end of the tunnel.
Where does it come out? Still haven't found the exit on the top of the ridge i don't believe.
The tunnel was supported by railroad ties, some still inside the tunnel lining the walls.
The lahar has broken down a great deal so that any entry is a duck walk affair.
On top of the ridge, the former Wilson Park Ridge, Battery Denver has many lengthy trenches, some lined with rusting steel barrels.
Some deep round holes also lines with the barrels.
There are large dirt collapsed bunkers that where at one time covered by railroad ties and dirt.
This description is backed by passages in various books I have read.
One book describes how some prisoners from the 92nd Garage area prison camp in 1942, (just southwest of Battery Denver), were trying to find food, as it was in very short supply in the camp below, the Japanese where supplying none to the prisoners.
While searching the bunkers in Battery Denver, they found several large cans of food which they brought back to camp.
if I remember right the cans they found in the bunkers contained mostly stewed tomatoes.........not so happy were they with their find.
On this last trip in February 2009 we also discovered cut trails, (much appreciated I might add), that some people who had a metal detector had cut and they had dug many holes in the area.
One hole contained some neatly em placed large gun parts which we are assuming, (and you know what happens when you assume anything), were parts of the guns on Denver that were destroyed and then buried, to keep them out of the enemy hands.
The parts were very heavy and in remarkable condition.
One of our group got a picture in place but I'm not sure if it came out due to the overhead canopy of trees and vines.
One thing you don't find at Battery Denver are a lot of prepared concrete bunkers or concrete gun positions.
There are a few what appear to be antiaircraft concrete circle positions on the ridge to the east of the main Denver fortifications, but it appears they were never used.
As to the previous questions............
What was Battery Denver's area's previous function as Wilson Park Ridge?
Was Battery Denver hastily built as a fortification in 1941 as it appears to have been on seeing its condition today?
What was Battery Denver's area's previous function as Wilson Park Ridge?
Was Battery Denver hastily built as a fortification in 1941 as it appears to have been today?
What's there today you ask?
There is A tunnel from the road below on the north side of the ridge.
The tunnel starts at road level and cuts through the ancient crumbling gray colored Lahar of the ridge, and then goes straight up to the former gun positions. Probably a ladder system that is now long gone was at the end of the tunnel.
Where does it come out? Still haven't found the exit on the top of the ridge i don't believe.
The tunnel was supported by railroad ties, some still inside the tunnel lining the walls.
The lahar has broken down a great deal so that any entry is a duck walk affair.
On top of the ridge, the former Wilson Park Ridge, Battery Denver has many lengthy trenches, some lined with rusting steel barrels.
Some deep round holes also lines with the barrels.
There are large dirt collapsed bunkers that where at one time covered by railroad ties and dirt.
This description is backed by passages in various books I have read.
One book describes how some prisoners from the 92nd Garage area prison camp in 1942, (just southwest of Battery Denver), were trying to find food, as it was in very short supply in the camp below, the Japanese where supplying none to the prisoners.
While searching the bunkers in Battery Denver, they found several large cans of food which they brought back to camp.
if I remember right the cans they found in the bunkers contained mostly stewed tomatoes.........not so happy were they with their find.
On this last trip in February 2009 we also discovered cut trails, (much appreciated I might add), that some people who had a metal detector had cut and they had dug many holes in the area.
One hole contained some neatly em placed large gun parts which we are assuming, (and you know what happens when you assume anything), were parts of the guns on Denver that were destroyed and then buried, to keep them out of the enemy hands.
The parts were very heavy and in remarkable condition.
One of our group got a picture in place but I'm not sure if it came out due to the overhead canopy of trees and vines.
One thing you don't find at Battery Denver are a lot of prepared concrete bunkers or concrete gun positions.
There are a few what appear to be antiaircraft concrete circle positions on the ridge to the east of the main Denver fortifications, but it appears they were never used.
As to the previous questions............
What was Battery Denver's area's previous function as Wilson Park Ridge?
Was Battery Denver hastily built as a fortification in 1941 as it appears to have been on seeing its condition today?