|
Post by wwalker on Jun 24, 2011 1:23:34 GMT 8
I have been trying to compile a complete list of deaths that resulted from the collapse of the air raid shelter being constructed by the men from Battery H (Geary) on January 06, 1942. Most sources that I have found state that there were anywhere from 29 to 31 men from Geary lost in this incident. I ran a search on the American Battle Monuments Commission website for men that were in the 59th Coast Artillery that died on that date. It seems very likely that these men were probably killed from this incident, however I'm not going to rely on it fully until I obtain somemore rosters. Through the search on the ABMC website I came up with 21 men that were in 59th CAC that died on that date.
Does anyone know any specifics on this?
Will Walker
|
|
|
Post by EXO on Jun 24, 2011 11:51:06 GMT 8
Unfortunately, though I have been able to put a number of unit histories on the internet, Battery "H" of the 59th C A Corps is not one which has ever come my way. (So if you do spot such an animal, please do what you can to capture it.) All I have on the incident is the ' official' story, which is a good enough place to start, but never seems to be anywhere near the whole story. It says: Total damages for the six days' bombing were extensive. on the 2d and 3d the buildings on Topside and Middleside were hit again and two of the island's precious water tanks destroyed. On the 4th the principal target was the wharves, shops, and warehouses on Bottomside. The next day a barge was bombed and set afire. it drifted into shore and set fire to a diesel oil dump near the power plant. On the 6th there was a tragic accident when thirty-four men took cover in an incomplete bomb shelter. A large bomb fell near the structure, which collapsed and killed thirty-one of the men. By the 7th practically all unprotected surface installations had disappeared or were in ruins. Bomb craters were uniformly scattered over the island and one could hardly walk more than twenty-five yards in any direction without stumbling into one.
|
|
|
Post by fots2 on Jun 24, 2011 13:46:40 GMT 8
Where was this incomplete shelter located? Is the structure still there today?
|
|
|
Post by wwalker on Jun 25, 2011 6:29:53 GMT 8
EXO: Thanks for the info, and if I come across such a history on Battery H, 59th CAC I will send it your way. I'm actually in the process of gathering all the information I possibly can on this unit and I plan to write a lengthy piece, if not a book on the subject. I'm currently enrolled in college so maybe by the time I get out I can be able to put together something thats readable. Right now my main focus is to just collect as much data as possible, and try to verify information. There's so much to learn.
fots2: I'm not sure where the incomplete shelter was, but that is a very good question.
Regards,
Will
|
|
|
Post by fots2 on Jun 25, 2011 8:37:13 GMT 8
ok, thanks anyway.
I assume if Battery Geary personnel were making an air raid shelter then it would be located not far from their battery. I know of some above ground buildings nearby but none of them would be considered shelters.
I have done a bit of off road exploring in the area but not much. I will add this to my list of things to do.
NOTE:
Are you still in contact with the veteran who helped to build the shelter? If so, can you ask him, with respect to the battery, where was it located? Also, could he describe what the structure looked like?
Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by wwalker on Jun 26, 2011 0:51:47 GMT 8
I am in the process of getting back in touch with him as we speak. Its been several years since I have spoke with him. As long as his health still permits (he should be about 92 yrs old), I'm going to ask him more questions about that shelter.
|
|
|
Post by The Phantom on Jun 27, 2011 8:32:40 GMT 8
I too am not sure of the location of this "under construction" Air Raid Shelter near Battery Geary, that collapsed on the men and killed so many.
Referencing my 1936 map from Martyn, I see there was 'Plotting Room Geary' that is currently along the road leading out from Geary, and Battery Crockett (there used to be trolley tracks from Battery Geary to this location, and a road from the P.R.G. to the main road).
I had always been told that 'Plotting Room Geary' was what had collapsed and killed all the troopers. ( Once again, so much for hearsay and it's legitimacy in the long run. )
This building, which has collapsed on the back portion, is readily visited today.
'Plotting Room Geary' could never be confused for an air raid shelter, it had windows and doors.
Also it is on the 1936 map.
Anything they were constructing during 1941/1942 should be on none of the official maps.
It would make sense that it was dug into one of the many hillsides near Geary, and based on the fact that men were assigned to its construction, it was sanctioned by the Battery Geary Commanders.
It also had to be close be by to be of any use.
Maybe it's location was obliterated in the massive explosion of the magazine that sent the huge chuck of Battery Geary all the way to Battery Ramsey?
I agree with fots, further exploration in the area is required.
Maybe we look behind the 'Plotting Room Geary' building.......
|
|
|
Post by Karl Welteke on Jun 27, 2011 15:35:33 GMT 8
Across the street from the plotting room in the bushes there is large amount of collapsed concrete. I would estimate the approximate location to be where on the 1921 map the building #103, Gasoline storage is indicated. But the concrete is much more than a gasoline storage.
|
|
|
Post by fots2 on Jun 27, 2011 17:09:42 GMT 8
Hi Phantom, Your suggestions as to where the shelter was locared is quite logical and I agree, the plotting room is not the shelter in question. The ridge along the front of the battery (from the main road to Battery Crockett) is easy walking, in fact half of it has a rough hiking trail on it now. A bit further west down that ridge is the Geary Road. It is also walkable today. This area seems too close to the battery and is awkward due to being very steep, not where I would want to run in a hurry during an air raid. I would think that this side could also get a lot of shelling from Bataan. To the rear of the battery, the trolley line (today's road) creates two possibilities on either side of it. Both have hillsides away from the battery to dig shelters into. From looking at the map, my first guess would be to the right as you leave the battery. This is on the opposite side of the road from the Plotting Room. Having a shelter on the east side of this ridge is well protected from Bataan too. I do see some concrete steps beside the road here. As for the shelter itself, I would not expect to find anything large today, i.e. broken pieces of concrete strewn around a hole. Remember that it collapsed inward and was not blown outward from an interior explosion. There may even still be a crater nearby from the bomb that caused the collapse. If the weather permits, I hope to get back to Corregidor soon and have a look. Here is something related to Battery Geary. The same ridge I am talking about goes south to Battery Crockett. Just before Crockett is a Secondary Emergency Command Post named E II 5. A few months ago, Karl and I were at Battery Crockett and decided to find this structure. Thorny vegetation was very thick but before very long we spotted a concrete corner. The structure was completely covered. It took the two of us a few minutes to clear enough vines etc away to get some photos. This Command Post is the common bathtub style. In the middle was a big heavy surprise. A huge chunk of concrete has landed in here and I would say that undoubtedly, it came from the nearby Battery Geary explosion. It is amazing what you find wandering around this island. P.S. Steve on the Rock and his wife found this Command Post a month or so ago and it was not hard to see. Now you know why...you owe us a beer buddy. We have cleared the first third of the Command Post. See that it was completely covered with thick vegetation. A large chunk of concrete has fallen in here.
|
|
|
Post by fots2 on Jun 27, 2011 17:18:38 GMT 8
I just saw your post Karl. At the location of Building #103 (gasoline storage) is where I saw the steps. A spur of the trolley line went to it. I see that the building is not on later maps. We need to have a look around here.
|
|