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Post by buster on May 7, 2009 12:30:23 GMT 8
WEDS. JAN. 21 "AFTER BREAKFAST I SAT WITH SIMMONDS AN WHEELER "PARADE" AND ENJOYED THE WEATHER UNTIL THE MEN STARTED SWEEPING". Wheeler "parade"? A parade is a formation, usually administrative in nature, such as roll call, sick call, retreat & etc. Sorry, no elephants, monkeys or clowns on trick bicycles.
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Post by batteryboy on May 8, 2009 13:34:01 GMT 8
Great info and pictures shared. Sheds light on a lot of Bunker's world on 1942 Corregidor. Anyone have any shots of Bunkers C1? Or "HIS" C1 Tunnel he is always visiting for progress throughout his war on Corregidor? His book makes so much more sense when you know where he is visiting as he visits places in his rounds on Corregidor More entry's to ponder........ Phantom, Here are some internal shots of C1 or Bunker's Bunker: C1 Communication booths Just had to be in the photo for scale effect. Cheers, Tony
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 9:19:02 GMT 8
Colonel Bunker's book remains the best first person narrative that I have read regarding the siege of Corregidor. He was a hard charging, no nonsense, strictly professional, "Old Army Officer" who fought the hard fight until dying of beri-beri, brought on by extreme malnutrition while in a Japanese POW camp.
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Post by The Phantom on May 10, 2009 10:23:28 GMT 8
You are correct John, you can go to Corregidor and visit his book in person.
That's the reason for this stream. To try and identify, and visit some of the sites he talks about in his book. That's what makes history come alive.
Thanks Tony for your pieces of the puzzle.
What do all the writings on the wall refer to in C1?
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Post by fots2 on May 10, 2009 11:13:04 GMT 8
Good Day Mr. Phantom, The writings on the wall are azimuth and range information for each field of view. The concrete pad with mounting bolts for range finders are still on the floor. Definition - Azimuth and elevation are angles used to define the apparent position of an object in the sky, relative to a specific observation point. The observer is usually (but not necessarily) located on the earth's surface. The azimuth (az) angle is the compass bearing, relative to true (geographic) north, of a point on the horizon directly beneath an observed object. The horizon is defined as a huge, imaginary circle centered on the observer, equidistant from the zenith (point straight overhead) and the nadir (point exactly opposite the zenith). As seen from above the observer, compass bearings are measured clockwise in degrees from north. Azimuth angles can thus range from 0 degrees (north) through 90 (east), 180 (south), 270 (west), and up to 360 (north again).
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Post by fots2 on May 10, 2009 20:46:53 GMT 8
Phantom, here are some C1 Tunnel photos you asked for earlier. The photos are a couple of years old but I was in there a few months ago and nothing has changed. The ridge in this area runs almost north-south. C1 Tunnel was dug completely through the ridge so there are east and west entrances. The eastern one is near the road so it was the main entrance. This tunnel has a real unfinished look to it with crude cut walls and no concrete lining anywhere. I do not remember how many laterals there are (approx 4) but they are mostly small, different lengths and very rough. Even the floor of the main east-west tunnel is uneven due to, as I was told, a group of Boy Scouts who were allowed to dig there. I have no idea if this is true but little holes and uneven piles of dirt are everywhere. looking down in the east entrance looking out the east entrance the start of a lateral on each side can be seen. The east entrance is in the distance looking into one of the dead-ended laterals in the main tunnel looking towards the west entrance close-up view of the west entrance. There is a gap to the surface so you have to climb up beside or over the two rocks near the upper right corner of the tunnel roof. Looks difficult but actually quite easy. looking down into the west entrance
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Post by batteryboy on May 18, 2009 15:57:36 GMT 8
Here is C1 just right after construcition in April 1908. Regards,
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Post by The Phantom on May 19, 2009 5:18:23 GMT 8
These photo's tie a lot of Col. Bunkers book together.
The tops of the C1 tunnel pictures taken by Fotz look glazed, melted like Middleside Tunnel, the with the showers at the end and Buick sized TOADS walking around?
Was this the result of flame throwers used in 1945 retaking?
Batteryboy's shot from 1908 show how much is buried underground after being initially built. Not much showing today.
Bunker mentioned that they took parts from the "Stadium" to help build up his walls. Nothing left now.
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Post by The Phantom on May 19, 2009 6:30:34 GMT 8
More from Col. Bunker's book............
SAT. 7 FEB. 1942
" EARLY THIS MORNING DAISY MAY, THE TAME DOE, CAME DOWN THE STEPS INTO C1 AND THEN VISITED COL. SIMMONDS ET AL. IN THEIR DUGOUT. SIMMONDS, EDISON, AND FOSTER SLEPT LAST NIGHT IN THE GUGU DUGOUT UNDER C1 FOR THE FIRST TIME. HAWES HAD BEEN SLEEPING IN THAT TUNNEL FOR SOME TIME. "
SUNDAY 8 FEB.
"AFTER BREAKFAST I MANAGED TO GET TO RSO (?) TOILET IN TIME. THEN GOT OUR SHOWERS. EDISON AND I TO HEARN FOR ICED COCOA AND DOCTOR GAVE ME SOME DIARRHEA MEDICINE. THEN TO MY DUGOUT WITH COLIN. COL. FOSTER CAME TO MY DUGOUT AND GAVE A REPORT ON THE CENSUS OF AMMO AT BTRIES. GEARY AND WAY. THEY HAVE 153 AND 300 "PERSONNEL" PROJECTILES RESPECTIVELY AND I WISH THERE WERE 10 TIMES THAT. THE GUY THAT OBTAINED THEM FOR US WAS WISE."
"FRIDAY 16 FEB
VISITED MY QTRS. SAW FURTHER SIGNS OF PILLAGING. GAVE WELCH FURTHER JOB OF PACKING UP MORE OF MY THINGS. WILL HAVE HIM FINISH OFF PACKING GLASSWARE INTO THE BARREL AND SEAL.
I LEFT WITH SIMMONDS AND DROVE TO G/91 AND GOT MY SHOWER. CHONG SHOWED ME THE SEAT COVER THAT WELCH RUINED WITH BLUING, DAMNIT! BACK TO C1, HAD GIN AND BITTERS."
GENERAL MOORE SAYS QUEZON IS IN MIGHTY BAD SHAPE. SOMEBODY SAID THEY SAW HIM HOBBLE TO HIS CAR THE OTHER DAY AND HE LOOKED BAD. SOMEBODY SAID HE WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR. BUT HE HAS BEEN IN BAD HEALTH FOR YEARS."
SATURDAY 14 FEB. 1942
THIS MORNING AT 6:50 THE ENGINEERS BLASTED THROUGH OUR TUNNEL ADDITION TO THE OPEN AIR. ( SEE FOTZ PREVIOUS PICTURES) WE WERE GREATLY PLEASED. TWO DULL BOOMS AND THEN TWO SHARP CRACKS AS THE EXPLOSIONS CAME THROUGH, JUST AT ENTRANCE TO OUR HOMEMADE TUNNEL NEAREST C1."
"LATER IN THE DAY WE INSPECTED OUR TUNNEL. THE AIR IMPROVEMENT IS REMARKABLE SINCE THE BREAKTHROUGH AND THE TUNNEL LOOKS BETTER EVERY DAY. HAVE ALREADY SOME PLANS FOR MAKING IT good!"
SUNDAY 15 FEB.
TO RSO WHERE JULIAN HAD FIXED HIMSELF UP NICELY FOR LIVING QTRS.- AND ALSO FOR HIS MEN. A SHOWER BATH IS IN OPERATION ALSO ONE TOILET( WHICH REQUIRES FLUSHING WITH A BUCKET OF WATER). TRIED IN VANE TO FIND THE VET. BUT HE HAD ALREADY INSPECTED THE CORRAL. BACK TO C1 AND MANY OF OUR OFFICERS THERE, CHINNED AWHILE AND THEN WENT TO MY DUGOUT WHERE I FOUND ENGINEER SURVEYOR'S BUSY RUNNING A LINE TO THE REVISED EXIT OF OUR TUNNEL." THIS MORNING COLIN, (HIS DOG) TANGLED WITH "HEADSPACE" AGAIN. GAVE HIM A GOOD DUSTING WITH FLEA POWDER AND THAT, WITH THE BATH WELCH GAVE HIM LAST NIGHT, SEEMED TO HELP HIM A LOT. ( NOW NOON.....WHERE DOES THE TIME GO? BY THE TIME WE GOT BREAKFAST IT WAS 9:00AM! THIS DAYLIGHTS SAVING TIME IS TERRIBLE!)
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Post by fots2 on May 28, 2009 22:05:54 GMT 8
Hello Mr. Phantom, I have read in the past about the SS Corregidor sailing unannounced out of Manila and being sunk by US mines in Manila Bay. It was a civilian ship carrying 760 passengers of which approximately 500 lost their lives that night. This article (from another US officer’s diary who also served on Corregidor) says that Col. Bunker knew it was a civilian ship that departed from Manila and he refused to order the mines de-activated. Irregardless of the actions of the SS Corregidor’s captain, this disaster could have been prevented by him. Text of the SS Corregidor sinking from “Captain George Steiger: A POW Diary” www.fsteiger.com/gsteipow.html“The Army and the Filipino skippers had long been butting heads. All the channels out of Manila Bay had been mined for many months. At this time, the mining was strictly up to date and operational. At 1 AM on 16 December, the SS Corregidor, carrying 760 refugees, attempted to go thru the mine field without asking clearance. This request would have been granted. The Lieutenant who was on watch in the mine casement, on sighting the SS Corregidor called his superior, who in turn, called the seaward defense commander, Col. Bunker, requesting information as to whether he should de-activate the contact mines in the channel. With a lifetime of experience with the Filipino, going back to the '98 Insurrection, Col. Bunker said "No!" My first knowledge of this affair came when my duty watch called me at 12:55 AM. The Corregidor had struck one of our mines and in the four or five minutes it took to reach my battery command post, the vessel had sunk. Approximately 500 lives were lost. The 260 or so who survived came on the Rock. Thereafter, we had no trouble with unauthorized Filipino boats attempting to traverse the channel”. Also, a quote from the above diary: "With a lifetime (Col. Bunker) of experience with the Filipino, going back to the '98 Insurrection, Col. Bunker said "No!"" Quite a comment there! Atrocities during the Fil-Am War happened on both sides but it sounds like Capt. Steiger thought Col. Bunker was more than a little biased/racist. Due to his previous war experiences, did Col. Bunker decide to let civilians possibly die that night because of his distaste for everything Filipino? You have been reading his diary so I was wondering what was his side of this December 16th or 17th, 1941 incident? fots2
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