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Post by The Phantom on Jul 5, 2009 5:38:03 GMT 8
Glad you could get there with the new schedule for the Hotel, and Suncruises trips to Corregidor now in force.
I have been putting excerpts of Bunker's book online so folks, including myself, will know of the places that Bunker and the other inhabitants of wartime Corregidor were frequenting in his time, 1941/1942 Corregidor, and be able to find and visit them today.
Yeah we must go there in January/February.
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Post by The Phantom on Jul 13, 2009 0:22:12 GMT 8
SATURDAY, 14 MAR 1942
"LAST NIGHT ONE OF OUR MINES NEAR MONJA EXPLODED AND THIS MORNING 4 MORE WENT. CAUSE: PROBABLY CORROSION OR LEAKAGE.ENGINEERS STARTED POURING C1 CAP TODAY BUT THE LIFT WAS SO GREAT THAT IT DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL. AT LEAST THEY CAME WITH A TRACTOR THEIR WELDER CURRENT GENERATOR THUS CLEARING OUR PATH." "INSPECTED OUT TUNNEL. THE CONCRETE APRON AT WEST ENTRANCE IS OK AND DENBY HAS MADE SOME DIVERSION DAMS WHICH SHOULD PREVENT RUNOFF FROM ENTERING THAT MOUTH OF THE TUNNEL. TALKER TO KEEVEN ABOUT EAST PORTAL AND BREAKER SLAB,WHICH THEY MAY OMIT. SHOWER S IS INSTALLED OUTSIDE OFFICERS END(WEST PORTAL)."
TRANSITION NOTE: BATAAN SITUATION
"IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH THE AIR FORCE FLIGHT SURGEON , LT. COL. WILLIAM KEPPARD REALIZED HIS PILOTS WERE INEFFECTIVE WITHOUT PROPER FOOD; "THERE WOULD BE NO MORE FLYING UNLESS THE PILOTS GOT PROPER FOOD". AT ONCE THE 25 PILOTS WERE PUT ON FULL RATIONS AND GIVEN VITAMIN TABLETS FOR 10 DAYS. THE GROUND CREWS EVINCED NO RESENTMENT AT THIS, AND ALMOST OVERNIGHT THE EXTRA FOOD WORKED A MIRACLE ON THE PILOTS EFFICIENCY."
SUNDAY, 15 MAR
BIG BOMBARDMENT.
"AWOKE AT 6:00 AM AND PUTTERED AROUND AND DOZED UNTIL 7:30 WHEN THE JAPS OPENED A BOMBARDMENT ON CORREGIDOR FIRST ONE SHOT THEN ANOTHER, THEN A BURST OF 4. THE JAPS OPENED UP ON ALL 4 OF OUR FORTIFIED ISLANDS SIMULTANEOUSLY AND KEPT UP A HOT PACE UNTIL 1:30 WHEN THEY SLACKED OFF FOR AWHILE AND THEN TOOK UP THEIR SHOOTING WITH RENEWED VIGOR AND CONTINUED UNTIL DARK."
"FOR THE FIRST TIME WE KNEW THE JAPS WERE USING HIGHER CALIBER GUNS THAN 150mm. ONE SHOT PENETRATED THE ARMOR AT BATTERY ROBERTS ON OUR CONCRETE BATTLESHIP (FORT DRUM) AND BURST INSIDE THE CASEMENT FILLING THE SHIP WITH FLAME, SMOKE AND FUMES. NOBODY IN THE CASEMENT SO THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES. THE BASE OF THE BURST PROJECTILE WAS ABOUT 10" OR MORE IN DIAMETER! WE WONDER IF IT IS THE GUN WHICH THE JAPS BROUGHT DOWN FROM FORT WINT.'
"COMPARATIVELY FEW SHOTS WERE FIRED AT CORREGIDOR UNTIL OUR BATTY. HAMILTON OPENED UP ON THEM AND THEN THEY STARTED PLASTERING HAMILTON. WHICH IS JUST BELOW C1."
"IT WAS A SEVERE BOMBARDMENT: ABOUT NOON FRANK HAD COUNTED OVER 300 SHOTS AT THEM AND OVER 63 HITS ON THE FORT. PRACTICALLY EVERY SHOT AT DRUM WAS A HIT.
IT HURT ME LIKE BLAZES TO SEE MY FRIENDS UNDER FIRE AND TO BE SO POWERLESS TO HELP THEM. BUT OUR G2 SERVICE IS GIVING US ABSOLUTELY NO INFORMATION. IT IS JUST AS IF WE ARE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY INSTEAD OF AN ALLEGED FRIENDLY ONE."
"WORKED UP A MAP, SHOWING SUSPECTED ENEMY POSITIONS AND GENERAL MOORE, (WHO CAME UP TO C1 FOR A TIME) PROMISED TO TRY TO GET A P40 PLANE TO FLY TOMORROW AND TRY TO VERIFY SOME OF OUR GUESSES. BUT EVEN IF IT DOES, THE JAPS WILL ONLY MOVE."
'IN GOING DOWN FOR MY LAUNDRY, WELCH GOT FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY A FILIPINO DRIVER, PESCASSIO, DRIVING A BIG MACK TRUCK, NO. 412789, SMASHING RIGHT REAR AND LEFT FRONT FENDER AND PUT A BIG DENT IN REAR TRUNK! THE SOB! AND GWENNY HAD COME THROUGH THE WHOLE WAR, SO FAR, UNSCATHED. TOUGH LUCK!
THE ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ALL NIGHT POURING THE CAP ON C1 STATION----THE Japanese FIRING NOW HAVING CEASED (8:30PM)."
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Post by The Phantom on Jul 13, 2009 0:57:24 GMT 8
MONDAY, 19 MAR 1942
DIDN'T GO TO RSO THIS MORNING; USED BATTERY WHEELER INSTEAD. SENT WELCH TO U.S. ENGINEERS SHOP WITH MY CAR AND TOOK THE FENDERS OFF FOR REPAIR, I CONTINUED WORK ON FIRING DATA, AT MY DUGOUT."
(Did you guys see his dugout on any trips to C1?)
"THE USAFFE PEOPLE COULD NOT SEND UP A P40 TO SPOT THE EMEMY BATTERIES BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY ONE P40 LEFT. AND IT'S SPEED IS ONLY ABOUT 140 MPH."
"GEN MOORE TOLD ME THAT MACARTHUR IS OK: HE SUCCESSFULLY MADE THE BOAT TRIP TO DEL MONTE, IN MINDANAO, AS PER SCHEDULE, BUT THAT THE PLANES WERE NOT THERE TO CARRY HIS PARTY TO AUSTRALIA . THE PLANES WILL MAKE THE TRIP TONIGHT. A GREAT LOAD IS LIFTED OFF MY MIND BY THIS NEWS."
'LAST NIGHT ONE OF OUR BIG SUBS CAME IN, ABOUT 11:00 PM AND DEPARTED ABOUT 3:30AM. I WONDER WHAT SHE BROUGHT IN?"
"IN EVENING WORKED ON FIRING DATA AND READ, "SUCKERS PROGRESS".
"ENGINEERS SEEM TO HAVE FINISHED POURING CONCRETE ON THE CAP OF C1 SO I SLEPT OUTSIDE MY DUGOUT."
TUESDAY, 17 MAR 1942
THE ENGINEERS ARE FINISHED POURING THE CAP ON C1! AND ARE NOW BUSY ERECTING FORMS AROUND G1 AND THE WHOLE JOB IS VISIBLE TO EVERYONE ON THE CAVITE SHORE! I HAD MACCARTHY GET BUSY AND ERECT A CAMOUFLAGE NET OVER THE JOB."
'PROGRESS ON OUR TUNNELS HAS SLOWED DOWN. THEY ARE NOW LAGGING THE TOPS AND SIDES OF OUR 4 LATERALS. DENBY OUR HANDYMAN, HAS PUT UP A SHAVING MIRROR AND SHELF OVER THE GORGEOUS WASHBOWL THAT IS TEMPORARILY SET UP IN THE OFFICERS END."
"THE "NOVELTY SIDING" WHICH I HAD BATTERED DOWN OVER THE 2" CRACKS BETWEEN THE SIDING PLANKS LOOKS WELL. IN TIME IT WILL BE A GRAND DUGOUT. THE SHOWER AND 2-HOLER ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, OUTSIDE THE OFFICERS END, BUT THE PORTAL IS STILL JUST A HOLE IN THE GROUND."
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Post by The Phantom on Jul 29, 2009 6:31:42 GMT 8
WEDNESDAY, 18 MARCH 1942
P1.00 CIGARETTES
" OVER ON BATAAN SUPPLIES FOR FRONT LINE TROOPS ARE HANDLED EXECRABLY; THE TRUCKS ARE HI-JACKED EN ROUTE. ON THE FRONT LINES, THEY SAY, MEN SOMETIMES PAY AS HIGH AS P1.00 PER CIGARETTE AND IF OUTFITS DON'T GO BACK AND GET THEIR OWN SUPPLIES THEY ONLY GET CARABAO AND RICE TO EAT.
OF COURSE , HERE ON THE ROCK, WE HAVE LAID IN OUR OWN SUPPLIES, BUT EVEN SO, RICE IS THE BASIS OF EVERY MEAL."
" I HAD BEEN DOWN TO ENGINEER TUNNEL AND SOUTH WHARF, WHERE I CORNERED MAJ. LOTHRUP AND EXPLAINED TO HIM MY DISCOVERY OF HOW TO FRAME HIS TUNNELS WITH 6 INCH (CHANNEL IRONS?) WHICH ARE NOW IN OUR HQ. BATTERY MESS. HE AGREED TO HELP ME GET OUR BODEGAS BLASTED AND BUILT."
'THEN I HAD TO GO TO G3, TALKED TO LT. COL. MILLER AND ORDERED HIM TO IMPROVE THE TELEPHONE HOOKUP OF THE C1-G3 COMMAND LINE. ALSO ORDERED HIM TO GET BUSY AND IMPROVE THE CAMOUFLAGE OF HIS STATION. A .....LIEUTENANT IN THE STATION TRIED TO GIVE ME ANN ARGUMENT -----'NUFF SAID I PINNED HIS EARS BACK WITH A FEW CHOICE WORDS."
THE ENGINEERS CONTINUED BUILDING FORMS IN FRONT OF OUR OBSERVING SLOTS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE ROOF THICKNESS OF G1. THEIR LUMBER OBSCURES OUR FIELD OF VIEW VERY MUCH AND WE CAN HARDLY OBSERVE OUR OWN FIRE. I'LL BE GLAD WHEN THEY GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD."
"THEY ARE NOW DIGGING A TRENCH DOWN THE CENTER OF OUR TUNNEL FOR AN 8" SUBSOIL DRAIN AND I AM TRYING TO GET A SEWER PIPE LAID IN THE SAME TRENCH TO CARRY OFF WASTE WATER FROM OUR WASHBOWLS ETC. JUST TRYING TO EXERCISE SOME OF THE JERE VISION( FLEXIBLE FORESIGHT) THAT IS SO DAMNABLY MISSING IN OUR ARMY!"
"ONE MAJOR RUMBOUGH WAS IN OUR MIDST ALL DAY , AND THE FEW OTHERS OF THE BATAAN HEROES HELD FORTH, I AM MOVED TO ASSERT I'VE NEVER SEEN A WAR WHERE MODESTY WAS LESS A VIRTUE THAN THIS ONE! THE SLOB ADMITTED THAT 3 Japanese BOMBERS ROUTED OUR ENTIRE FORCE WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO DEFEND ANTIMONAN AND THE COUNTRY SOUTH OF MANILA--THAT THE PHILIPPINE ARMY RAN LIKE SHEEP, AND YET HE SEEMED TO SEE NOTHING SHAMEFUL IN IT.
OF COURSE THIS ROUTE OF OUR TROOPS AT ANTIMONAN IS THE MAIN REASON WE COULD NOT HOLD OUR LINES NORTH OF BATAAN, AND NECESSITATED AN EARLY RETREAT."
"CAPT. COLEMAN, BEARD AND ALL, OF THE 57TH INFANTRY' WAS AT HEARN WHEN WE ARRIVED, FRESH FROM OUR SHOWERS, AND WE GASSED WHILE SIMMONDS TOOK RUMBOUGH TO HIS BOAT FOR A RETURN TO BATAAN. MCCARTHY BROUGHT A PIE TO THE POKER GAME AND I COULDN'T GET TO SLEEP."
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Post by fots2 on Jul 29, 2009 14:22:15 GMT 8
Hi Phantom,
I don't understand all the places or slang he uses but this is interesting reading. It helps to understand how what we see today was used during the war.
Thanks. Keep it coming.
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Post by The Phantom on Jul 30, 2009 4:26:23 GMT 8
I agree that his diary helps define areas we visit today and put a historical significance to those areas. We can visit locations from the point of view of one who was there in 41, 42.
Lots have criticized Bunker based on his diary. But it is important as a historical document because he was THERE and based on the fact that he was a high ranking officer, he was privy to information that most did not know and he was free to travel the island to preform his daily duties and describes what he sees as he does. The perspective of someone in a fox hole in one of the ravines or on Monkey point would have been interesting also, but it would have been an isolated narrative, localized to their small area of experience.
He has definite opinions about lots of events and people which gives color to his commentary, good or bad, it's Bunker.
I agree Fotz, that there are so many places and abbreviations he uses that are in the nomenclature of his time and his service. That's one of the reasons I am putting excerpts on the board, hoping that those who recognize something will explain it for all.
An example, what are "6" channel irons" he wants to use to frame a tunnel and what are they doing in their Battery Mess?
Improve the phone line from C1 to G1? Where to where physically is this to be done on Corregidor? Where does it start, where does it end?
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Post by batteryboy on Aug 2, 2009 17:40:20 GMT 8
WEDNESDAY, 18 MARCH 1942 'THEN I HAD TO GO TO G3, TALKED TO LT. COL. MILLER AND ORDERED HIM TO IMPROVE THE TELEPHONE HOOKUP OF THE C1-G3 COMMAND LINE. G3 is the North Mortar Station located on top of Way Hill. FWIW,
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Post by fots2 on Aug 2, 2009 21:20:42 GMT 8
Here are two photos of “channel iron” that they used to frame tunnels with. Perhaps “mess” staff wanted to be safe too. If I had stolen it from the mess, I would be a little worried about what was in my food after that…
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Post by The Phantom on Aug 11, 2009 4:25:14 GMT 8
Thanks for the answers and pictures as always. More is now explained and understood.
THURS, 19 MARCH 1942
"HEARD YESTERDAY THAT MACARTHUR WAS PUT IN SUPREME COMMAND IN THE FAR EAST; ARMY, AIR CORPS, EVEN NAVY! THREE ROUSING CHEERS, MAYBE WE'LL GET SOMEWHERE NOW. JAPS FIRED 6 SHOTS AT FRANK ABOUT 11:00 AM. WE RETALIATED WITH ONE MORTAR SHOT AT 6 POINTS (?) my parenthesis............ ;LOAC, CALUYA, BURI, MAY'S BATTERY ETC. (must get out my Philippine atlas"......
"RUTHERFORD, WHO IS JUST OUT OF HOSPITAL AFTER BEING AWAY FOR MONTHS, ENJOYED THE SHOOT, TOOK HIM THROUGH THE TUNNEL. HE IS CONVALESCENT FROM PNEUMONIA AND MALARIA AND IS PRETTY LOW PHYSICALLY.
"JAPS FIRED NO MORE ALL DAY BUT AT 05:15 WE GAVE THEM ANOTHER WORKING OVER. FIRED ANOTHER "FLOWER POT" FROM KOEHLER , 5 SHOTS AT 5 DIFFERENT TARGETS, THEN FIRED ABOUT 16 FROM CRAIGHILL AT TERNATE AND MARAGONDON PLUS 24 AT NAIC, MOST OF WHICH APPEARED TO FALL SHORT, DAMMIT, THOUGH WE THOUGHT WE COULD SEE 2 HITS ON THE CHURCH."
(So do they have a new church in Naic?)
(Can you still find some of those huge craters today from those shoots, or have the towns grown up over them?)
"GENERAL MOORE DROPPED IN THIS MORNING, AND CHATTED AWHILE, ABOUT OUR M.P.'S ETC. TWO OF MINE ARE BEING TRIED FOR SLEEPING ON POST AND 2 MORE FOR LEAVING POST DURING AIR RAIDS. ENGINEERS ARE REPAIRING MY CAR, BUT I DOUBT THEY WILL MAKE A GOOD JOB OF IT. THERE IS NO ACETYLENE LEFT ON POST FOR WELDING.
FRIDAY, 20 MARCH
AT ABOUT 11:15 WE SHOT OUR "FLOWER POT" FROM BATTERY KOEHLER'S 12 INCH MORTARS AND IT SOUNDED GRAND. MY CAR IS BACK AND, WHILE THE RAVAGES OF THE ACCIDENT ARE STILL VISIBLE, THEY DID A SURPRISINGLY GOOD JOB.
TODAY WE FIRED A FEW SHOTS FROM BATTERY GEARY'S 12" MORTARS TO TEST AN EXPERIMENTAL FUSE TAKEN FROM A 155mm SHELL; IN AN EFFORT TO GET A PROJECTILE THAT WILL GET HIGH ENOUGH TO HIT THOSE HIGH FLYING Japanese BOMBERS, WHO WELL KNOW THE LIMITATIONS OF OUR ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS. IF IT CAN BE MADE TO WORK IT WILL SURE JOLT THOSE JAPS!"
"ENGINEERS ARE DELAYED IN POURING CAP FOR G1 BECAUSE THEY CUT THEIR RAILS 2 FEET TO LONG! DRAFTSMAN'S ERR! IT WILL BE SEVERAL DAYS OF DELAY."
THEY BROUGHT THEIR ELECTRIC WELDERS BACK ON THE JOB AND AND WILL WELD OUR CHANNELS FOR US, FOR OUR TUNNEL SITES. ALL OUR CHANNELS ARE NOW CUT!
(Channels made of steel no wonder they are gone from all the tunnels today.)
"AFTER A VERY GOOD DINNER, WHICH FEATURED APPLE PIE AND EDAN CHEESE WE GOT OUR SHOWERS AND ON TO BATTERY HEARN FOR A CHAT. THEN TO MY AZATEA TO READ, BUT SOMEBODY HAD STOLEN MY 'SUCKERS PROGRESS' !
EDISON TOLD ME THAT LT. BLISS, WHOM I SENT BACK TO PUCOT HILL AS OBSERVER, HAS WORKED HIS MEN SO HARD THEY ARE GETTING SICK. ONCE HE MADE THEM DO 6 ROUND TRIPS UP THE HILL WITH SUPPLIES. THAT IS TO STIFF, WILL PULL HIM IN." (Pucot Hill)?
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Post by okla on Aug 11, 2009 5:59:02 GMT 8
hey phantom....according to battery boy's sketches and maps, mount pucot is located just west of mariveles in the "longo" point area. i assume mount pucot and pucot hill are one and the same.
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