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Post by fots2 on Jul 18, 2012 13:23:35 GMT 8
armyjunk,
After a preliminary tour, fireball and I have an idea where the two tunnels may have been located. The city of Mariveles has grown to such an extent that what was the airfield is now totally covered by densely packed houses. Getting to the hillside where we would like to look will involve tramping across lots of private property. It is worth the effort however I have not been back there lately to do it. Someday perhaps.
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Post by sherwino on Jul 18, 2012 15:01:39 GMT 8
Guys, during one of my "tambays" (standby, for passing of time), a folk suddenly told me that an old man in the vicinity knew about a tunnel. Though I have not yet confirmed the identity of the old man and the tunnel location, it surprised me that a tunnel could have really existed within the area. Here's a link to the Tagumpay Hill, it's adjacent to the old airstrip: corregidor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=discussions&action=display&thread=1146My estimate of the airfield is somewhat short after comparing it with one of the pictures in Pacific wrecks.
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Post by fots2 on Jul 18, 2012 17:41:51 GMT 8
Sherwino, Tagumpay Hill that you are exploring is the exact location where we are guessing that the two tunnels beside the airstrip were dug (at the base of it adjacent to the airstrip). I think you are correct that the airstrip extended longer than the labeling on the Google Earth photo. In fact, it looks to stop just short of where the Pucot Rives crosses the road. (closer to your house). Map courtesy of armyjunk
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Post by fortune40 on Jul 18, 2012 19:13:41 GMT 8
Sherwino, Tagumpay Hill that you are exploring is the exact location where we are guessing that the two tunnels beside the airstrip were dug (at the base of it adjacent to the airstrip). I think you are correct that the airstrip extended longer than the labeling on the Google Earth photo. In fact, it looks to stop just short of where the Pucot Rives crosses the road. (closer to your house). Map courtesy of armyjunk
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Post by sherwino on Jul 18, 2012 20:05:16 GMT 8
If the tunnels are beside the airstrip, it means they are now behind private properties, making an exploration somewhat troublesome. I have never been at the back of those houses there. Haven't seen a tunnel during my childhood days when there were just a few houses over there. Perhaps, the tunnels have been totally destroyed before the surrender. one of dmether's maps of the hill seems to have the tunnels on the other side. perhaps some variation of the drawings from the actual site. But, as I also heard from here, the tunnels were for ammunition and hangar purposes. Thus making it adjacent to the airstrip a logical choice. Somehow, I had thought before that they were at the otherside, constructed for ammunition storage only.
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Post by fortune40 on Jul 18, 2012 20:36:32 GMT 8
Hello Sherwino..I am also from Mariveles though not native born but my family resides there now..I am also a history buff but not an expert like you guys specially for WW2 in Corregidor and Bataan.At present im working here in the Middle East..I hope to meet you someday and jointly explore the area..When i came there during the early 80's we used to find live ammo's of .50caliber the longest still attached is around 8rounds.It was in the mattel beach near the speed boat yard.i did not keep mine and thrown it somewhere as it may cause me troubles..i dont know if those ammo where brought there maybe by the destruction of ammo dumps nearby before the surrender..? just my guess only..good day
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Post by sherwino on Jul 18, 2012 21:22:16 GMT 8
Thanks, fortune. I don't consider myself an expert but only a student to the experts here. Perhaps on your vacation we can meet and do some exploring. So you've been here as early as the 80s. My folks also used to find bullets and helmets here at our compound during those days. They used to say that it was once a military camp during the war. My place is very near to what once the Mariveles airfield. At your barangay(Cabcaben), there's the Cabcaben airfield. Through this forum and with fots help, I have determined the place. So keep on reading here, this forum has a lot to provide for our passion.
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Post by chadhill on Jul 18, 2012 23:26:04 GMT 8
Here's a couple of war time photos of the Mariveles Field area. The first is from a Japanese recon flight in 1942, the second from a US bombing raid in 1945 (note sunken ship off end of runway). (courtesy batteryboy)
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Post by fortune40 on Jul 18, 2012 23:47:32 GMT 8
Sherwino. thanks for the reply..i have seen the USA photo above Mariveles..the town is so simple and rustic during the time.The bridge is very visible my house at present day is about 200meters going to the People's Park direction.I saw a clipping in the Critical Past, that bridge where the POW's and Japanese troops were marching in opposite direction which i remembered before was still there, the riprapping in footings foundation, but it changed when the bridge was demolished and converted to a footbridge..So curious that i think in the 80's there were still plenty to see inside BASECO the former US Naval base..Some folks i overheard as saying that the siren to signal the knock off time in the shipyard is of wartime origin and must be the air raid siren..my hunch only..! Well going back to the tunnels as i see in the photos for sure there was a telltale marks of treasure hunting..Not even one relics survived..Well its really addicting..i hope there were still something to discover later..good day..l
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Post by sherwino on Jul 19, 2012 7:58:23 GMT 8
I really love the 2nd pic, Chad. Do you have a high-resolution pic that you can send me? The curve on the lower right is at our place. Our house is now in that woods before the curve. @fotune. Geez, i thought you were from Cabcaben. If that siren is of wartime origin, wow! We might have been hearing all along what it used to be during the war. You're right on the treasure hunting marks. It's rampant in our place. Going back to the M1 and M2 tunnels, I guess they were not the same as the Navy tunnels. The Tagumpay Hill seems not to be as solid as the hills of the Navy tunnels. Are there some information regarding to M1 and M2 specs?
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