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Post by chadhill on Mar 11, 2011 10:56:19 GMT 8
Fots, thank you for posting those photos of the short tank in your thread "Miscellaneous travels on Corregidor (p.9)". Do you know if the black area on the wall has a sooty texture or feel? Or is it something else like mold? Courtesy Fots photo, taken from the southeast. I'm not sure if soot could still be on a surface exposed to the elements all these years. Maybe the residue could have become imbedded in the concrete pours. In the late 1980s I saw a Japanese canteen, exposed to the elements on Iwo Jima, that had been burned black from flamethrowers in 1945. According to the written accounts of Miller and King, a Japanese machine gun had been set up inside one of the water tanks to fire through a hole in the wall near the base of the tank. Other accounts mention MGs near a water tank, but not inside. As you point out, the only opening near the ground in the short tank is this: Courtesy Fots photos. Hole in wall faces the south. As you stated, the Japanese MG would have had to be raised about three feet off the ground to fire from this position. That puts some doubt in my mind that such a weapon was placed here. The hole today has become enlarged since I took this photo in 1986: I wonder if it was still even smaller in 1942. The field of fire it could offer would seem to be restricted. For comparison, here are the two 1986 photos I took from opposite sides of the now extinct tall water tank. Although there is much growth in the way, the only thing I see resembling a hole near the ground is by the red arrow. This hole, too, is several feet off the ground. I'm not sure what to think about the MG-inside-the-tank accounts now. The photos don't seem to support it very strongly, but stranger things have happened. Here is one more photo (1986) of the inside of the short tank, showing part of the then intact roof. It was on top of the roof that I found what may have been pull-rings.
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Post by fots2 on Mar 11, 2011 19:13:16 GMT 8
Hi Chad,
I just got back from a family vacation to Baguio yesterday so I can catch up a bit on the forums now.
The hole does indeed look wider than in your photo. I wonder if it was enlarged a bit during construction of the interior tank to allow easier access. There is no other way inside unless it is over the outside wall.
It is interesting to see that part of the roof was still there when you visited in 1986. That tells me that the rectangular tank inside the old one was built sometime after that since a section of the roof is now on top of it. All the roof has fallen now.
If any rings were still on top at the time of roof collapse then they may be inside. The soil there is quite hard probably due to years of being flooded during a rain and then drying out repeatedly.
Sorry I did not examine the blackened area on the tank but I will scrape off a flake for you and see what it looks like. I will be back on the island next week so may get that done then. I’ll let you know.
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Post by chadhill on Mar 12, 2011 14:45:29 GMT 8
Here is the map found by dmether at the National Archives last year. He learned it was drawn by an unknown POW at Cabanatuan. At the top, right of center, it says "0315 6-May". I have drawn a red arrow pointing at what appears to be the Japanese main line position. At its center is an "O" symbol which is the location of the short water tank; immediately to the left is another "O" which is the tall water tank. According to King, Sergeants Sweeney and Haskin began their assault at the water tank about 0345. If this time is correct and if the map portrays the Japanese line accurately, it could suggest that the seargeants' actions occurred at the short tank. However, Miller implies that it happened later in the morning, "in the predawn darkness". Howell states that sunrise was at 0532 with twilight beginning about 30 minutes prior. Another account says Sweeney was killed after "scaling the tank in broad daylight". This is another map dmether found (see Tailside Cemeteries thread). It shows the location of MIA remains recovered when Graves Registration searched Corregidor between August 1947-February 1948. All remains were thought to have been from the 1942 battle. I have drawn red arrows pointing to the water tanks. A total of 48 remains were recovered, 33 of which were identified (28 US and 5 Philippine Scouts). All had been buried in foxholes. According to the report, 20 remains were found in the Denver Hill area. Among those identified were Sergeant Haskin and LT Bethel V. Otter, USN. Otter, formerly of the USS Canopus, commanded Company T of the 4th Battalion reserves and was killed while leading an assault on a Japanese machine gun nest near Battery Denver at about 0730. The locations where the remains were recovered is shown by a "+". The report does not state which gravesite an identified set of remains was found at. It does not reveal where Haskins and Otter were found. I checked the ABMC site and CAPT Noel O. Castle is listed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery.
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Post by fots2 on Mar 12, 2011 16:51:58 GMT 8
Hi chadhill,
That information along with the sketch puts you as close as you can be to knowing which tank was used on that day during that battle. As you say we do not know exactly how accurate everything is but at least you have more pieces of the puzzle to play with.
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Post by dmether on Mar 12, 2011 20:43:27 GMT 8
Was skimming through the thread, wonder if these are the water tanks you are discussing. Attachments:
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Post by dmether on Mar 12, 2011 20:58:37 GMT 8
Top of the water tower. Attachments:
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Post by EXO on Mar 12, 2011 22:13:15 GMT 8
No, the tanks being discussed (there were two, but now there is one, courtesy of the powers that be destroying a battlefield to erect a battlefield memorial) were over on the eastern side of the island, beyond Malinta Hill. The three water tanks which you have pictured are on Topside, still, thankfully. Thanks for the posting! During the last week of February 1945, when "F" Company had been withdrawn from active combat, they were moved over to secure the perimeter around the lighthouse and water tanks. Bill Calhoun, who is still with us, and a tireless supporter of our 503d Heritage Bn concept, recalls about the time: "Big Navy binoculars which my platoon used daily, resting them on a block of wood. Lots of parachutes for padding. They watched the line of fires in Manila to determine our progress (last week on Corregidor.) We had strict orders not to damage or put away chutes. MacArthur's party carried all they could hold while we guarded them. Bless 'em All." Here's one right back at ya! The view from the top of the tank! Bill further recalls: "Sitting on top of the light house and tanks was a good viewing stand for observing the aerial naval bombardment of Caballo Island. P-47's worked it over daily. Soon some P-38's joined the attacks. The really spectacular attacks were made by two P-51's. We had heard about this new fighter being used in Europe. We really did not expect to see any over here. The most modern equipment went to Europe. Some Army Air Force people had said that the planes would never be able to operate off the dusty strips in the Pacific because of the big air scoop in front of the engine: none the less, two P-51's had shown up at Mindoro and were being given a thorough workout. Their bombing attacks were beautiful to behold. They would come flying over Caballo Island as though they were going on to Manila. Suddenly they would fall off on one wing and go into an apparent vertical dive towards the island. At a low altitude they would drop their bomb, pull out of the dive and gracefully climb for altitude.
Also, during the day two or three destroyers were usually steaming slowly around the island and firing at a slow, deliberate rate with their five inch guns."
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Post by EXO on Mar 13, 2011 6:51:55 GMT 8
I sent this page link to Bill Calhoun who has responded thus: Now identified, Angelo Kambakumis spent his off-duty hours observing the goings on East of Topside. (ConcerningSC-111 SC 203068) which displays the light house and a man on top. We had had quite a few casualties, and following the action described in “My Day with the Rattlesnakes,” F Company was moved back to the Post Headquartes-light house-water tank area.
Remember on the third night we had no reserves (everybody was on the line). F Company was placed back as the reserve. On the night of the 16th the Japs from Endo’s force got almost to the 59th C.A, Barracks. Our medics were set up in these commonly called “mile long barracks.” My platoon was given the post radio tower and the light house.
With what we have I can not identify the men; however I will venture to say that is Angelo Kambakumis at the large Navy binoculars.
We patrolled daily with the healthy one left. Moose had a badly sprained ankle and was always left. He spent a great deal of time looking at Manila through the binoculars. I have lll-SC203068 which was taken my one of the Signal Corps men who jumped with us. Kambakumus spent the days lying on the water tower lying on parachutes looking across Manila Bay at the advancing of our army in taking back Manila. You could tell our progress advancing across Manila by the smoke of the burning buildings in the city.
At that time three of the tanks still had roofs. One had been blown off. There was some water in each tank. Water did not get through until the 3rd day. They had to break through the Japanese lines at the ice house to get it up there. We were moved back the afternoon of the 3rd day on the way to the light house. It was not drinkable. Some did and later suffered from hepatitis. All the water we’d had was what we had in or canteens, and our hopes were desperate due to thirst.
I will always remember that beautiful sight when we moved along the old street in front of the 59th Barracks—there was a full lister bag hanging from a tripod in front of us.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 8:29:47 GMT 8
I am the Grandson of Thomas F. Sweeney and I am try to learn as much as I can. I have his Silver star which was award posthumously to his Son (my dad) 9 years later when he was a Private in the USMC
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Post by okla on Jul 27, 2011 9:44:28 GMT 8
Hey Theron....You obviously have great "bloodlines". You can certainly be proud of your forebearers. I think I can take it upon myself and speak for all the others to say that this forum is certainly honored to have you come on board.
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