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Post by tomasctt on Dec 22, 2010 13:46:08 GMT 8
I'm currently planning a trek set for 18-20 March 2011. Destinations: Tarak Ridge, Mt Mariveles, and Fort Mills. The objective at Tarak is to find Kurosawa's Nate and perhaps Stone's P-40 that crashed there. I've been to the pacificwrecks site and also seen that page of Kevin Hamdorf on the Nate and will use that as a springboard. I hope to catch a glimpse of the Nate's wreckage, and maybe add more info for the search of Stone's P-40. That Tarak trek is set on 18-19 March. The plan is to start trekking at 0400, so that the group can hit the ridge and set up camp by 1200. Search for the Nate and P-40 starts after lunch. Descent starts on 19 March at 0400hrs. From Tarak, the group goes to Fort Mills via banca from Mariveles. I'd like more info on how, where, and how much to rent a boat to Fort Mills from Bataan. ETA at Fort Mills will hopefully be at 1000hrs, setting camp at South Dock. From there, I'll lead the group around Topside. On 20 March, the group goes around the island some more, perhaps up Malinta Hill to look for that pom-pom or remains of it. Leaving Fort Mills via banca to Bataan at 1400hrs. Tips, info, suggestions, maps would be greatly appreciated. Currently, the people I'll be with are fellow mountaineers. Anyone interested in meeting us at Tarak and/or Fort Mills, just tell me.
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Post by chadhill on Dec 22, 2010 18:40:21 GMT 8
That sounds very interesting. Best of luck. I hope you can find find Lt. Stone so that he can finally be brought home. According to William Bartsch, Sgt. Kurosawa's remains were found near his Nate by a search party in 1942. I've lost the link to Karl's report but recall that some of his personal effects or remains were returned to Japan recently. Please let us know how it goes.
I recently watched an old VHS tape of a meeting with veteran Max McClain, on Corregidor in 1987. He started out at Battery Crockett but later transferred to Searchlight # 5. Max told me he was rotated through all the searchlight batteries so that he could learn the nuances of each position. This included searchlight # 8, which as you know was near the pom-pom and where its crew unfortunately took refuge from the 240mm bombardment. Anyways, Max said that the pom-pom was, in 1987, on display down on Bottomside with several other weapons. He said it was missing one of the four barrels.
Post-battle photos of the pom-pom show that at least one of the barrels was heavily damaged. The gun was originally destined for the USS Houston and I would think that spare barrels would have been been brought with it to Corregidor, as they tended to wear out. Perhaps the Japanese had tried to change the ruined one.
I vaguely recall seeing the pom-pom during that trip and think I have a photo, but have been unable to find it.
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Post by batteryboy on Dec 22, 2010 20:48:49 GMT 8
Ask Karl to help you touch base with Kevin Hamdorf. He was the key in locating for Stone's and Kurosawa's aircraft wrecks.
Chad, will be interested to see the 1987 photo of the pom-pom if you can find it.
Cheers,
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