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Post by fireball on Nov 24, 2019 12:35:14 GMT 8
Hi Jayveedr
Not sure if you have actually visited Fort Drum but if not you need to do so as even a boat trip around the outside will be of value. Fort Drum is a unique, large and very impressive piece of engineering which does not need a statue on top as that would not improve the site but rather detract from what is actually there.
If you are thinking along the lines of a sentinel guarding the city then what about a figure rising from the sea as there are shallow areas within the bay which would make this quite feasible and that would indeed be striking and it could link into Fort Drum as tourists could take the roundtrip boat trip encompassing both sites. Just be careful to make sure its quite a few mile out to sea from Roxas Boulevard as otherwise the next thing you know it will be in the middle of the next SM Mall.
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Post by fireball on Nov 10, 2019 17:52:41 GMT 8
Leaving aside any complications from possible asbestos it would be relatively easy to mark out a safe trail through a fairly restricted part of the interior. The complications arising would be of course visitors jumping barriers or making arrangements with any caretaker for 'private tours' (and of course any side business arrangement any caretaker may make with scrappers or for salvage). But even if no internal access was possible just looking at the outside from a boat or even from ontop of the structure is impressive. Getting on board can be a problem with any sort of waves but then at the moment the boat (and as EXO points out the outriggers of the Banca are not ideal) comes straight on to concrete and no step up so that could be made easier quite easily. Indeed, with a wood landing area with steps swimming from boat to steps would add to the visitor experience. Can't ever seeing it being an economic venture rather more one for a non-profit foundation or national pride and even then reliability of boat transport and realistic pricing would be crucial. Or, leave it the way it is and for those who want its there to visit.
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Post by fireball on Apr 16, 2019 21:22:14 GMT 8
Not sure if this has been posted before but found this on a link to Australian Warbirds News
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
ANOTHER PIECE OF THE CATALINA PUZZLE: RECONNAISSANCE MISSION UPDATE
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has positively identified a World War Two Catalina aircraft A24-64 following a successful reconnaissance mission in the Philippines.
In March 2019, RAAF conducted an inspection of a crash site south-east of Cape Calavite on the north-west end of Mindoro Island, after they became aware of several artefacts at this location in 2014. These artefacts consisted of a small metal tube engraved with the aircraft manufacturer’s logo, a brass crown identified by the RAAF Museum as part of an early RAAF officer’s cap badge, and .303 ammunition.
Although little remained of the aircraft, a number of small items of wreckage were found with metal detectors on this recent visit. Several items were subsequently identified as unique to the Catalina, which when combined with other evidence, confirmed the wreck site was the missing aircraft.
On 14 December 1944, Catalina A24-64 together with 22 other Catalina aircraft departed on a mission to Manila Bay with orders to rendezvous in the vicinity of Cape Calavite outbound from the target. All aircraft except A24-64 returned safely from the mission. A24-64 has not been seen or heard from since its departure from Leyte Gulf.
The recent visit provided an opportunity to assess the logistic requirements and local support available for any planned search and recovery mission. A search and recovery mission is now planned for early 2020.
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Post by fireball on Dec 9, 2018 0:16:24 GMT 8
Mt. Pinatubu and Lahar fields - apologies for no pics and coords for info.
With a few days in Philippines between flights I decided to head to Subic and then have a wander around the Lahar fields and possibly / hopefully reach Mt. Pinatubu. Turning up at the front gate of Casa Karl i spent a few hours gathering information on the routes and knowledge Karl had gained in the area and then with a few GPS Coords and Google Earth screen shots on my mobile (oh and with three cans tuna, two packets biscuit and one loaf bread per day for an anticipated three day trip) i headed off.
Going by bus to SAN MARCELINO (about P40) then Jeepney to the foot bridge east of the town (14° 59'25"N 120°15'19"E and about 12km by road - tricycle P200) i then started walking and by about 2pm (or a bit earlier) ended up at 15° 6'19.95"N 120°18'38.83"E at which point the route along the riverbed became impassible as it entered a narrow gorge / waterfall. Now Karl had mentioned a narrow gorge which had required climbing around so this was not unexpected (although subsequently on discussing the trip Karl believed that gorge to be closer to Pinatubu which given the time gap between our two trips is quite possible with the soft volcanic material being rapidly eroded). But one thing worried me and that was the stretch leading up to this furthest point I had reached would be impassible with any rain so I quickly scuttled back to 15° 6'6.00"N 120°18'21.31"E to make camp overnight - this spot was highish enough above the river to give sufficient warning to move even for a severe flash flood and there were remnants of two camp fires (one a small fire possibly from a single hunter and the other from a larger group).
The night was peaceful although slightly unnerving as a fairly full moon meant it was quite possible people could be moving around at night and being surprised (however peaceful the intentions) while sleeping never makes for a deep sleep. There was a couple of drops of rain and in the morning when I headed back towards Pinantubu the water levels had indeed risen and it was a bit ify at times and requiring crossing up to my waist in quite strong currents at times as some of the boulder leaps from the day before were not possible. From my previous furthest point if you look at GE then it all looks pretty easy but this was not the case and while from this furthest point there was a slope up to the left my attempts showed it to be potentially unstable with a couple of levels due to slippage. Being on my own I decided against it (two people and a rope in case of issues would have little problem I think to get up the slope in probably less then 10 minutes). The other problem, and in fact a bigger issues, was that the hillside was seriously overgrown and would need a bush knife / machete to get through and even so progress would be painfully slow and would need to be undertaken with the understanding that were rain to fall the short section back to the campsite would be impossible to pass. So, i then took a side channel heading north (about a 1/3rd of the way back to my campsite) and this actually does seem to possibly lead to higher ground and a way forward but with rain starting to fall I once again turned tail. Interestingly there were quite a few animal tracks and droppings - some of which from tracks close to my campsite appeared to be Civit and the others a more substantial animal. Returning to my campsite i then headed up to a point 15° 6'27.88"N 120°18'21.08"E in an attempt to find a way what to a possible track (or maybe its a slippage line & immediately obvious on GE) just to the west. This was not possible due to the high unstable lahar cliffs and so I headed back towards San Marcelino via a detour up to 15° 4'26.75"N 120°18'14.53"E which is the approach Karl had unsuccessfully tried previously to reach Pinantubu. The view of the steep valley and mountains to the east here conjures up images of the lost worlds of Conan Doyle but again due to water levels I headed back again. By this time even with little rain the wide river had expanded beyond its narrow channel and while shallow was surprisingly swift and powerful. That night I slept ivo 15° 1'55.61"N 120°16'27.73"E.
Now up to this point I had not come close to anyone just having seen a few motorbikes from a distance, an unattended tricycle and cart, as well as footprints. The morning brought contact with caribou cart and driver, female (contract) goat minder and children and then a few families in their houses (all Aeta) and while seeing lahar is impressive in the end it becomes all the same and so this was the highlight of the trip.
On getting back to the road I managed to wave down a tricycle and get him to agree to turn around and take me to San Marcelino but I baulked at the requested P400 fee so i continued walking. Trust me when I say this, just pay what ever they want as the road is reflective white and mainly lacking shade. Luckily a very helpful family offered me water and rest before offering their private motorbike (at no charge) to take me to San Marcelino.
So on return I quizzed Karl and options and planned another route but in the end other commitments prevented that. But, most interesting as part of my GE investigations I came across this: enter Street View at 15° 10'55.9"N 120°14'48.8"E (coords selected random along the route) and you can view the actual street view path through the lahar to Pinantubu. Its actually easier on a mbl phone as by entering street view (in the general area not by coords) the whole route is shown.
Now, given the high price of Corregidor why not spend three days meandering through the Lahar to even out the expenses. Indeed, aside from a better prepared attempt on Pinatubu (allow three nights and prepared to get stranded in case of rain) a five day wander would be quite worthwhile and allow far more to be seen and experienced. But, walking on the lahar and in the sun is hard work so if I return next time i will keep the water filter as thats essential (as well as lightiweight bivy bag and walking sandles for use during river boulder sections) but cut back on food to one tin tuna a day with crackers not bread as slight starving is easier than carrying weight over quite long distances and, with a backpack on, nothing quite says old age like clambering over boulders as you move along a river.
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Post by fireball on Sept 7, 2016 11:29:39 GMT 8
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Post by fireball on Aug 17, 2016 22:17:44 GMT 8
Personally, if I had been a defender of corregidor I would have been fighting to live not to win and that would show in my actions on the battlefield. Tanks just seem a good excuse for surrender.
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Post by fireball on Aug 12, 2016 4:41:49 GMT 8
Really great pictures !!!!!
V98 - with the piece of debris flying off in the explosion - reminds me that on one trip to Fort Drum there was a Banca with divers collecting scrap from the waters around the fort. Foolishly, as I had a mask & fins with me, I never even thought of getting in the water with them. An opportunity lost.
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Post by fireball on Aug 2, 2016 11:36:49 GMT 8
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Post by fireball on Apr 5, 2016 3:55:26 GMT 8
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Post by fireball on Feb 17, 2016 18:07:50 GMT 8
On levels accessible: all but the forward water / fuel tank deck are accessible although the rear machinery room is semi submerged
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