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Post by fots2 on Jul 5, 2012 0:41:10 GMT 8
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Post by fots2 on Jul 4, 2012 11:34:40 GMT 8
ExO,
I had a look at your photo. This should be simple but it is not. You cannot see this terrain today for all the trees so I tried using maps showing roads and contour intervals.
I have a couple ideas but not everything that can be seen fits either scenario. I will wait and see if others have suggestions.
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Post by fots2 on Jul 3, 2012 16:29:46 GMT 8
Recently a Manila Bay Minefield sketch was posted that showed the location of the Primary West (M’W) and Primary East (M’E) Command Posts associated with the Army electrical anti-ship mines. The East Command Post is noted on the 1936 map so was no surprise. It is labeled as the emergency back-up to the large East/West Mine Control Command Post just south of Battery James. The new information is that the Primary West Command Post, a building whose purpose was previously unknown, has now has been identified. It is not shown on the 1936 map. I have not posted photos of either Command Post in this thread so I thought I would do a little update to this report. This part of the Manila Bay Minefields Sketch shows the M’W and M’E Command Posts. (The red square is the Mine Control Casemate in James Ravine). The Primary East Command Post is a small reinforced structure just above the North Shore Road east of Battery James. It is circular in design, has rear steps coming down into it and no concrete roof. The remains of metal rods sticking out of the concrete indicate it probably had a wooden roof for weather protection. A concrete pedestal sits in the center of the floor. There is no damage to this structure. M’E Command Post. M’E Command Post. M’E Command Post. The more elaborate of the two structures is the Primary West Command Post. It is located south of Battery Hanna and high above the cliffs at the western end of the island. The field of view from this vantage point ranges from north (towards Bataan) to south (South China Sea). This command post was a rectangular building of reinforced concrete. It had a concrete roof and observation window the length of the building. This command post was extensively damaged and is mostly collapsed today. Below the North Shore Road, the hillside above the vertical cliffs is quite steep. There are three or four sets of concrete steps going down to M’W. This is the front of the building just above the cliffs. The roof has collapsed inside the bottom section of the front wall. The flat concrete with the trim edge you see is the bottom of the observation window that was the length of the wall. The south side of the building is heavily damaged also. The observation window actually wrapped around the edges of the front wall to extend about three feet along both side walls. This photo shows the front corner of an inside wall. The horizontal part is the bottom of the observation window. The rear wall and ceiling are undamaged. From the rear wall, this is the view looking towards the front of the Command Post. The ceiling has collapsed down inside the front observation window. See the dark hole in the floor? Yes, it is a tunnel going straight down. Looking back up the same tunnel. The tunnel turns and heads out toward the cliff face. You can see a few of the unhappy lizards I chased out of the way. The entrance is ahead. Looking into the tunnel entrance.
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Post by fots2 on Jun 29, 2012 16:40:34 GMT 8
Hi Karl, Regarding Fort Hughes, I think you have it correct. As we passed the island that day I remember you taking those photos. The attached map confirms that the Datun Poiint is offshore.
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Post by fots2 on Jun 28, 2012 15:28:23 GMT 8
Thank-you for posting the cards Bob.
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Post by fots2 on Jun 28, 2012 15:16:21 GMT 8
Hi oozlefinch,
That sounds very interesting. I will send a Personal Message to you.
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Post by fots2 on Jun 28, 2012 15:13:06 GMT 8
Here is a map for you oozlefinch. The Bakery is Green. The South Shore Road around Malinta Hill is Yellow.
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Post by fots2 on Jun 27, 2012 15:16:42 GMT 8
ozzlefinch,
I have zigzagged up the eastern side of Malinta Hill looking for anything of interest. Not much was found. The last 30 feet or so before the top was very steep and I had to crawl on my stomach using roots and scrubby trees to hold onto. (I won't do that again).
The rock slide that covered the second tunnel is a bit north of what would be directly below the East Defense Officer's Station.
It would be great if such a tunnel and gun still existed but I think the chances of that are slim.
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Post by fots2 on Jun 27, 2012 14:59:07 GMT 8
Take your time, there is lots to see here.
(Responses in red)
Reply #122 shows a picture of a trench line with overhead canvas covering. Al McGrew once showed me a picture of this area taken from the right of this picture. As I recall it was along the west side of Malinta Hill in the vacinity of the bakery.
The old wartime trench photo in Reply #122 looks like a beach defense to me. Sandbags and sand at the right. The Bakery building was almost in the middle of Bottomside. I do not know exactly where the trench was located as there are few landmarks to be seen.
Reply #229 shows in one of the pictures bases for machine gun towers on a hill. Do you remember which hill they were on?
On the 1936 map, four machine gun towers are shown to have been up on Way Hill (NW of the Ordinance Machine Shop). This is a photo of one of those bases.
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Post by fots2 on Jun 21, 2012 13:10:04 GMT 8
Wow, I would love to see those ’87 photos. Perhaps you have some geeky neighborhood kid looking for such a project. Good luck.
There is an amazing aerial photo of the two east side tunnels. (I wish I had a hi-rez version of it). Supposedly both contained 3-inch pedestal mount guns. There is a close-up photo of one of these tunnels that shows the gun. By the way, do you know where these guns came from? Was it Battery Maxwell Keyes?
The left side tunnel was buried by a landslide that also covered the road going to the top of the hill. That is where the little detour with the rope handrails are now. The right side tunnel is still there but the gun is missing. I have no idea where the gun went as it was gone before my exploring days. To my knowledge, there is no such type of gun on the island anymore.
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