Karl’s Corregidor Trips.

[beirutvet]

Karl

I was going to like your post but in no way did I want it construed that I "liked" what the state of affairs were on the island.  I hope you will understand.  My jaw figuratively hit the floor when I saw that picture of 'Mile Long' Barracks.  What a sad situation.  It is bad enough that history can be so easily forgotten, but it is so much worse when it is abandoned.

[Karl Welteke]

2018-Oct 16 to 18 Karl’s Visit to Corregidor


This is the last segment of my overview of the visit to Corregidor. I was to meet the PMA class but there were no boats, they had to cancel. So I went off on my own. Today I added the last 16 mages to the Photobucket album and Facebook Album.

Uploaded to Photobucket:

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Corregidor%20at%20Random/CI%202017-2019%20Random%20Albums/2018%20Oct%2016%20to%2018%20Karl%20visit?sort=9&page=1

Uploaded to Facebook:

www.facebook.com/karlwilhelm.welteke/media_set?set=a.10214841952356057&type=3


For this forum presentation I chose these 8 images; they are uploaded to my Photobucket account, as the server. Because of Photobucket’s poor quality of service not all pictures may open.





Z199. n 181017 C.I.fm.Middleside,go down . 001a. This is my GPS track of my 2nd day on Corregidor Island, the ex Fort Mills. It was 11 km+; I started about at Ordinance Repair Shop and looked at a few places very thoroughly.





Z200. n 181017 C.I.fm.Middleside,go down . 003. I reached Middleside on Corregidor Island, coming from Topside. I notice the high grass everywhere. The new Corregidor Management seems to have even fewer resources than the old one. This is the Middleside Parade Ground; at times it was called Heering-Field (not sure about the spelling). In its early days the horses maybe exercised here, the horse stables were on the south side of here. At right is the road down to Bottomside, the parade ground was used one time during the President Marcos times for a big Youth for Pease event, that is what is written on that wall.





Z201. n 181017 C.I.fm.Middleside,go down . 005. On 10th June 2007 a Mason Lodge dedicated a Memorial Plaque near the YMCA building. This is the URL: corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1808/spanish-war-veterans-plaque






Z202. n 181017 C.I.fm.Middleside,go down . 006. This is the road to the Government Ravine on the former Ft. Mills, Corregidor. Left is to Battery Ramsey and right to the Government Ravine, this area is used for recycling the trash now.





Z203. n 181017 C.I.fm.Middleside,go down . 008. This is the road to the Government Ravine on the former Ft. Mills on Corregidor. This area is used for recycling the trash now. These bins are used for different trash items. But trash is so piled up so at left that one has to fight one’s way across it, in order to find the road to the Government Ravine and the former Philippine Government Vault.





Z204. n 181017 C.I.fm.Middleside,go down . 010. Presently going on, is this project of placing these curve warning signs at all curves on Corregidor. There were some before but this project is to cover all curves 100%.





Z205. n 181017 C.I.fm.Middleside,go down . 012. Another project going on now, is to place new Km Stone markers or replace them all along all roads used by motor vehicles. This is half way down to Bottomside from Middleside. At right we see the sign for the shortcut to Middleside. They are not finished yet, to highlight with paint the Km information






Z206. n 181017 C.I.fm.Middleside,go down . 014. This is always a nice view coming down from Middleside. On this day, the 17th Oct. 2018 the Corregidor Inn was closed, this week no boats from Manila were available and so no hotel guests. The north shore of Bottomside looked empty, deserted. We see a close up of the Malinta Hill slopes above the west entrance to the tunnel, another small rockslide had occurred since my July 2018 visit.

[beirutvet]

OMG!  Are you kidding me?!  

There are what, maybe a handful of motored vehicles on an island barely a few square miles in size and they are wasting their scant resources on 'curve ahead' signs and kilometer markings?  To what end?

I have never claimed to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, so, am I missing something here?



_____

Well recognized. You are sharper than you would have us believe, mate! -exo-

-----
Note from Karl: I am sure that money did not come out of the CFI budget! That is just a project the National Public Works and Highway Department came up with. All these projects on Corregidor happen because another entity came up with an idea and money. That is how most projects got done on Corregidor; CFI budget is very small and covers security and maintenance, water, cleaning etc.

[Karl Welteke]

Corregidor Island Visit with Glen and Harald 2019-01-25 to 28.

Glen Williford came to check out Corregidor for a possible future trip organized by the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org). He asked me to join him; I agreed and dragged along a retired German Army Officer, a family friend. I will establish just one album with the general pictures, not of a specific subject, and it will be in batches because of the many images.

For this presentation of the first batch, I chose these 10 images:



Z370. A001 we used a Villa Carmen boat in Cabcaben to go to Corregidor Island. It takes effort to launch and recover the boats. They provided a walking board, so we kept our shoes dry.



Z371. A004. one of 5 images (in the album) of our Villa Carmen boat arriving at the North-Shore on Corregidor; we see a maritime academy ship in port and the Sun Cruises Ferry also has arrived at the North Dock



Z372. A004. one of 5 images (in the album) of our Villa Carmen boat arriving at the North-Shore on Corregidor; we see a maritime academy ship in port and the Sun Cruises Ferry also has arrived at the North Dock. Too bad, Sun Cruises does not allow transient ferry tickets anymore, they require you to pay for guided tour and buffet lunch, about 3000 peso+ whether you want it or not!



Z373. A009. We wanted to check the spare 12 inch rifle, barrel laying at Bottomside, we saw it, (nobody took it, he, he). We noticed electric wire run to the Malinta Tunnel, CFI is running the Sound and Light Show now, hence the wires. We had a look at the tree planting credit plates, these two, close to the spare 12 inch gun barrel were donated by the former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.



Z374. A011. this watering hole on the south side at Bottomside on Corregidor is not used anymore, since a few weeks ago. The family who run it took over the Baywalk watering hole on the north shore and they have the best prices!



Z375. A012. The Department of Public Works and Highways not only replaced the Km markers and the curve warning signs last year, but also the boundary marker of the roads, like this one.



Z376. A013. One of three images (in the album) about the parking of the trolleys and other vehicles, a lot more vehicles are now parked on the street. It looks like that Sun Cruises has now less under the roof area to park their trolleys?



Z377. A018. One of 4 images (in the album) in the Corregidor Engineering Ravine to find a shortcut to the North Shore Road because the trash at the end of the Engineering Ravine is blocking the access. This shortcut by the power plant is gone.



Z378. A020. A cleaning project seems to be in progress in the Corregidor Island Engineering Ravine. Old derelict vehicles and or other material are cut up for salvage.





Z379. A022. One of 4 images in the Corregidor Engineering Ravine to find a shortcut to the North Shore Road because the trash at the end of the Engineering Ravine is blocking the access. This shortcut by the oil or fuel tank is ok.



If you would like to look at all the pictures, I uploaded the first batch with 23 images into these two albums:

Uploaded to Facebook
www.facebook.com/karlwilhelm.welteke/media_set?set=a.10215793004771773&type=3


Uploaded to the Photobucket:
s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Corregidor%20at%20Random/CI%202017-2019%20Random%20Albums/2019%20Jan%20Glen%20Harald%20on%20Corregidor?sort=9&page=1

[Karl Welteke]

2nd Batch

Corregidor Island Visit with Glen and Harald 2019-01-25 to 28.

Glen Williford came to check out Corregidor for a possible future trip organized by the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org). He asked me to join him; I agreed and dragged along a retired German Army Officer, a family friend. I will establish just one album with the general pictures, not of a specific subject, and it will be in batches because of the many images.

For this presentation of the 2nd batch of 19 images, I chose these 7 images for the forum:


16th March uploaded 19 images of the South Dock area.



Z390. B002. Corregidor Sunrise from the South Dock, Caballo Island is at right, the ex Fort Hughes is at right, the Philippine Navy uses it now.



Z391. B007. The Corregidor South Dock, I believe, the installation at the end of the pier, is part of a tsunami warning or detection system, installed a few years ago.



Z392. B009. It looks like this part of the Corregidor South Dock is assisted to stay in place with a piece of line. Corregidor needs attention from the authorities for funds to keep up the island infrastructure.



Z393. B011. This is the south beach, Bottomside on Corregidor Island; here was the largest Philippine Village until the war started. The 34th Infantry landed here and split the Island and the Japanese could not coordinate their movements



Z394. B012. This is the west end of the south beach, Bottomside on Corregidor Island. The 34th Infantry landed here and split the Island, heavy machine gun fire and heavier came from there and the Navy ships helped to blast them out.



Z395. B013. This is the south beach, Bottomside on Corregidor Island; here we see a turtle track heading back into the water after laying and burying its eggs.



Z396. B016. This is the Corregidor South Dock; during the war the Navy used it a lot. The Naval District 16 and much of the Navy moved to Ft. Mills here. At right is Breakwater Point and in the distance is Cavite and Batangas.
.








If you would like to look at all the pictures, I uploaded the first batch with 23 images into these two albums:

Uploaded to Facebook
www.facebook.com/karlwilhelm.welteke/media_set?set=a.10215793004771773&type=3


Uploaded to the Photobucket:
s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Corregidor%20at%20Random/CI%202017-2019%20Random%20Albums/2019%20Jan%20Glen%20Harald%20on%20Corregidor?sort=9&page=1

[Karl Welteke]

3nd Batch

Corregidor Island Visit with Glen and Harald 2019-01-25 to 28.

Glen Williford came to check out Corregidor for a possible future trip organized by the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org). He asked me to join him; I agreed and dragged along a retired German Army Officer, a family friend. I will establish just one album with the general pictures, not of a specific subject, and it will be in batches because of the many images.

For this presentation of the 3rd batch of 28 images, I chose these 11 images for the forum:




Z408. One of several images of the Northshore coast line towards Battery Point on Corregidor Island shot from the Engineering Dock. I believe in the future I have to go along the shoreline to Battery Pt. the road, to it is too grown over.



Z408a. One of several images of a Maritime Training Ship moored to the Engineering Dock with their school cadets on Corregidor Island. I believe in the future it will come more often. It was good business for the new MacArthur Lounge.



Z409. This is one of several images that show that the Baywalk at the Northshore, Bottomside on Corregidor Island is beginning to deteriorate.



Z410. One of two images that show Lorcha Dock where Gen. MacArthur left from in March 1942 and the coal fired Power plant in the Mariveles area on Bataan.


.
Z411. A Battery Cheney image on Corregidor in the former Fort Mills that shows part of the 12 Inch shell moving hoist and track.



Z412. We stopped at the First Flag Monument Topside on Corregidor, just west of the parade ground, to check up on the monument in preparation of the next anniversary of the 16th Feb. the Assault Day on the Japanese held Fort Mills.



Z413. The flags are flying at the monuments Topside, in the former Fort Mills, now the Pacific War Memorial on Corregidor Island.



Z414. The tourist season is on and the Sun Cruises Ferry brings many tourists to Corregidor, sometime they have to use 6 or more trolleys to accommodate them. This is Topside on Corregidor; the so called Mile Long Barracks is in back.



Z415. The Corregidor Tractor with attached mower is parked at Topside on Corregidor Island. I am not sure it works because the grass on the Topside Parade Ground is not cut.



Z416. We walked thru the Pacific War Memorial, always memorial and observed one place of deterioration and someone placed a wreath but we could not tell who did.



Z417. We walked thru the Pacific War Memorial, always memorial and observed one place of deterioration and someone placed a wreath but we could not tell who did.








If you would like to look at all the pictures, I uploaded the first batch with 28 images into these two albums:

Uploaded to Facebook

www.facebook.com/karlwilhelm.welteke/media_set?set=a.10215793004771773&type=3


Uploaded to the Photobucket:

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Corregidor%20at%20Random/CI%202017-2019%20Random%20Albums/2019%20Jan%20Glen%20Harald%20on%20Corregidor?sort=9&page=1

[Karl Welteke]

4th and last Batch

Corregidor Island Visit with Glen and Harald 2019-01-25 to 28.

Glen Williford came to check out Corregidor for a possible future trip organized by the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org). He asked me to join him; I agreed and dragged along a retired German Army Officer, a family friend. I will establish just one album with the general pictures, not of a specific subject, and it will be in batches because of the many images.

For this presentation of the 4th and last batch of 26 images, I chose these 8 images for the forum:



Z425. D03 Corregidor 2019-01-25 to 28,Duck-Walk Tnl. Exit. This is the Duck-Walk Tunnel Exit between Battery Way and the Fort Mills Hospital.



Z426. D05 Corregidor 2019-01-25 to 28,Japanese. Machine Gun Frame. This is the WWII Japanese Machine Gun Frame next to the road from the Battery Way area towards the Fort Mills Commissary.



Z427. D09 Corregidor 2019-01-25 to 28,windy at the North Shore. The Philippine National Flag in front of the Corregidor Foundation Admin Building near sun set on the 26th. Jan. 2019.



Z428. D11 Corregidor 2019-01-25 to 28,L.to R. North Shore from Lorcha Dock. Views, left to right, near sun set, of Malinta Hill, the Coast Guard Building and the Corregidor Foundation Admin Building from Lorcha Dock.



Z429. D13 Corregidor 2019-01-25 to 28,Trolley Shelter. One possible change I noticed is that many trolleys are now parked outside, not longer under a roof. Are there more trolleys or is there a change in the management of parking the trolleys now?



Z430. D16 Corregidor 2019-01-25 to 28, what,no more services. Does this mean the Corregidor Foundation is no longer able to help with transportation to Battery Cheney,-Morrison or drive down to James Ravine if a group has elderly people?



Z431. D19 Corregidor 2019-01-25 to 28,Only Japanese. Gun left in pos. This is the only Japanese artillery piece still in place on Corregidor Island, is this the piece, that caused casualties on one U.S. Destroyer; it is on Morrison Hill.



Z432. D25 Corregidor 2019-01-25 to 28,CFI Transportation is hurting. In the last year things have changed on Corregidor, some things have become extremely expensive, less grass is cut, trails are not passable, and perhaps CFI needs more resources.







If you would like to look at all the pictures, I uploaded the first batch with 28 images into these two albums:

Uploaded to Facebook
www.facebook.com/karlwilhelm.welteke/media_set?set=a.10215793004771773&type=3


Uploaded to the Photobucket:
s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Corregidor%20at%20Random/CI%202017-2019%20Random%20Albums/2019%20Jan%20Glen%20Harald%20on%20Corregidor?sort=9&page=1

[oozlefinch]

Karl, I hope when you make it out to Battery Point you're able to find some evidence of the Bobmproof Infantry Quarters that was located there. I spent several hours looking for it back in 1989, but had no luck finding it, or anything related to it such as ventilator shafts.

[Karl Welteke]

Corregidor visit 6th to 8th April 2019 for the Tribute to all Filipino Heroes Day


The Heroes Day is on the 7th of April but I arrived one day earlier. I also wanted to say hello to the Kwiecinski family who are the guides for the Valor Tour.

1st Day, 6th of April 2019, Saturday.

I drove from my home in Olongapo to Villa Carmen in two hours. The boat ride normally costs 3000 peso now. However when I told them that I was planning the return trip with another company, the company the Valor Tour was using, they wanted 3500. They said, because I was staying overnight on the island and use another boat to come back, which means the single ride costs 3500. I argued but what can a person do?

I took the ride, it was a calm sea day, I arrived and learned that the island entrance price is now 300 peso; can’t argue with that, the entrance price has been 200 peso forever. The room, ex MacArthur Café rooms, cost 1500 peso per day, paid that for 2 nights. It is aircon, has everything except soap, but I brought some.

I noticed a Navy LCU landing craft already arrived with vehicles but they were never offloaded, I did not figure that one out. The LCU was bow-to North Dock and one cannot offload vehicles there from a low boat.

After getting ready to walk I started off with John Moffitt’s “Two Poles Goal Pole Hill”, the goal poles are still there, John. Then I wondered around the 92ng Garage barracks area and continued to the Filipino Heroes Memorial. There the preparations for tomorrow’s Commemoration have started.

My main task for today was to check out Denver Hill thoroughly; I did. After viewing the large Battery Denver area I proceeded to the WWI AA gun blocks and Battery Maxwell Keys control station. Just before the 2nd last bend to the Kindley Airfield were two fair size structures which each had a room that looked like a garage for the airfield emergency vehicles.

Above those two structures was a water tank on 4 poles, near it was a fair size building with only the concrete floor remaining. Between the water tank and the west end of the airfield was a 6 x4x3 feet concrete block that had flown here from an explosion.

Then I had a look at the 2 Panama 155mm Gun Mounts, the airfield control building and the Mindanao Peace Garden. After that I walked back I consumed 3 liter of water. For this trip I brought 9 liter and I consumed it all plus about six 12 ounce beers.

It was time to clean up and relax. Later the Kwiecinski family showed up and we shared some stories. One new rental possibility is now available, 500 peso for 3 hours to rent a motorbike. See the advertisement picture later.


2nd Day, 7th April 2019, Sunday.

Today was the day to pay “Tribute to all Filipino Heroes” at the Filipino Heroes Memorial on Corregidor Island. When I woke up early and a bigger Landing Vessel had arrived and moored bow-ramp-to to the North Dock, Bottomside Corregidor. Then all the vehicles and people streamed off the vessel.

I walked to the Heroes Memorial and took pictures of the event. I will establish an album of that event. Look for the program. The Secretary for Tourism was the gust of honor. The Philippine Secretary of Defense and other senior officers were present. It was well organized, just like last year. A few Aussie and US military officers and the US VA representatives were guests.

The ship also brought military dependants who enjoyed the south beach, picnic style.

Before this I joined the Valor Tour at the Corregidor Inn restaurant section and had a cup of coffee. The attendants charged me helpful the Senior Citizen price of 38 peso. During the night I decided not to join the Valor Tour and choose to order a boat early morning tomorrow to go home early. I informed the tour guides. Villa Carmen confirmed my boat order.

After the ceremony I prepared and marched off to a close look at much of the Stockade level and area. I started with the Spanish Fort. One of the main reason I wanted to find the half moon shelter and mark the spot this time on my GPS device; found it and did so.

One impression I took away is, that this area, which much was called Barrio Conception was widely terraced and was occupied by many residents. Concrete steps and concrete walkways could be seen at a lot of places. It also showed at lot of bombs or heavy artillery impacts

I found the Halfmoon shelter and marked it. Then I returned to my starting point I came across an about 45 feet long concrete bunker. After talking to Paul Whitman I believe it was a bunker he had told me about a lot of years ago, that Denny Howell had shown it to him many years ago when Denny lived in on of the school buildings, post war, at the Stockade level.

After that a called it a day, practicing my tropical routine (knock off at 1 or 2 PM) went to the new Boardwalk Café and enjoyed 2 beers and a small rice dish. While drinking I watched the trolleys bring back all the Tribute to the Veterans guests to the Sun Cruises ferry. It was chartered today by the Tribute to the Filipino Veterans organizer and with the departing hotel guests it was a full load of about 280 people.

It was a beautiful sunny and warm day and the North Channel was very calm. The Navy also boarded all their vehicles and passengers. Then just after I cleaned up that large Philippine Navy landing vessel departed, it had the hull number 550.

I filled in the evening with reading the book “Rampage” at the MacArthur Lounge. The prices were: SML-50 peso, 1 rice-20. 1 small can of pork and beans-80, 2 eggs-40, SMB-50. 1 big Red Horse -100, 1 pancit canton meal-200. Then I packed and got ready for my departure tomorrow.

In the evening that Maritime Academy training ship which I got to know on my previous trip came in again and stayed.

3rd Day, 8th of April 2019, Monday.
I got up early and wondered to the south shore but this morning there was no nice sunrise, it was too hazy. I did talk to member of the group that was camped out there near the west end of the south shore, Bottomside. He said they were a religious group, half men and the other boys, who called them self The Adventures. They came here to enjoy history they paid about 5000 peso each for three nights, 3 meals per day from the hotel and the guided trolley tour.

My Villa Carmen boat was on the way, they text me and I got back to the Boardwalk Lounge, that is where the boats land. The El Corregidor Boat had arrived already, it will take the Valor Tour group for a ride around the island and then to Bataan where they will continue their WWII Tour on Luzon.

My boat arrived also and I took the about 30 minute ride back to Villa Carmen where my car is parked and I was home in Olongapo by 0920 hours. The sea and wind was from the NE but light and I only got a little spray some of the time.

END

Here are 4 early images; again it will take me some time to edit all the other pictures:



Z452. This is a section of the 1936 Fort Mills Facility drawing that covers the Stockade area.




Z453. This is Google Earth image of the Stockade area with my GPS walking track, plus I marked the location of the bunker I had never seen and the location of the Half Moon shaped concrete Shelter (that is what I call it).



Z454. This is a picture of about 45 feet long bunker I had never seen before. Who built it?



Z455. This a long time resident on Corregidor and when you visit Corregidor many times you will get know some other residents also. Romy loves his Philippine History and we have talked about it often. He is from an important Philippine historical Town, Maragondon!

Maragondon is in the Cavite Province and owns the Carabao Island, the former Ft. Frank. Ternate Town where the Philippine Marine Base is located used to be a barrio of Maragondon but is now an independent Municipality.

But the most important fame or shame of Maragondon is that the Philippine Army under General and President Aguinaldo court marshaled and executed the other great Philippine Hero Bonifacio here in Maragondon. The Philippines later built a memorial for him here and I have visited it, even took my whole family.

[Karl Welteke]

Stockade Level, Fort Mills, Shelters, Bunker etc, 2019-04-07

On the Stockade Level is plenty to see, it had plenty of residents and facilities up to and during WWII. On the 7th of April I wanted to make a thorough visit of the Fort Mills Stockade Level. Another reason I wanted to find the Halfmoon Concrete Shelter again and mark the location this time. I found a one of a kind concrete bunker which I had never seen before.

I uploaded 27 images in these two albums, take your pic:

Uploaded to a Facebook album:
www.facebook.com/karlwilhelm.welteke/media_set?set=a.10215980797546475&type=3

Uploaded to Karl’s webpage:
philippine-sailor.net/2019/04/11/stockade-level-fort-mills-shelters-bunker-etc-2019-04-07/

For this forum presentation I selected these 11 sample images:




Z188. This is an Army prewar aerial image of Fort Mills of the Stockade level of Corregidor Island. This picture was provided by Karl Schmidt, a leader in the Coastal Defense Study Group organization (cdsg.org) who got it from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).



Z190. This is one of 6 images of the 75mm Gun semi-fixed emplacement in the former Spanish Fort on Corregidor Island. It is sitting right on top of the wall of the Spanish Fort. We can see the round base it was sitting on so it could be trained onto the target.



Z193. Close-up of the last picture! This is one of 6 images of the 75mm Gun semi-fixed emplacement in the former Spanish Fort on Corregidor Island. It is sitting right on top of the wall of the Spanish Fort. We are looking now at the concrete structure nearby, most likely used as a magazine.



Z195. This is a section of the 1936 Fort Mills Facility drawing, covering the Fort Mills Stockade Level. I marked in some of the relevant items of this album.



Z196. This is a Google Earth image covering the Fort Mills Stockade Level on Corregidor Island. I marked in some of the relevant items of this album.



Z197. On my walk thru the ex Fort Mills Stockade Level I saw many steps like this, concrete walkways and concrete floor of the Barrio Concepion houses. Much of this area is terraced. I also saw many bomb or artillery shell impact holes.



Z199. This is one of 6 images about a Fort Mills concrete shelter at Barrio Concepcion in the Stockade Level on Corregidor Island. I wanted to find it again and this time, mark it with GPS.



Z201. This is one of 6 images about a Fort Mills concrete shelter at Barrio Concepcion in the Stockade Level on Corregidor Island. I wanted to find it again and this time, mark it with GPS.



Z206. This is one of 10 images of an unique and one of a kind Fort Mills bunker, south of the Stockade in the Barrio Conception on Corregidor Island. I never saw it before, so to me it was like discovering a new item on Corregidor..




Z208. This is one of 10 images of an unique and one of a kind Fort Mills bunker, south of the Stockade in the Barrio Conception on Corregidor Island. I never saw it before, so to me it was like discovering a new item on Corregidor.



Z211. This is one of 10 images of an unique and one of a kind Fort Mills bunker, south of the Stockade in the Barrio Conception on Corregidor Island. I never saw it before, so to me it was like discovering a new item on Corregidor.