Karl’s Corregidor Trips.

[Karl Welteke]

NIPA QUARTERS, BARRIO SAN PABLO WALK 2014-08-25

This is just one of my recent walks on Corregidor, I did intend to look at these two locations and get more familiar with them. This is maybe my 6th visit to Corregidor in the rainy season and the weather God took care of the sea going Boatswain’s Mate again, NO RAIN!!!!

First day of three nights visit on Corregidor, went via SCI Ferry and Manila, checked into MacArthur Café and started a short walk to the Nipa Quarters, the Kwiecinski Family and Barrio San Pablo.



Y138. This is the slow season, all of Sun Cruises ferry boats to Corregidor are alongside their landing pier in Manila at the CCP. The roundtrip ticket was 1400 peso which includes 200 peso Corregidor entrance fee.



Y139. This is the first time I used this boat, it may be considered the medium size, and it was mostly empty on this Thursday. Only one tourist trolley was waiting on the landing wharf on Corregidor.



Y140. Today again, like almost always, the Camayan Coast ferry landed on the North Dock. The Manila North Channel and the whole bay were very calm.



Y141. My GPS track and landmarks for my walk today to the Nipa Quarters, Barrio San Pablo and the Kwiecinski Family.



Y142. You cannot tell but this was the wire drawn rail track going from the Engineering Ravine to Topside. That was the initial transportation system for building the fort Mills on Corregidor Island, it went straight up.



Y143. To me this is amazing on the map are only two words-Nipa Quarters- but nothing is written about the Ft. Mills workers who lived here. By the building left-over’s one can tell these were extensive quarters.



Y144. At the Nipa Quarters are three concrete structures left standing what we do not know what they were. Today I was looking for a water tank but it does not seem to exist anymore.



Y145. These three concrete structures at the Nipa Quarters are shown in sequence from east to west. This is tall one like a cable hut but I do not know.



Y146. This is the most west building in the Nipa Quarter area. Someone was digging there, Yamashita Gold?




Note:
I have established an album for the Nipa Quarters area:
tinyurl.com/q787buy

Y147. I am now at the Government Road, exactly between San Pablo, Ft. Mills Stables and Battery Ramsey and this could be Bldg. 433, (Veterinary Hospital 1936 map)



Y148. This basin (or could it be a trough) is about in the middle of Barrio San Pablo, what purpose did it serve?



Y149. Nearby that basin or trough in Barrio San Pablo is this dugout, fots2 has shown a better picture in this forum before. I think it is unique that at least two layers of rail road ties were used for cover.



Y150. Another unique feature of Barrio San Pablo is that is laid out on about 4 to 5 terraces and they were supported with this type of rock embankment. The sad part is we know little about the residents.



Y151. This picture shows clearly a terrace in Barrio San Pablo, is this a road edge or a house foundation?



Y152. This is in Barrio San Pablo; in many places on Corregidor the trees have become magnificent. I love trees. I am not a Tree Hugger though.



Y153. On this visit I saw much evidence that Corregidor has received or suffered big rain showers. Here on Government road which I used to return I saw this trash that washed onto it from the recycle place near Battery Ramsey.



Y154. I took this picture because it seemed to me there was a new landslide at the west face of Malinta Hill but I could be wrong.



Y155. The monkeys are still on Corregidor; this one is sitting next to the hotel generator house, I have to walk by on the shortcut to the MacArthur Cafe.

If you like to look at these pictures at a bigger edition you can open the album with this URL:
tinyurl.com/lw2gp7j

[Karl Welteke]

KARL’S CORREGIDOR VISIT DIARY ENTRIES FOR THE 25TH AND 26TH SEP. 2014
These two entries are for or cover my previous REPLY and the next one.

CORREGIDOR VISIT 2014-09-25 to 28

Day one, Thursday the 25th Sep 2014.

Left home in Olongapo early, caught 2 am bus and was at the Corregidor ferry terminal on time.

SCI used the Camayan boat, had few riders, used only a trolley, the ferry are running only from Thursday to Sunday. I Checked into MacArthur Café settled in and marched off.

Visited Steve and Marcia Kwiecinski, they told me that they have to vacate their leased house by 1 Jan. 2015. They planning to try to stay at MacArthur Café until summer and then leave the Philippines. They are going to Manila today to visit a dentist.

I walked thru Nipa Quarters to refresh my memory and possibly find that water tank there. Was not able to find it and I believe it is gone.

Then walked to San Pablo, marked the trough or washbasin on my GPS, got familiar with the many terraces, the embankments, the one dugout near the trough, noticed all the concrete and destroyed buildings by the present recycle area near Battery Ramsey; then walked back to Middleside on the Government Road.

Ate at MacArthur Café and had the Carlos Meal and egg sandwiches. The North Channel and all of Manila Bay was calm; it sprinkled only briefly ones.

Day two, Friday, the 26th Sep 2014.

Started early, was at Admin Bldg. 0605 and I did not see any people, the area was cleaned. So, I started walking, my goal was Search Light No. 3 (SL3), I was hoping a vehicle come along and pick me up, no such luck.

The road to Battery Smith is grown over with hip high grass, but the rail track path to the back of Battery Smith was ok and I went that way. The start section to Grubbs trail was hard to see and walk. But the rest of the way, all the way to SL3 was walk able and I did not have to use my bolo too many times.

I had a hard time finding SL3 because I tried to use the track to it per map. It is better one goes straight down from the North Shore Rd. I found it, took pictures and of the defense position X-M-4 nearby. It looks like just above it the soldiers started a tunnel but it did not get finished.

On my way to SL3, around Cape Corregidor I looked at X-F-1, X-F-2, and both 155mm gun shelters, the Mine Casemate and the tunnel nearby, north of it.

On the way back I used the shortcut to the trolley turning area near Battery Grubbs, it is opposite of the Battery Smith rail track back entrance and that is the best way to go to Battery Smith now.

I visited Battery Grubbs; the Japanese language trolley was there with the Japanese.

Then I walked back; GPS said 10.9 Km, 331 meters, I was exhausted, cleaned up, got ready for tomorrow, will go to Way Hill AA gun and the firing range tomorrow. Manila Bay was even calmer today.

[Karl Welteke]

SECOND DAY, 2014-09-26 OF KARL’S VISIT TO CORREGDOR 2014-09-25 TO 28TH

On my 2nd day on Corregidor the Search Light 3 and Defense Position X-M-4 were my main goals because I had not been there. I was hoping to catch a ride with the daily Island Sweepers but I did not see them. So I walked. I also looked briefly at the Battery Hanna area and Battery Grubbs because I learned it is easier now to enter Battery Smith via the road to Battery Grubbs. My dairy entry for this day is in the previous segment of this thread.

I established this album with 29 images:
tinyurl.com/oyrho3q

Here are 18 sample images and they are much smaller than in the album above:



Y184. 2014-09-26 this is the road to Battery Smith and the Grubbs Ravine,-Trail. The grass is only belly high so it was not too difficult to go thru. But with grass for sure on the whole road, I used the trail, ex rail to the backdoor of Battery Smith and I choose this way to pass thru Battery Smith on my way to Search Light 3 vice following the long road overgrown with grass going there to the front of the battery. You better have a flash light also; it will be dark in the battery.



Y185. My Garmin GPS track to Search Light #3 next to Cheney Ravine on the 26th Sep. 2014. Here are the details of my walk to Search Light No 3, almost 11 km, 331 meter elevation, it was warm and there was no wind. I killed my 3 bottles of water easy.



Y186. This is the elevation profile from my Garmin GPS gadget. The walk was a good physical exercise.



Y187. I stopped at the Mine-West Control casemate, before I had maps and before I met other Corregidor friends I thought this was Search Light No.3.; it is just a little south of X-F-2 Defense Position.
Our own forum member fots2 has covered this structure in detail in this URL:

corregidor.proboards.com/thread/645/anti-ship-mines-casemate-command?page=1




Y188. Just north and past the Mine-West Casemate is this double entrance to tunnels. They have become unique to us because of that neat carving of -1942-. But today in 2014 it is almost not recognizable anymore.



Y189. This picture is from the 2nd March 2006, the imprint is wrong and the -1942-carving is still very clear.



Y190. This is the right tunnel entrance and goes to the Mine-West Casemate.



Y191. This tunnel entrance goes to the left and has one opening to the cliff and one can look down on Conchita Island



Y159. This GPS track and landmarks are for the Battery Hanna / Cape Corregidor area.



Y192. While I was looking for SL3 I had this neat view of S.M.S.H No. 8 in Cheney Ravine. I think it stands for Strategic Material Store House No. 8. We know from previous visits that inside is another tunnel.



Y193. This is Defense Position X-M-4 which was my goal to find because I had not been there before. I have covered it in more detail in this forum thread:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1383/defense-positions-ft-mills



Y194. This is Search light #3; it was difficult to find X-M-4 and SL3 because of all the overgrowth and without the GPS device it could have been impossible for me to find it. I have covered in more detail in this forum thread:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1382/fort-mills-search-lights-all



Y195. After I found X-M-4 and SL3 I took some time to look at some of the other things to see in the Cape Corregidor and Battery Hanna area. This is No 1 gun of X-F-2, for a long time it has been called the Veranda because it hangs over the cliff. And that is Conchita Island below there.



Y196. On my return march, exiting Battery Smith, it was easier to shortcut up to the Battery Grubbs Road because of the overgrown Battery Smith Road. I visited the battery and I think it is great that CFI is preserving this Regiment Insignia. 91st Coast Artillery, Philippine Scouts, Regiment Insignia at Battery Grubbs. It looks good, and I am glad it is being preserved.



Y197. The elaborate gun control of Battery Grubbs is in the rear of the battery and behind the protecting battery berm. One got to use a foot bridge to get there.



Y198. This visitor group at Battery Grubbs today was Japanese; the elderly Filipino guide, with a green shirt, speaks in Japanese to them.



Y199. In front of Battery Grubbs, this area is used for the guests to watch the sunset and one gets a nice view of Monja Island and the Mariveles Harbor with all its landmarks. A nice view of the Tarak Ridge, I have been up there helping finding those two planes, they have been found!



Y200. Close-up of the Tarak Ridge where the Japanese and American planes crashed on the 9th Feb. 1942.This image is from Kevin Hamdorf and you can find him on the www. Kevin Hamdorf and Maj. Spike Nasmyth, former F4 Phantom Pilot and POW in North Viet Nam were the main players and many other people helped to find the American plane, but found the Japanese one first and found remains of the Japanese Sergeant. Everything was turned over to the proper authorities. The whole story is covered in this URL:
kevinhamdorfphotography.com/new%20images%20feb2008.htm

[The Phantom]

Great work Karl, thanks for the tour.

Just one warning for the rainy season walks my friend.....if the jungle vegetation is wet stay out.
There are bacterias that grow on the wet ground and foliage in the jungles on Corregidor, that no one knows about.
Personal experience unfortunately.

[Karl Welteke]

WAY HILL AA GUN BLOCK, RIFLE TARGET RANGE AND UNKNOWN GUN CONTROL 2014-09-27

This is my 3rd walk , on my 3rd day, on this visit to Corregidor, my targets where the WWI AA Gun position on Way Hill, the Rifle Target Range, a structure on the North Shore Road, not on the map, which looks like a gun control position. Then return via James Ravine and the North Shore Road and that was difficult because of the many fallen trees or branches.



Y245. I started out early again, 6am, and seen this resident with a lucky catch. Bottomside Northshore.



Y246. Again this morning, I did not see any sweepers, nor any vehicles or people going up to Middleside or Topside, so walking it is, Middleside is in view.



Y247. My GPS Track with all the landmarks and objects I took pictures of.



Y248. Here are the statistics of this walk on Corregidor from my Garmin device and Garmin account.



Y249. The YMCA on Middleside sticks out above the trees; I thought it was a neat picture.



Y250. The former Aviary building is visible thru the trees. The American couple who live there and are doing research and promotion for this island of history have received notice to vacate. The husband is the son of the Sergeant at Battery Way who served the last firing heavy gun on Corregidor before surrender in 1942.



Y251. At Battery Way I entered the Way Trail and noticed that more earth is gone from under the upper platform of the steps going down to Radio No. 2.



Y252. The 4 foot road culvert just short of Road Junction 96 is my landmark to go straight up to B-site AA gun on Way Hill; I call this gun position and the others the WWI AA guns because they were built in or as result of the aviation war in WWI.



Y253. Found it and looked at the vent outlet first of the B-site AA gun on Way Hill, I call this gun position and the others the WWI AA gun sites.



Y254. This is the south entrance of the B-site AA gun magazine on Way Hill.



Y255. The gun block of B-site AA gun on Way Hill.

Our illustrious member fots2, presently sailing around the Bermuda Triangle, has added a very detailed report on this Site “B” with many images and it is this URL
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/619/site-inch-aa-gun-position



Y256. I followed the road from the B-site AA gun on Way Hill down to the Belt Line Road and here is the culvert at that intersection.



Y257. This is the 300 yard target line of the Rifle Target Range and we are looking south. On the way down here I followed the creek, flowing under the culvert in the last image, to find building #219 next to it but did not find any evidence that a building that stood here ones according to the maps.



Y258. The 300 yard target line of the Rifle Target Range and we are looking south. The firing line is to the left or east.



Y259. This is the south end of the 200 yard target line of the Rifle Target Range.



Y260. Again this is still the south end of the 200 yard target line of the Rifle Target Range, the wall is down.



Y261. This is the north end of the firing line of the Rifle Target Range; we are looking west towards the target lines.



Y262. Behind the firing range are 4 concrete post foundations and we assumed they were for a watch or control tower for the target firing. The 4 foundations are in a square and this one is the NW one.



Y263. From behind the target firing line I continued straight north to the North Shore Road and there is this structure that looks like a gun control station (not on a map), that open area had a concrete roof which completely collapsed inside.



Y264. We are looking inside, thru what looks like observation slid and see the door opening to the collapsed space from the previous picture which may have been a plotting room or a magazine if this was something else.



Y265. This is a very large rock embankment on the North Shore Road as it zigzags down to James Ravine from the west side.



Y267. This is a typical obstacle (fallen trees or tree branches) on the North Shore Road going around or in and out of the James Ravine, created by recent storm in the 2014. It made my walk thru James Ravine very difficult.



Y268. There is a very small tunnel on the west side of James Ravine just before one switches over to the east side.



Y269. I decide to stay on the North Shore Road and continued back to Bottomside, passed Battery James. On this section of road were maybe 10 tree obstacles but not too hard to pass. The known landslide got bigger.



Y270. Almost home from the 6 hour walk; I see that the large Corregidor based passenger boat -El Corregidor- receives new bamboo floats on her outriggers.


The same images and the same descriptions are also in one of my Photobucket albums but the pictures are larger of course: tinyurl.com/llmc2sg

[Karl Welteke]

FIRST VISIT 2015 TO CORREGIDOR WITH PAUL WHITMAN AND GERMAN FRIEND FEB. 15TH TO
17TH

Again this year, Paul Whitman, friends and I visited Corregidor to raise the 48 Star US Flag to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Paratroopers doing it on the 16th Feb. 1945. Corregidor Foundation Inc. already planed a bigger commemoration, which we joined and they accommodated us in every way possible.

An album of this event with 51 images has been established in my Photobucket image sharing account; it also includes other Corregidor images from that visit:
tinyurl.com/opdwg26


Here are 16 sample images but they are smaller than in the album:



X215. The new gasifier plant in the Eng. Ravine on Corregidor, I understand it was built by the Sun Cruise Corporation which runs the ferry to Corregidor and the hotel on the island. It was not in operation at that moment.



X85b. A map of Corregidor Island with all the landmarks and subjects of this album marked on it.



X216. A view of the Corregidor Engineering Ravine from the new gasifier plant, there is a wood pile at right which is the fuel source for the gasifier plant.



X217. On our first day on the Corregidor Island, I took my Family friend visitor from Germany to the 1000 Men Tunnel in the Grubbs Ravine. This is the south entrance.



X218. We also visited the Defense Position X-F-2 at Cape Corregidor; this is the gun #1 pedestal platform which hangs over the cliff.



X219. Globe Communication built a new tower among the area of the 4 water tanks next to the Corregidor Lighthouse. This is the emergency power plant.



X220. Corregidor Foundation Inc. (CFI) is improving the visitor comfort facilities. Two new toilet facilities are being build topside on Corregidor Island near the Lighthouse.



X221. The old Spanish water cistern next to the Corregidor Lighthouse looks also very orderly.



X222. The US Flag is going up on the Old Spanish Flagpole. Commemoration to remember the Rock Force, the Paratrooper 503d unit raising the first US Flag on the 16th of Feb.1945, their Assault Day on Corregidor.



X223. Group picture of Paul Whitman, Tom Aring, Karl-Wilhelm Welteke and Harald Klose in front of the Old Spanish Flagpole on the 70th Anniversary of the US Rock Force Assault on the Japanese held island of Corregidor.



X95. Commemoration, 70th Anniversary Retaking Corregidor Feb. 16-March 2, 1945, Corregidor Foundation Inc (CFI) and Filipino-American Foundation Endowment (FAME).



X224. A wreath and Corregidor security men are standing by for the 70th Anniversary retaking Corregidor at the Rock Force Memorial Marker Topside on Corregidor Island on this 16th Feb. 2015.



X225. Lt. Col. Matibag, CEO of the CFI is explaining to tourists and other visitors that this occasion is for the70th Anniversary retaking Corregidor at the Rock Force Memorial Marker Topside on Corregidor Island on this 16th Feb. 2015.



X226. Residents, guests and visitors are participating at the Commemoration, 70th Anniversary Retaking Corregidor Feb. 16-March 2, 1945, Corregidor Foundation Inc (CFI) and Filipino-American Foundation Endowment (FAME).



XZ227. To watch monkeys on Corregidor or anywhere else is a pleasant pastime for most. These monkeys are looking for food between the trees at Bottomside near the ex MacArthur Café.



X228. Boarding the boat to leave Corregidor on the 17th Feb. 2015. This boat was a surprise it was the first that I used it, it was perfect plus it lands at Camaya Point which is a shorter way to Bataan than going to Cabcaben.

Every time I visited Corregidor I wrote a diary entry and here is my 43rd visit to Corregidor on record. It is possible that I missed writing one or so:

Corregidor Diary 2015 Feb. 15th to 17th

15th Feb, Sunday took Villa Carmen boat, 3000 Peso one way, with Harald and PFW. Parked at Villa Carmen, arrived on island about 1100 hours. The sea was calm and stayed calm all 3 days, had a light NE wind. It was cloudy the first 2 days. We met Tom Aring and I gave him the 6 Rich Schneider books.

The hotel was full because Valentine Day the day before and we had to get ready for walking out of our bags. Harald and I went to see the 1000 Men Tunnel at Grubbs Ravine, we went thru Battery Smith. First we looked at Battery Grubbs then took the shortcut to Battery Smith. The road to Battery Smith is over grown. We also walked to the Veranda. The road from Battery Smith to the Veranda and more is thoroughly cleaned up and it is cleaned further. The plan is to go all the way to Wheeler Point.

After that we went thru the Officer Quarters below the hospital, got a little lost, and then got it right and down the Eng. Ravine. A gasifier system has been installed in the Eng. Ravine to provide alternate power, in an emergency?

In the evening met the Kwiecinski family who took only one customer thru the Valor Tour organization around, we had a good evening at the MacArthur Café. The guest is retired Lt. Col. Thomas Morgan, West Point Class of 1958.The MacArthur Café name does not exist anymore but the establishment is operating like before. The café management is going thru bankrupt procedures and a new arrangement will take over eventually. There were other interesting guests with who we had lively conservations.

16th Feb. Monday we raised the US 48 Star flag at the Old Spanish Flag Pole at about 0830 hours. CFI, under the leadership of Ron Benadero, as arranged by the Kwiecinski family, provided and raised the flag. PFW, Harald and I were present also.

At 1100 hours we started another ceremony, retired Lt. Col. Thomas Morgan, West Point Class of 1958, had provided a wreath, CFI provided the man power, and tourists participated. Lt. Col. Matibag and Mr. Steve Kwiecinski held short speeches and the wreath was laid at the Rock Force Memorial. This was to remember the 16th Feb 1945, the beginning of the liberation of Corregidor.

Between the 2 events above Harald and I looked at Battery Wheeler, Wheeler Tunnel, suicide cliff, Battery Cheney, the first NCO Barracks and the observation, elevation and bearing post behind Battery Wheeler.

We then walked to the Spanish Lighthouse and observed 2 new toilets are being built there, attached to the existing vendor shops, a new Communication tower has been built with an emergency power plant, and access to the area has been improved. Lt. Col. Matibag was on the island today for the ceremony.

Then I showed Harald the location of the 1st flagpole, Radio1 and the heavy strong magazine nearby. On the way down I showed him the big tunnel entrance under Topside, took shortcuts down, looked at the AA site above Ramsey Ravine and the Spanish Fort.

In the evening we got together again with all and had a lively evening.

17th Feb. Tuesday, the Valor Tour took us along this morning to Camaya Point by boat and on the Mariveles Road. Then we proceeded to our car to Villa Carmen, dropped off PFW at Layac and went home.

END

[Karl Welteke]

WITH CDSG TO CORREGIDOR 2015-04-10 TO 15 FIRST DAY

It is a pleasure to visit the ex Fort Mills on Corregidor Island with knowledgeable people. They are with the Coastal Defense Study Group (CDSG) and have an extensive web page (http://cdsg.org/). It was only two people this time and we done things in a slow pace, not hectic. They knew what they wanted to see this time and I was helpful because I know my way around after over 40 visits to Corregidor.

I established this album in my Photobucket account with 56 images:

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Corregidor%20at%20Random/CI%202015-2016%20Random%20Albums/2015-04-10%20w%20CDSG%20B-West%20etc?sort=9&page=1
or
tinyurl.com/ls57mvs

As I have done with all my Corregidor visits, I write a brief diary about each visit and this is the entry for this day:

Corregidor Diary with Glen, Karl, Tony (from CDSG) 2015, April 10th to 15th

APRIL 10th, DAY 1, FRIDAY

With car to Cabcaben, with arranged boat to Corregidor. Had light NE winds and swells and the sun was shining. Settled into Mc Arthur Café (New Name) and got ready to march. Glen, Karl (CDSG), Tony with son arrived about 0930, got a jeepney and went off towards Battery Cheney, the road halfway down to B-Cheney is blocked by felled trees (storm damage) so we had to walk some distance.

At B-Cheney we split, Glen, Tony with son explored the battery, the two Karls went to see B-West and with the GPS help it was not too hard. After that with the jeepney which was waiting we stopped at entrance of Middleside and looked at the 2 infantry positions that fots2 and I had found a long time ago. Then we broke for lunch and I had the famous Carlos Meal.

In the afternoon we went to see the two 155mm Panama Mounts east of the Navy Intercept Tunnel, tried to determine whether a Ruhlen picture corresponded to those mounts. Result is maybe not, did not find steps next to the circle.

Then drove Topside to check out the trolley car barn, looked at the repair pit, noticed the rail cut left and right and maybe a special drain ditch at the right side. On the way down looked at John Moffitt’s Defense Position near the golf course building.

We met at 5pm and good conservation. Both Karl and Glen handed out material about the Manila Defense History. We had started at the Corregidor Inn but continued at Mc Arthur Café.

Special event, a Coast Guard ship was tight up at the South Dock. A large landing ship, Philippine Navy came in and moored bow to at the Mine dock. Had 400+ PMA cadets on board for Summer-Break activities. Had at least 2 large walk-in group, one used the Mc Arthur Café dormitory; the other used the south shore for camping.
END

For your convenience I uploaded 25 images into the forum page but the images are much smaller than in the album:



X316. When you visit Corregidor with another boat than the Sun Cruises ferry you have to pay an entrance fee at this Admin building and here are much informative information posted and they are posted in the above album URL.



X317. Glen Williford, a leader of the CDSG and author, is stepping off the Corregidor ferry.



X318. Karl Schmidt and Tony Feredo are stepping off the ferry at the Mine Dock, ex Fort Mills.



X319. BRP Bacolod City (LC-550). This Philippine ship landed today on Corregidor with most if not all Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadets. They stayed overnight.

BRP Bacolod City (LC-550) is a modern landing craft and we did not have this type hull in the US Navy. But I saw a similar hull in Hawaii which was operated by the US Army. This ship has an URL in Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRP_Bacolod_City_(LC-550)

The information in the Admin Office, the Navy with the PMA visit and the busy Friday with many walk-in visitors are handled in this forum page: Corregidor-What is new?

corregidor.proboards.com/thread/150/corregidor-new




X320. The two Philippine Navy escort and patrol vessels in the North Channel between Bataan and Corregidor




X321. In the afternoon we went to the Corregidor Coast Guard Station where this alleged tank gun is located since 2008. Glen and Karl brought some graphic images that show that this item was a 75mm sub caliber gun for the 14 inch guns.

This subject is handled in detail in this URL:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/154/tank-gun-barrel-on-corregidor



X322. Not far from the Corregidor Coast Guard Station is this bunker, which is used by the Coast Guard but we never had a chance to look inside. We noticed the door is open and had a look.



X323. The bunker near the Corregidor Coast Guard Station, I took a picture and it did not turn out good. But from this image we can tell that it was not a very deep bunker and the Coast Guard only had junk in there.



X324. Karl, from CDSG, wanted to visit Battery Wets, so he and I went there. This battery is handled in detail in this URL:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1381/fort-mills-ca-batteries-all



X325. One of our goals was to visit the 3 million water reservoir Topside. It has at least one artillery or bomb impact hole.

This and the other reservoir are handled in detail in this URL:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1806/water-reservoirs-tanks-fort-mills



X326. I also looked at the Corregidor Engineering Dock and notice it is telling its age.



X327. I also looked at the Corregidor Engineering Dock and notice it is telling its age.



X328. I took this picture and I’m happy to report that those flower trees at the head of the Corregidor Engineering Dock are surviving. When they were planted I feared they may not survive because of the strong NE winds.



X329. Wood stacked for a bonfire at the Corregidor south shore on Bottomside. I think for a fee this service is available on Corregidor at this site only!



X330. Another new item on Corregidor, it seems not only tourists are interested in Corregidor. This is a Hydrographic Survey Mark, put here by the US Oceanographic Office in 2011. My guess, it is connected to tsunami warnings.



X331. Where is that Hydrographic Survey Mark, look at the middle bottom of this image and you can see it.



X332. Repair work is planned for this Corregidor boat and the cargo float; they have been dragged up to the Corregidor south shore Bottomside beach to facilitate the repair.



X333. Repair work is planned for this Corregidor boat and the cargo float; they have been dragged up to the Corregidor south shore Bottomside beach to facilitate the repair.



X334. This is the Spanish War Veterans Home, Manila Plaque. It was dedicated in 2006. I belief, at the YMCA on Middleside but was moved near the Corregidor recycle site and landfill. I will present its story soon in this forum.



X335. At the end of the 1st day on Corregidor I walked around and snapped some shot to show that things have changed or stayed the same. This is the Corregidor Chapel on Bottomside.



X336. Some things or many even are recycled on Corregidor Island! These filled bags are waiting for transportation at the north shore on Bottomside where most boats land with passengers or cargo.



X337. The telephone exchange building Topside on Corregidor. I took this picture to compare it with older ones to notice any changes and have not done that yet.



X338. This is John Moffitt’s defense position; he found it and shared the location with us. On our 1st tour we stopped here and checked on its condition. It is Middleside across the street from Karl’s defense position, which I found.



X339. This is one of the great views on Corregidor; we are standing above Wheeler Point and looking down to No-Name-Pt. and the Search-Light Pt., the far one. Some call this the suicide cliff erroneously but only dead Japanese soldiers were tossed over the cliff to clear the Battlefield of the 19th Feb 1945.



X340. The Gen. Wainwright and Nurses Memorial on Corregidor Bottomside is in good shape.

[Karl Welteke]

WITH CDSG TO CORREGIDOR 2015-04-10 TO 15; SECOND DAY

It is a pleasure to visit the ex Fort Mills on Corregidor Island with knowledgeable people. They are with the Coastal Defense Study Group (CDSG) and have an extensive web page (http://cdsg.org/). It was only two people this time and we done things in a slow pace, not hectic. They knew what they wanted to see this time and I was helpful because I know my way around after over 40 visits to Corregidor.


I established this album in my Photobucket account with 39 images:

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Corregidor%20at%20Random/CI%202015-2016%20Random%20Albums/2015-04-11%20w%20CDSG%20M-Hill%20Radio%202?sort=9&page=1
OR
tinyurl.com/kj3646k

As I have done with all my Corregidor visits, I write a brief diary about each visit and this is the entry for this day:


Corregidor Diary with Glen, Karl, Tony (from CDSG) 2015, April 10th to 15th

APRIL 11th , DAY 2, SATURDAY

Took the jeepney to RJ43 and walked up Malinta Hill. Karl (CDSG) took the jeep and went to inspect the entrance to the Gasoline part of the Malinta Tunnel without a light. Glen, Tony & son and I looked for John Moffitt’s Quadruple AA gun. I cleaned the site so we can see it. Went all the way to the East Defense Officer Station, some fallen trees made it a little difficult.

At Mc Arthur Café we split up and the two Karls went to the Gasoline Tunnel (Malinta Hill Tunnel), this time with a light. Glen and Tony went to the Coast Guard.

They gave the CG a graph that showed the gun looking barrel in front of the Coast Guard building to be a sub caliber gun that is used in the 14 inch guns for shooting drills, training used a small caliber munitions.
This sub caliber gun is discussed in the Corregidor.org Forum a few years ago when it placed in front of the CG. Station on Corregidor and by some it was thought to be a tank gun. The CG had confiscated it from a fishing boat which was on its way to sell it as scrap. The CG could not tell us where the fishing boat had picked it up.

In the afternoon we went to B-Way to find the Radio 2 antenna bases, we found two and then quit. We went to the Museum to see the new room with the weapons CFI had had in the ex cold Storage space. But the lights could not be turned on.

Tony Feredo and son departed company and went home with the afternoon ferry; one night on the island was all he had time for. The weather was great again, clear sky, light wind and small swells in the North Channel.

First I took some pictures of the new memorial of the Texas University, it is not finished yet. I saw a jeepney at the end of the Topside Parade Ground which makes me think, that perhaps work is going on for the first flagpole marker. The other two friends quit and I went up a track I had noticed, next to the Gasoline Tunnel entrance, but with negative results.

The Coast Guard ship departed from the South Dock. The two small Phil. Navy war ships had tied up to the Eng. Dock yesterday afternoon, stayed for the night and departed today along with the landing ship and PMA Cadets.

For your convenience I uploaded 25 images into this forum page but the images are much smaller than in the album:



X365. This makes it official; the former MacArthur Café is now called the Mc Arthur Café. The management and service staff are still the same folks. I guess, something got reorganized on a higher level!



X366. On our 2nd day, Saturday the 11th April as I stepped out of my quarters on Corregidor, I noticed the Philippine Navy with the PMA cadets were still here. This morning I walked by the Corregidor North Mine Dock to have a closer look at the Philippine Navy visitors.
These are CFI vehicles and they are being used to take groups of PMA cadets around Corregidor to see or do things. This is Saturday morning, the 11th April 2015.



X367. The two Philippine Navy escort vessels are moored to the Corregidor Island Engineering Dock. They are here with the PMA cadets and are perhaps along for the cadet’s protection and some training at the same time. They left later during the day.



X368. On the path, way to the top of Malinta Hill, Fort Mills, and Corregidor Island CFI has prepared a lookout point and as you can see it is a rewarding view.



X369. This is a section of the Corregidor 1936 map and I marked the approximate location of the Navy Quad AA Gun. It also shows other items we looked at.



X370. In the morning we went up to Malinta Hill to look at the spot where the Navy Quad AA Gun was place during the siege of Corregidor in 1942. Our most active member fots2 with help from others located the spot.



X371. Most of our team on top of Malinta Hill, Fort Mills, and Corregidor Island; Glen, batteryboy and his son.



X372. I wanted to have a closer look at the magazine of the former two 75mm gun defense position on top of Malinta Hill. The magazine was used for the Navy Quad AA Gun. That end is collapsed due war damage.



X373. A look out of the magazine of the former two 75mm gun defense position on top of Malinta Hill. The magazine was used for the Navy Quad AA Gun.



X374. One more shot of batteryboy and his son next to the Navy Quad AA Gun on top of Malinta Hill, Fort Mills, and Corregidor Island.



X375. We are at the East Defense Officers Station on top of Malinta Hill, Fort Mills, and Corregidor Island.



X376. These are the steps to the Defense Officers Station on top of Malinta Hill, Fort Mills, and Corregidor Island. Glen is heading up again.



X377. This is the left side of Defense Officers Station on top of Malinta Hill, Fort Mills, and Corregidor Island. Scrappers got the rebar from that telephone booth a long time ago.



X378. On the way down from the top Malinta Hill, Fort Mills, still close to the top is this good size foundation of a building on Malinta Hill that once stood here and is not indicated on any map.



X379. These trees were planted thru donation and each tree is dedicated to a donator with the donators name on a plate and fastened at the bottom of the tree stem. These trees seem to suffer during the dry season but have survived.



X380. This jeep belonged to the American resident family Kwiecinski who are scheduled to leave at these very days and they found a buyer on the island.



X381. In the afternoon today we went to Radio #2, ex Fort Mills, which is located next to Battery Way. Since our long time friends, the Kwiecinski couple are leaving I had another look at the plaque at Battery Way honoring Steven-s father.



X382. Like fots2 said many times; every visit we learn something new. The CDSG wanted to find the Radio #2 antenna bases. We found two but did not take the time to account for all. It will be a future project.



X383. This Corregidor 1936 map shows about 9 Radio #2 antennas. I will be looking again.



X384. From our Radio #2 antenna project we stopped by Topside. Glancing over the Topside parade ground I noticed a jeep on the other side that told me that the establishment of the 1st Flag Pole Marker is in progress.



X385. The new Agies Muster Memorial Marker is almost ready and I believe a dedication date has been set. It is located Topside Corregidor Island at the eastern end of the parade grounds, next to the Rock Force Memorial.

Note 1: The American resident family Steve and Marcia Kwiecinski have this blog:
www.steveandmarciaontherock.blogspot.com/

And in their archives, April, 4th entry down is the entry the Agie Muster 2015 on Corregidor, the marker is now finished and a dedication was held.
Also today they are terminating their residency on Corregidor after 6 ½ year on the Rock. We are sad to see them go and hope that they will visit again.

Note 2: The Flagpole Monument is finished now and it was reported here in this forum with this URL:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1766/flag-pole-monument

Note 3: fots2 really has done extensive work researching the history of that Navy quad gun on Malinta Hill and presented it in this forum thread. This thread has already 24 pages; this is the URL for page 22:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/532/malinta-hill?page=22

You need to go back and forwards to cover all he and others have presented.

Note 4: I am camped out at the north shore of the San Bernardino Straits and do have some internet coverage but will be on the road to Camarines Norte for 3 days.

[batteryboy]

Good one "Carlos"!!!!

[Karl Welteke]

WITH CDSG TO CORREGIDOR 2015-04-10 TO 15; THIRD DAY


It is a pleasure to visit the ex Fort Mills on Corregidor Island with knowledgeable people. They are with the Coastal Defense Study Group (CDSG) and have an extensive web page (http://cdsg.org/). It was only two people this time and we done things in a slow pace, not hectic. They knew what they wanted to see and I was helpful because I know my way around after over 40 plus visits to Corregidor.


I established this album in my Photobucket account with 23 images:

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Corregidor%20at%20Random/CI%202015-2016%20Random%20Albums/2015-04-12%20w%20CDSG%20B-James%20etc?sort=9&page=1
OR
tinyurl.com/odj6s8s


As I have done with all my Corregidor visits, I write a brief diary about each visit and this is the entry for this day:


Corregidor Diary with Glen, Karl, Tony (from CDSG) 2015, April 10th to 15th

APRIL 12TH, DAY 3, SUNDAY
Started 8 am from the hotel, had to call Ron, driver was not on time. Karl (CDSG) did not go along; we went to B-James. It was cleaned up; we took advantage of this and shot good rounds of pictures.

Then we went to James Ravine. CFI has started up pumping water there again, it had shut down because of storm damage. Glen wanted to visit IX-M-1 and IX-M-3 at the right side of the James Ravine mouth. The access opening is small and we had to go down in on our back and crawl out on our belly. Both of these position are really a tunnel, there are 3 openings to fire out. To the left and below is No #1 and you must climb down but we did not. No #2 opening is just above #1 and a little to the right. To the 3rd opening a large shaft leads to the right and then opens to the left. From there another large shaft leads further to the right and from the end there they tried to make another opening but it was not completed.

We also walked to the Mine Casemate after we found the small bridge leading to it. Our jeepney took us then to just past the Officers swimming pool and we walked down to look at the gun control (B-III-14) or (B'''14) (above the Geary Trail). Then we quit for lunch.

All day a Coast Guard activity was going on at Mc. Arthur, it was some kind of training or seminar for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Had an Admiral, a full bird Captain and other officers leading and participating, maybe a 50 people. They served chow the traditional way on banana leaves. They came and went with the Sun Cruises ferry.

At 1 pm we started up again and showed Karl (CDSG) B-James because it is well cleaned up. I asked Ron B. why, he said in connection of the Day of Valor 9th April it was done so.

Then we went to B-Geary & Crockett. Karl (CDSG) looked at Geary, Glen at Crocket and I went to the combined (^B14) or (A-B-14) and (E’’5) or (E-II-5) Emergency Battery Position Finder (called bathtub by us visitors).

While there I looked for and found all 4 foundations for the machine gun tower next to that bathtub control station. One, the SW one, only had the two steel sides of the ladder sticking out about 10 inches. The NW one also had 10 or 12 inch high ladder base attached.

Then we called it quits, my friends went to the hotel and I to the McArthur Café By this time the Coast Guard people had left but the Officer in Charge of the Corregidor Station was sitting at Mc. And we talked about our careers and he was interested in attaining a Boatswains pipe. The weather was perfect again today just a little hot. In the late afternoon/evening the wind changes sometime to the SE and it is warmer at Mc and the North Channel is even calmer.

This was the 2nd evening that Karl (CDSG) was not up to it, meeting at the hotel veranda in the evening so Glen and I got together at Mc and shared a Grande Beer and stories.
END

For your convenience I uploaded 10 images into this forum page but the images are much smaller than in the album:



X516 I always wake up early at my age and found some early activity at the Lorcha Dock, some Coast Guard personnel had arrived by boats. The early Coast Guard arrivals were discussing things with Edith the old manager of the Mc. Arthur Café (new name).



X517 before we started this morning I went to the Corregidor Coast Guard station because I wanted to take a couple more pictures of the 75mm subcaliber gun, the previous alleged tank barrel.
We have a thread in the Corregidor forum called: “Tank barrel on Corregidor?” and this is the URL. The recent developments and pictures from and during this visit are uploaded in here:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/154/tank-gun-barrel-on-corregidor



X518 a big and pleasant surprise was that the Corregidor Foundation Inc. had cleaned-up Battery James. We took advantage of that and took a good round of pictures.
We have a thread in the Corregidor forum called: “Battery James?” My pictures of Battery James from this visit are uploaded here in this URL:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1128/battery-james



X519 we drove and walked to James Ravine to look at the large tunnel at the right side of the mouth of the James Ravine. TUNNEL or IX-M-1 and IX-M-2 MG Casemates? My CDSG friend wanted to visit, find those two MG casemates. It seems the tunnel is part of later built defense position. The IX-M-1 and IX-M-2 MG Casemates do not seem to exist anymore. Fots2 really did great research about this tunnel. His work and my pictures are in this URL:

corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1815/tunnels-on-fort-mills-all



X520 my CDSG friend and I went to the battery position finder station (B’’’14) near Battery Geary and had a good look and I took a good round of pictures.
I just established a new thread about the battery position finder stations and the new and old pictures of station (B’’’14) are covered in this URL:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1824/battery-position-finder-stations-manila



X521 when I returned to Mc Arthur Café there was a big group of Coast Guard people, the 125th Auxiliary Squadron who were holding a seminar. They had come with Sun Cruise ferry boat. It was lunch time, the local way, not too many dirty dishes.



X522 in the afternoon we went to Battery James again because CDSG Karl was not with us this morning. We stopped on the way to record that CFI demolished a post war structure which is no longer needed. It was located on the road to Morrison Hill and James Ravine about even with the former huge Aviary Cage.



X523 my goal was to find the footing of the Machine Gun Tower on the berm behind Batter Crockett #2 Gun. I had to walk by Emergency Station (E’’5) Crockett. Because of this visit I added a new segment about (E’’5). The new segment about this emergency station (E’’5) is in this URL:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1824/battery-position-finder-stations-manila



X524 this is the NW foot or concrete base of the Machine Gun Tower next to (E’’5) and behind the Battery Crockett #2 Gun. It has the bottom part of the steel ladder attached. We have a new segment added to our thread about the Machine Gun Towers, it is here:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/596/mg-towers-on-corregidor



X525 I also had a good look around Battery Crockett #2 Gun and added 2 segments into the forum. This is under the gun, the space of the counterweight.
This is the URL:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/290/battery-crockett

NOTE: WOW!! In connection with my visit on this date, 12th April 2015, I established new threads or added new segments to old ones; seven (7) in all. That is a first for me those 7 URLs are all listed above.