Post by Karl Welteke on Oct 26, 2020 4:44:17 GMT 8
WWII, Philippines, from CDSG Friends continues, last segment 25th Oct. 2020
Friends from the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org) have given me many high-resolution pictures from NARA and other sources. I will share them here. It will be a slow project, will do it, only when I have some time.
The last 10 images. Reminder; these pictures can be downloaded in high resolution at this other album:
www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157715996849736
Zd261. Flickr 068. A rare picture of a Navy Landing Craft Infantry (GUN) LCI (G) at the very moment, firing off her rockets. Although the description is not clear, there is no doubt this at the assault on Corregidor in 1945. The LCI (G) is south of Corregidor, just some distance from the mouth of the Government Ravine. I recognize the Bataan Peak of Mt. Mariveles, left and the Mt. Limay Peak, right, on the other side of Corregidor. This action must have been, just before the Paratroop drop on Corregidor and the amphibious landing at the south shore, just right of this picture on the 16th Feb. 1945.
Zd262. Flickr 069. Landing Craft Support, LCS-8 at support for the assault on Corregidor Island Feb. 16th 1945. I put the ship in the vicinity, just south of the Government Ravine and Breakwater point of the former Fort Mills on Corregidor Island. Wikimedia says this about the LCS. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Craft_Support
The Landing Craft, Support (Large) were two distinct classes of amphibious warfare vessels were used by the United States Navy (USN) in Pacific and the Royal Navy in World War II. The USN versions which were later reclassified Landing Ship Support, Large also performed radar picket duty and firefighting.
The hull was the same as the Landing Craft Infantry ships. They were 158 ft 6 in (48.31 m) long, displaced 250 long tons (250 t), 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m) wide and drew 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) when fully loaded.
During World War II, five LCS(L)(3)s were sunk in combat (see below) and 21 were damaged. Three of these small warships received Presidential Unit Citations, while six were awarded Navy Unit citations. Importantly, Lieutenant Richard M. McCool, skipper of USS LCS(L)(3) 122, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
LCS(L)(3)-7, LCS(L)(3)-26 and LCS(L)(3)-49 were sunk by suicide boats off Mariveles, Corregidor Channel, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 16 February 1945. LCS(L)(3)-15 was sunk by kamikaze aircraft off Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 22 April 1945. LCS(L)(3)-33 was sunk by shore batteries off Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 19 February 1945.
Zd263. Flickr 070. The picture description is not clear, bombs or mines. The location is south of Bottomside and Malinta Hill of Fort Mills on Corregidor Island, I recognize it clearly and for sure. It is happening on the day of the assault on the 16th Feb. 1945 or just before. I bet on bombs but if so, they missed the target by some distance.
Zd264. Flickr 071. The Landing Craft Tank, LCT-724 is making its run to the south shore of Corregidor, called Black Beach for the amphibious assault on the 16th Feb. 1945. This picture seems to be shot from the Signal Bridge of a Navy 7th Fleet Warship. The location is south of the area of Battery Crockett. Paratroopers are dropping on Landing Zone B, the mini golf course at the former Fort Mills on Corregidor Island, Philippine Islands, P.I.
Zd265. Flickr 072. This picture is very similar as the last image Flickr 071. But the 2 vessels have advanced closer to Black Beach, Bottomside of Corregidor. I see some unique features of Topside on Corregidor Island. I see the Paratroopers, the Senior Officers Quarters, the Quarter Master ware houses. And I see a clear shot of the anti-air craft machine gun tower next to Battery Crockett.
Zd266. Flickr 073. This is a close-up of the last image Flickr 072. Well, it seems to be a close-up shot of the conning tower, LCT-724, making its run to the south shore of Corregidor, called Black Beach for the amphibious assault on the 16th Feb. 1945.
Zd267. Flickr 074. USS Sangamon (CVE-26) was an escort carrier converted from an oiler, the second ship to carry her name. The description says: 26th Oct. 1944, starboard 20s and 40s put up a curtain of fire that drove off attacking plane after he had entered his suicide dive. Battle of Leyte Gulf. Note from Karl: This ship has a long history of combat in WWII.
Zd268. Flickr 075. USS Nashville (CL-43) was a light cruiser and has an interesting WWII history, Wikipedia: Click here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nashville_(CL-43) It looks like some sailors went ashore and took some pictures, perhaps they landed with Gen. MacArthur.
Nashville provided fire support and carried General of the Army Douglas MacArthur to the amphibious operations at Hollandia (present-day Jayapura), Tanahmerah Bay, and Aitape, on 22–23 April 1944.
Nashville twice more carried General MacArthur and his staff to the invasion of Morotai, Dutch East Indies in mid-September. She carried General MacArthur on his return to the Philippines, for which she sailed from Manus on 16 October. She provided fire support for the Leyte Island landings on 20 October, and she remained on station at the mouth of Leyte Gulf until 25 October, guarding the troops on the beachhead and the nearby transports.
Zd269. Flickr 076. Another view of the Paratroop landing on Landing Zone B, Corregidor Island, on the 16th Feb. 1945.
Zd270. Flickr 077. A combat debris field but the picture does not have a description. It could be on Corregidor, because it was in the folder of many Corregidor combat images. What type of gun is that? Is it a Japanese gun?
Friends from the Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org) have given me many high-resolution pictures from NARA and other sources. I will share them here. It will be a slow project, will do it, only when I have some time.
The last 10 images. Reminder; these pictures can be downloaded in high resolution at this other album:
www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157715996849736
Zd261. Flickr 068. A rare picture of a Navy Landing Craft Infantry (GUN) LCI (G) at the very moment, firing off her rockets. Although the description is not clear, there is no doubt this at the assault on Corregidor in 1945. The LCI (G) is south of Corregidor, just some distance from the mouth of the Government Ravine. I recognize the Bataan Peak of Mt. Mariveles, left and the Mt. Limay Peak, right, on the other side of Corregidor. This action must have been, just before the Paratroop drop on Corregidor and the amphibious landing at the south shore, just right of this picture on the 16th Feb. 1945.
Zd262. Flickr 069. Landing Craft Support, LCS-8 at support for the assault on Corregidor Island Feb. 16th 1945. I put the ship in the vicinity, just south of the Government Ravine and Breakwater point of the former Fort Mills on Corregidor Island. Wikimedia says this about the LCS. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Craft_Support
The Landing Craft, Support (Large) were two distinct classes of amphibious warfare vessels were used by the United States Navy (USN) in Pacific and the Royal Navy in World War II. The USN versions which were later reclassified Landing Ship Support, Large also performed radar picket duty and firefighting.
The hull was the same as the Landing Craft Infantry ships. They were 158 ft 6 in (48.31 m) long, displaced 250 long tons (250 t), 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m) wide and drew 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) when fully loaded.
During World War II, five LCS(L)(3)s were sunk in combat (see below) and 21 were damaged. Three of these small warships received Presidential Unit Citations, while six were awarded Navy Unit citations. Importantly, Lieutenant Richard M. McCool, skipper of USS LCS(L)(3) 122, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
LCS(L)(3)-7, LCS(L)(3)-26 and LCS(L)(3)-49 were sunk by suicide boats off Mariveles, Corregidor Channel, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 16 February 1945. LCS(L)(3)-15 was sunk by kamikaze aircraft off Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 22 April 1945. LCS(L)(3)-33 was sunk by shore batteries off Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 19 February 1945.
Zd263. Flickr 070. The picture description is not clear, bombs or mines. The location is south of Bottomside and Malinta Hill of Fort Mills on Corregidor Island, I recognize it clearly and for sure. It is happening on the day of the assault on the 16th Feb. 1945 or just before. I bet on bombs but if so, they missed the target by some distance.
Zd264. Flickr 071. The Landing Craft Tank, LCT-724 is making its run to the south shore of Corregidor, called Black Beach for the amphibious assault on the 16th Feb. 1945. This picture seems to be shot from the Signal Bridge of a Navy 7th Fleet Warship. The location is south of the area of Battery Crockett. Paratroopers are dropping on Landing Zone B, the mini golf course at the former Fort Mills on Corregidor Island, Philippine Islands, P.I.
Zd265. Flickr 072. This picture is very similar as the last image Flickr 071. But the 2 vessels have advanced closer to Black Beach, Bottomside of Corregidor. I see some unique features of Topside on Corregidor Island. I see the Paratroopers, the Senior Officers Quarters, the Quarter Master ware houses. And I see a clear shot of the anti-air craft machine gun tower next to Battery Crockett.
Zd266. Flickr 073. This is a close-up of the last image Flickr 072. Well, it seems to be a close-up shot of the conning tower, LCT-724, making its run to the south shore of Corregidor, called Black Beach for the amphibious assault on the 16th Feb. 1945.
Zd267. Flickr 074. USS Sangamon (CVE-26) was an escort carrier converted from an oiler, the second ship to carry her name. The description says: 26th Oct. 1944, starboard 20s and 40s put up a curtain of fire that drove off attacking plane after he had entered his suicide dive. Battle of Leyte Gulf. Note from Karl: This ship has a long history of combat in WWII.
Zd268. Flickr 075. USS Nashville (CL-43) was a light cruiser and has an interesting WWII history, Wikipedia: Click here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nashville_(CL-43) It looks like some sailors went ashore and took some pictures, perhaps they landed with Gen. MacArthur.
Nashville provided fire support and carried General of the Army Douglas MacArthur to the amphibious operations at Hollandia (present-day Jayapura), Tanahmerah Bay, and Aitape, on 22–23 April 1944.
Nashville twice more carried General MacArthur and his staff to the invasion of Morotai, Dutch East Indies in mid-September. She carried General MacArthur on his return to the Philippines, for which she sailed from Manus on 16 October. She provided fire support for the Leyte Island landings on 20 October, and she remained on station at the mouth of Leyte Gulf until 25 October, guarding the troops on the beachhead and the nearby transports.
Zd269. Flickr 076. Another view of the Paratroop landing on Landing Zone B, Corregidor Island, on the 16th Feb. 1945.
Zd270. Flickr 077. A combat debris field but the picture does not have a description. It could be on Corregidor, because it was in the folder of many Corregidor combat images. What type of gun is that? Is it a Japanese gun?