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Post by EXO on Aug 24, 2008 3:16:00 GMT 8
Of the elimination of the Japanese forces in James Ravine on 19 February, Captain Hudson C. Hill writes as follows: With fire placed on the entrances to the underground barracks to keep the Nips inside, demolitions were prepared around the tunnel entrance, and placed in the ventilator shafts. Five gallon cans of napalm, which had been carried for the purpose, were put in the ventilator shafts also. The resulting explosions ended, for all time, organized resistance in James Ravine. Fires were still burning inside the barracks, two days later. My recollection of the interior of this tunnel is that the entrance has been collapsed, certainly; there is heavy damage for the first several yards (consistent with a HE explosion, I'd guess); and that the remainder of the tunnel does not appear to be fire gutted or HE damaged. Can any of you guys with better memories of the tunnel assist?
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Post by batteryboy on Aug 24, 2008 4:30:45 GMT 8
Except for the entrance which is mostly blocked (but can still be entered by crawling down), you can still walk the tunnel once you are inside. I just didnt take pictures inside.
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Post by The Phantom on Aug 24, 2008 6:42:23 GMT 8
Paul, you dragged me into that tunnel years ago and I remember the entrance was buried in dirt and debris. The only way in was to lay on your back, take a deep breath, and slide in. And me thinking there is a Python waiting inside for me. Paul first.... The entrance inside was pretty beat up, but the rest of the tunnel seemed relatively untouched. I remember white painted walls with rusted metal hooks along, and going up the walls maybe 3 layers high. Former bed hooks? The tunnel was in good shape towards the back I believe. No pictures either.
Approaching the tunnel entrance we came upon a concrete sink in the jungle. It had been inside a wooden barracks that is now long gone of course. (on map) Inside the sink I found a 50 caliber casing. From there we crossed a small concrete bridge over a deep ravine and went up into the tunnel, maybe 20 yards away.
Inside the tunnel, in some debris near the entrance, I found a 50 caliber slug in line with the sink outside. The stories they could tell........
A 50 caliber machine gun set up behind the sink to keep the Japanese inside? Would they have done that then?
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