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Post by fots2 on May 25, 2009 23:18:48 GMT 8
This pre-WWII photo was among other Corregidor and general Philippines photos. Is this a view looking out of Battery Monja (155mm gun in casemate)? Photo #1 (original) Photo #2 (same photo lightened and cropped) Photo #3 (recent view of looking into Battery Monja) Photo #4 (taken approx 30 ft south of the Battery Monja entrance looking west towards Bataan) From the same group of photos, did we ever agree that this is Battery Monja 155mm gun #2? Part of that Panama mount is still visible
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Post by batteryboy on May 26, 2009 6:28:36 GMT 8
Fots, That is Battery Monja from the casemate. The other photo is (for me 90% likely) to be the No. 2 gun on a Panama mount built just before wartime. Glad you found the other panama mount. Here are some additional shots at Monja The gun mount before installing the 155mm M1917 GPF. The gun was mounted on a special carriage so that it can be transported inside the casemate of the battery. A rough shot of the casemate with the gun from the outside Two views from the casemate opening. Notice that the gun well has already been covered by a concrete platform. This was done by the Japanese when they occupied the casemate. Monja casemate tunnel. The excavated earth was part of the diggin done by so called "treaure hunters" and by team lead by a Japanese fondly called "Koite", who was said to be a part of the "New Years Day Twenty" -- the last Japanese hold outs of the island that surrendered in Janaury 1946. He went back there to dig up remains and artifacts of his comrades. The powder and shell room of the battery. Cheers, Tony
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Post by fots2 on May 26, 2009 14:07:25 GMT 8
Thank-you for the info and extra photos. I am trying to get some old photos labeled accurately. As for the photo of the second gun, this was discussed a long time ago here. I agree with your opinion. Many points do point to this as being gun #2 and none disagree. Odds it is gun #2 is very high. Batteryboy, what is your opinion on the rough unlined tunnel just under the casemate? Japanese built? Purpose? If anyone is interested, there are more Battery Monja photos here starting at page 7. www.pbase.com/fots2/corregidor
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Post by batteryboy on May 26, 2009 14:53:56 GMT 8
Hi Fots,
Yes the gun no. 2 is quite highter than the location of the casemate. Note that SL No. 4 is also within the area. Originally there was suppose to be only one gun at Monja and for some they said that the battery only had one gun. However just prior to the war, the engineers built additional Panama mounts or other temporary emplacements to deploy the 155mms and an additional emplacement was built near the vicinity of Monja.
There is another battery that is not known to many, its called Battery Lubang at No Name Point in the 1920s that had a single 155mm gun on top of the flat area of the promontory and it also had the shed for the ammo and fuse. This was then relocated to the area of Wheeler point and they decided to create a casemate for the gun which eventually led to the creation of Battery Monja. CDSG buddy Glen Williford was kind enough to provide me with the information on this.
Am not sure about the tunnel underneath and and it purpose. It may have been Japanese.
Regards,
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Post by armyjunk on May 30, 2009 5:03:52 GMT 8
Ron and I went to Battery Lubang at No Name Point a couple years ago I have pics I could post if anyone is interested.
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Post by batteryboy on May 30, 2009 7:26:25 GMT 8
Hi Roger,
Yes, please post the pics.
Cheers, Tony
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Post by EXO on May 30, 2009 7:30:03 GMT 8
Roger, I am very much with Tony on this, time and time again we post something and have no idea where the discussion is going to lead us - though always it is an interesting journey.
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Post by fots2 on May 31, 2009 20:22:57 GMT 8
The photos below are not great of quality but #2 is sufficient to point out a couple landmarks. It shows the crew of a US Navy PT boat assigned to recover and assist any paratroopers who may come over the cliffs on invasion day, February 16th, 1945. The location is just offshore south of Corregidor with Wheeler Point in view. Photo #2Arrow #1 shows the black entrance of the casemate containing Battery Monja 155mm Gun #1. The entrance to the smaller tunnel below the casemate can also be seen. Arrow #2 shows the horizontal cut where the Panama mount was located for Battery Monja 155mm Gun #2. Arrow #3 shows two white spots in the distance on the cliff-side just below Battery Wheeler. They may be parachutes hanging in the trees. Some paratroopers were blown by winds to the area of the cliffs but none are believed to have landed in the water.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2009 11:47:20 GMT 8
Why did they name this one Battery Monja? If I correctly translate this this refers to "madre" or "monk"
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Post by batteryboy on Jun 10, 2009 13:14:12 GMT 8
It stands for the "Monk". The battery's field of fire is from La Monja Island - Cochinos Pt. and Mariveles. Gun No. 2 can shoot a little bit further to the right. (near Cabcaben- Lamao)
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