|
|
Post by okla on Oct 17, 2013 20:33:05 GMT 8
Hey Patty...No way do I ever intend to get close to any type Mathematics. I hated it in High School. Also, as a 23 year old Freshman, attending college via the GI Bill at Oklahoma State Univ, I struggled, mightily with Freshman College Algebra. Of course, it was a required subject, regardless of your Major, mine being History/Political Science. In retrospect, I am amazed that I made it thru to a BA. These days, my Math endeavor is limited to balancing the checkbook, which wife, of course, double checks. Good to know you are hangin' in and doing what you enjoy. Cheers.
|
|
|
|
Post by chadhill on Oct 19, 2013 10:22:14 GMT 8
A question concerning the first page I posted from the R-2 Journal (p. 193):
"At time 1955 the Malinta Hill O.P. reported: Powerplant #8 light and Pom-Pom completely out of commission. B prime 23 out of commission. 2-75s temporarily out. 4 killed & one missing. Siren tower knocked down. No communications at Malinta O.P."
Can anyone say what "B Prime 23" was?
|
|
|
|
Post by fots2 on Oct 19, 2013 13:27:45 GMT 8
Hi Chad,
I understood “B prime 23” to be the designation of a station/command post on top of the hill. The numbers do not match with what our maps show us was there but perhaps the purpose of individual command posts changed when necessary.
“B prime” usually signifies the ‘primary’ command post of a battery. The last number signifies what battery the post is assigned to. The “23” together is not correct if we follow the Coast Artillery format used on Corregidor to the letter. (The marine who wrote this may not have known the exact designation of the command post and just wrote down what he was told).
On top of Malinta Hill were two supplemental gun group command posts for the two mortar batteries of Way and Geary. Geary’s battery number was #3 although I cannot say this has significance with what the marine wrote.
Here is a little SWAG for you. Since all other batteries had their primary command posts elsewhere, could this be the command post for the recently installed Pom-Pom gun? That would explain a number that we have not seen before. (B’ 23)
|
|
|
|
Post by oozlefinch on Oct 19, 2013 14:09:06 GMT 8
Fots - Good SWAG, but I can't imagine a single AA gun as having a "command post" of its own.
|
|
|
|
Post by fots2 on Oct 19, 2013 18:04:08 GMT 8
Hi oozlefinch,
You may be correct, I really don’t know. Even though it was only one gun, wouldn't you expect it to be under control of the brass in Malinta Tunnel (like all other guns) as opposed to being an isolated entity free to fire or not fire whenever they wished? A pair of wires leading to a telephone in a lean-to would serve this CP function.
|
|
|
|
Post by chadhill on Oct 20, 2013 0:47:23 GMT 8
Fots, thanks for the explanation. There are also references to a B Prime 25 in the R-2 Journal. I have been unable to pin-point it's location, but it apparently was not near Malinta Hill. Interesting SWAG about the pom-pom...
|
|
|
|
Post by oozlefinch on Oct 20, 2013 13:32:25 GMT 8
Fots - You're probably right, in fact earlier in this thread there's reference to Battery Mobile having tactical control of the gun. Did Mobile have a OP/CP on Malinta? In any event, I doubt that during an air attach they had to wait for permission to fire on an attacking plane. Whoever was in command of the gun probably eyeballed it (they didn't have a director) and opened fire when he thought a plane was within range.
|
|
|
|
Post by fots2 on Oct 20, 2013 16:38:05 GMT 8
Oozlefinch, that sounds good to me. I expect there was overall control but the gun crew had standing orders to take action when neccessary. I don’t remember reading that Battery Mobile had a OP/CP on Malinta Hill but it sure would be the ultimate vantage point.
|
|
|
|
Post by chadhill on Feb 8, 2014 6:20:02 GMT 8
A-20s bombing Malinta Hill in early February 1945.  This enlarged section of the photo shows some interesting things. What may even be the wreckage of Searchlight #8 can be seen to the right of the tunnel.  This Japanese photo taken atop Malinta Hill after the 1942 surrender (from Philippine Expeditionary Force) appears to show the wreckage of Searchlight 8 on the left.  |
|
|
|
Post by fots2 on Feb 9, 2014 23:37:19 GMT 8
That is a good aerial photo Chad. That may very well be Searchlight #8 wreckage seen there and at bottom left in your last photo.
I always found the last view interesting. You cannot see much of those roads now due to trees. Of all the roads seen, all are unused now with the exception of the wide one seen at bottom right. This goes eastward from the Malinta tunnel east entrance. The winding road seen at upper left, the Malinta South Shore Road, can also be added to the “unused road” list as it is now blocked by rock slides. Lots of vehicles lying around huh?
|
|
