Caballo Island Offshore

[fots2]

Hi okla,

You are probably right that the locals use the church at times. It certainly is a quiet place if anyone needs that.

Regarding the cemeteries, I have heard that there are no military graves there. If I find a headstone that shows any different, I will be sure to let you know.

Here is the next step in helping you to collect points for your “visit Corregidor” tickets. This is the swimming pool area at the Corregidor Inn, your wife will love it.

[okla]

Hey Fots....Wife loved the pic of the pool area. You are a rather diabolical fellow, aren't you. Keep up the travelogue, she just might start coming around to my point of view. She could just bask whilst I prowled the Malinta tunnel complex, the Mile Long Barracks, Battery Way, the Japanese landing beaches, climb the "300 steps",etc. Whoa, back to the real world...I gotta get outside and rake some leaves.

[okla]

Hey Fots....In regard to whether military dependents were domiciled on Fort Hughes (as was touched on earlier in this thread ), I finally found the publication that I vaguely remembered as having discussed this very unimportant matter, but the type of thing that pops up often to "bug" me no end. The "Osphrey - American Defense of Corregidor and Manila Bay 1894 -1945" quotes army wife Kay Abston, spouse of Lt Colonel Aaron Abston, as saying she loathed being on Corregidor with all its bugs, heat, mold, mildew, etc, but did enjoy the company of other wives, playing golf, bowling, card games, etc, but during the SIX MONTH STINT ON FORT HUGHES, most of these activities were not available. Bugs, ants, termites and rats were abundant on FORT HUGHES. I have summarized the whole quotation, but we get the general drift of Mrs Abston's view of duty on the "rock" and adjacent Fort Hughes. Now, I wonder if she might have been the only American army wife on Hughes (if her husband was the CO) or there were other women living there with their officer husbands (maybe NCO wives also not knowing the policy for civilian dependents in pre-war Philippine duty). I hate to let little, trivial bits such as this, that concern Corregidor, to nag at me, but there it is. Does this make me what is known as a "rockhound"?

[fots2]

Hi okla,

Another interesting slice of life there.

P.S. You qualified as one of us “Rock heads” long ago.

[fots2]

2012 Update



Earlier this year I was on a boat heading back to Corregidor from other Manila Bay forts. On the way, it was decided to make a loop around Caballo Island which was known as Fort Hughes. Here are some photos I took as we passed along the coast. It had gotten cloudy in the afternoon but the photos still came out ok. I will label some of them.



Aerial view of Caballo Island. (East end to the right, West end to the left).




Sea level view as we approached the southern side of the island.




Looking towards the western end of the island. About mid photo and 2/3 of the way up the cliff is a dark opening. This is the southern portal of Searchlight #11. At the far left of the photo you can see a small piece of Corregidor and the hazy outline of Mount Mariveles in the distance.




















Most island structures are on the relatively flat eastern end.




There are some concrete magazines along this coast but they appear to be abandoned now.












On the beach near the middle of the photo are the rusting remains of a Sherman tank. It did not make it ashore in 1945.




At the eastern tip of the island looking west.




As we round the tip, the northern side of the island comes into view.




The Fort Hughes Dock area. The long wharf’s middles section has been destroyed.

















Looking further down the coast.




On top of the cliffs, the structure you see is the Battery Control, Plotting Room and Magazines of Battery Gillespie. This battery has a 14-inch gun mounted on a disappearing carriage. The gun is emplaced to the right of the structure.









The final section of rocky coastline is ahead.




The western tip of Caballo Island.

Unfortunately this is as close to Fort Hughes as I have been. Someday I hope.

[okla]

Hey Fots....Thanks for another "Mini Tour". I was in need of a bit of a "pick up" this morning prior to doing my weekly ritual behind my mower. These pics depict Fort Hughes as being a rather bleak place, regardless of the abundant greenery. It is my understanding that there is a permanent Philippine Naval presence on the island. On first view, I thought I detected human beings standing near the pier, but on a second pass thru the pictures, I think these "objects" are lifeless. These photos show a rather deserted place akin to shots I have seen of the former French penal colony, "Devils Island". Thanks again for posting. Cheers.

[fots2]

Hi okla,

The Philippine Navy does keep personnel on the island and it is still off limits to the casual visitor.

I agree about the look of the island from off shore. Even pre war I do not expect this was a popular posting. It probably was not fully manned until wartime anyway.

I still want to go there.

[darthdract]

Hi Fots very nice photo. If you don't mind if I ask where you using a Super zoom or a DSLR? and what Lens
This the first time I opened this thread. Alot of info and what are the Conset hut things in Caballo? Thanks Cheers..


P.S.
I back read and Okla mentioned something about the flood
I realized this thread was posted way back 2009 Just a month after that Ondoy Incident. I can't forget that day fortunately we had a 2nd floor. I live near makati. waters are chest high. My Girlfriend got stranded in PGH.

[fots2]

Hi Darth,

Years ago I gave up carrying heavy, bulky and expensive SLRs. I only use a pocket size “Point and Shoot” camera with 5x zoom. It meets my requirements just fine.

As far as I know those huts are concrete magazines but the ones in view appear to be abandoned now.

I would love to have the opportunity to wander around this island.

[okla]

Hey Fots..So that is the little "gadget" that we all owe so much to. Tough to comprende all the great material that flows thru that little lens. Of course, the operator might have a bit of "an eye" for much of the subject matter. Did the "second greatest photo" ever taken (the Bataan Sunset, the Iwo Jima Flag Raising being the first) come from that little "box"? I can see where a small camera would be much more convenient whilst prowling among the snakes, lizards, spiders,etc, in dark, dank tunnels, especially when a quick exit might be required. Cheers