Post by fots2 on Jan 12, 2010 21:24:14 GMT 8
Here is a trip to one of the original defenses built on Corregidor Island starting in 1917. It was one of four 3-inch Anti-aircraft gun positions with an adjacent underground magazine.
This plan shows the layout of the 3-inch AA gun block and underground magazine plus it’s surface air vent and drainage shaft.
Thanks to mapmaster, we have a view of the type of gun that would have been bolted to this AA gun block. Type: M1917, 55 calibres in length, muzzle velocity of 2,600 ft/sec, chamber 296 cubic inches. (mapmaster must have a home museum rivaling any museum in Western Australia).
I got a ride to Battery Way which was the start of my hike this day.
An early morning view into Battery Way’s gun pit long before the day tour crowd would normally arrive. Today and tomorrow I am the only tourist on Corregidor Island since the ferry is canceled due to a typhoon nearby.
Even though Site B is relatively remote from other structures, it is still relatively easy to get to. There is no present day road or trail going directly to the site but the jungle walking is easy. One of the nearby old roads, Way Trail, was cleared as a walking/biking trail more than one a year ago and is still in relatively good shape. I used this trail to get to “Road Crossing #4” and then turned left up the hill.
The first view of Site “B” is the northern entrance to the underground magazine. This is what it looks like after clearing vines and branches away from it.
Looking down the soil covered steps of the northern entrance.
From the bottom of the steps looking back up towards the entrance.
At the bottom of the first set of steps, turn 90 degrees to the right and descend the second set of steps to reach the actual magazine room.
The view from the doorway looking into the magazine room. The rectangular hole in the rear wall is an air vent up to the surface.
Numerous lizards scurry away along the ceiling or drop onto the floor and run when an intruder arrives.
Safe behind the bottle.
This is the first time I have ever seen a gray lizard.
From the rear of the magazine room looking back towards the entrance.
The drainage system in these magazines was elaborate. Part of it can be seen at the base of the stairs.
Coming back up the stairs, there is a 90 degree turn either left or right to ascend the northern or southern stairs to the surface.
Another part of the drainage system at the base of the two staircases up to the surface.
Standing on the southern staircase you can see the 90 degree turn down to the magazine room and also the bottom of the northern staircase heading up.
This is the view looking up the second (southern) staircase towards the entrance.
Outside view of the southern entrance to the magazine.
The air vent above the magazine.
This is a deep vertical shaft down to the drainage system.
Branches, leaves, vines and even trees makes it difficult to find things on the ground these days. Through the mess in front of you is the 3-inch anti-aircraft gun block.
You can just barely see two dark gray sections of the gun block.
Roughly the same view after I have cleared away some of the vegetation.
The keyhole shaped gun block.
A closer view of the gun block.
After exploring a couple more places I headed back the same route passing Battery Way again.
Later afternoon view from Battery Way looking towards the main road. Middleside is to the left.
Walking down the road towards the Corregidor Inn on Bottomside. I never met a soul during my hike all day, another good day on “The Rock”.
This plan shows the layout of the 3-inch AA gun block and underground magazine plus it’s surface air vent and drainage shaft.
Thanks to mapmaster, we have a view of the type of gun that would have been bolted to this AA gun block. Type: M1917, 55 calibres in length, muzzle velocity of 2,600 ft/sec, chamber 296 cubic inches. (mapmaster must have a home museum rivaling any museum in Western Australia).
I got a ride to Battery Way which was the start of my hike this day.
An early morning view into Battery Way’s gun pit long before the day tour crowd would normally arrive. Today and tomorrow I am the only tourist on Corregidor Island since the ferry is canceled due to a typhoon nearby.
Even though Site B is relatively remote from other structures, it is still relatively easy to get to. There is no present day road or trail going directly to the site but the jungle walking is easy. One of the nearby old roads, Way Trail, was cleared as a walking/biking trail more than one a year ago and is still in relatively good shape. I used this trail to get to “Road Crossing #4” and then turned left up the hill.
The first view of Site “B” is the northern entrance to the underground magazine. This is what it looks like after clearing vines and branches away from it.
Looking down the soil covered steps of the northern entrance.
From the bottom of the steps looking back up towards the entrance.
At the bottom of the first set of steps, turn 90 degrees to the right and descend the second set of steps to reach the actual magazine room.
The view from the doorway looking into the magazine room. The rectangular hole in the rear wall is an air vent up to the surface.
Numerous lizards scurry away along the ceiling or drop onto the floor and run when an intruder arrives.
Safe behind the bottle.
This is the first time I have ever seen a gray lizard.
From the rear of the magazine room looking back towards the entrance.
The drainage system in these magazines was elaborate. Part of it can be seen at the base of the stairs.
Coming back up the stairs, there is a 90 degree turn either left or right to ascend the northern or southern stairs to the surface.
Another part of the drainage system at the base of the two staircases up to the surface.
Standing on the southern staircase you can see the 90 degree turn down to the magazine room and also the bottom of the northern staircase heading up.
This is the view looking up the second (southern) staircase towards the entrance.
Outside view of the southern entrance to the magazine.
The air vent above the magazine.
This is a deep vertical shaft down to the drainage system.
Branches, leaves, vines and even trees makes it difficult to find things on the ground these days. Through the mess in front of you is the 3-inch anti-aircraft gun block.
You can just barely see two dark gray sections of the gun block.
Roughly the same view after I have cleared away some of the vegetation.
The keyhole shaped gun block.
A closer view of the gun block.
After exploring a couple more places I headed back the same route passing Battery Way again.
Later afternoon view from Battery Way looking towards the main road. Middleside is to the left.
Walking down the road towards the Corregidor Inn on Bottomside. I never met a soul during my hike all day, another good day on “The Rock”.
Or, more probably, a product of my over active imagination. Please forgive me, once again, for worrying about minute things that have no real importance to anyone, but this old Corregidor "geek", but if anybody can answer this query, it's you. Postscript...When you are prowling the "rock" and there are absolutely no other folks around, do you feel that SOMETHING or SOMEBODY is watching your every move. I can't help but remember what the Little Bighorn Battlefield Park employee told me way back in 1970...."ghosts literally walk at mid-day around here". Maybe you should "watch your back". 
