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Post by okla on Mar 15, 2011 21:32:47 GMT 8
Hey Sender....This is good stuff. Thanks for posting. Those were, indeed, wild, hectic days. What a "kick in the gut" that must have been to those folks when they learned that their plane had taken off for Australia without them. Every time I have read that account, over the years, I "feel" for them. As I said, this is all excellent material. Cheers.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2011 16:48:54 GMT 8
Hi okla, and thank you kindly for the warm welcome. Only after I posted did I see there was a section for guest posts. I probably should have posted there and let the Admin move it if he saw fit.
I hope everyone saw the mention of the JOHN D. EDWARDS evacuating crypto personnel from Corregidor. I also noticed that someone said matter o’ factly that there were crypto people on the PBY flight, and then goes on to say some stuff is still hard to get info on. That’s interesting to me because it’s as recent as 2008, and I know Capt. Pollock was good friends with at least one of the people in that exchange.
As far as why crypto personnel might have been kept that late on Corregidor? When I was looking for information on the internet I read that the U.S. codebreaking at the time was distributed between Washington D.C., Hawaii, Philippines, and a fourth location which escapes me right now. Each location focused on a different code. I think it said that the Philippines were concentrating on a code called JN25b. Anyway, It said that someone named Wuvell had sent a message to Washington D.C. telling them to keep the intercept station in the Philippines open as long as possible because the intelligence they were collecting on the Japanese plans for India was vital. I’ll have to find that document again and post a link here for scrutiny.
I only have one more piece of information that may be relevant to this thread. I have one document that makes only passing references to “battery AFFIRM”, “battery CAST”, “Tunnel #4”, “Tunnel #7”, and the phrase "Tunnels one to five". I’ll have to scan this document eventually anyway. When I do, I’ll try and post here if anyone is interested. It’s only three pages. For now I’ll just re-type it (typos and capitalization and all):
UNITED STATES ASIATIC FLEET
U.S. NAVAL BATTALION HEADQUARTERS, MARIVELES, P.I., 3 February 1942.
S-E-C-R-E-T
From: The Battalion Commander. To: The Company Commanders.
SUBJECT: Position of Forces.
1. Naval Ammunition Depot Company Camp, established at head of Talaga Bay (Phone call NAD, ring one long, one short) under command of Lieutenant BOWERS, U.S. Navy, is occupying Los Cochinos Point and Talaga Point.
2. Aircraft Asiatic Company Camp, established at head of Agbayog Bay (Phone call, Camp Levy, ring 2 short, 1 long), under command of Lt. (jg) PRUITT, U.S. Navy is occupying Hornos Point (Mahaba Point).
3. Battery “A”, based at Quarantine Station (Phone call Battery AFFIRM, ring one long, two short), under command of Lieutenant HOGABOOM, U.S.M.C., is occupying the following lookout stations located at Mt. Pucot (Phone call Pucot or Stockdale, 5 rings) and High Ridge, South of Quarantine Station, (Phone call, Mountain, three rings), and machine guns covering Airfield North of Mariveles and North Western side of Mariveles Harbor. (Separate telephone circuit from Battery “A”)
4. Battery “C”, (Phone call Battery CAST through operator), under command of Lieutenant HOLDREGE, U.S.M.C., (or Lieutenant SIMPSON) in camp at km. 176 ½, temporarily manning Anti-aircraft batteries and machine guns.
5. General Detail (Section Base) location, Section Base, under command of Gunner CARLSON, U.S. Navy, camped at Section Base and will set as reserve. (Contact through Tunnel #4, or Tunnel #7).
6. U.S.S. CANOPUS, under command of Commander E.L. SACKETT, U.S. Navy (Phone call Tunnel #4) will furnish the sentries to guard Section Base, Tunnels one to five, roads along East side of Mariveles Bay and man machine guns on east side of Mariveles Harbor. In addition, upon movement of the Battalion to the field or when requested, the anti-aircraft battery of Company “C” will be manned and officered by the Canopus.
7. Headquarters of Naval Battalion is located fifty yards beyond Km. 179, right hand side of the road. (Call km.179, ring 2 long, 1 short). Telephone exchange at present located Pacific Naval Contractors. (N.A.B.)
8. In the event of an emergency Battery “A” reserves will form south of airfield at foot of the trail (Camp of Second Anti-tank Battery under command of Major CESPEDA, Philippine Army).
9. Battery “C” will send reserves to Km. 179 Naval Battalion Headquarters to act in support of Pucot and ridge to Eastward of Pucot.
10. General Detail will hold itself in readiness to provide support where directed.
11. Naval Ammunition Depot will mount two .50 caliber machine guns on each Los Cochinos Point and one on Talaga Point so as to cover the points and entrance into adjacent bays.
12. Aviation Company will mount one .50 cal. MM on Talaga Point and two .50 caliber machine guns on Hornos (Mahaba Point) so as to cover the entrances to Apatot Bay and Agbayog Bay.
13. Second Anti-tank Battalion will mount six .50 caliber machine guns (to be provided by Naval Battalion) which are to be mounted on the following point: Lapiay Point, two guns, Longoskawayan Point, two guns, and Naiklec Point, two guns so as to prevent entrance into the following bays: Kinalalakan Bay, Mauankis Bay and Agbayog Bay.
14. Each unit will establish and maintain communications with the units to the left and right and rear of its position. Communications will be expanded.
15. Major CESPEDA, Philippine Army, has on his right Colonel ROEMER, U.S. Army (Chemical Corps) manning ridge northwest of Pucot Mountain and unnamed hill east of Kenaliputan Point. Communication with Colonel ROEMER is possible through Naval Battalion field phone circuit. (Call Saddle One).
16. Fresh water springs are located at the heads of the following bays: Nagmandalo, Kinalalakan, Manakis, Agbayog and Talaga Bays and at Battery AFFIRM (Quarantine Station). All water should be chemically treated prior to use.
17. A complete list of telephone service will be provided to all units as soon as possible.
18. Boat services for Naval Ammunition Depot Camp and Aviation Company Camp, (Camp Levy), will be provided.
F.J. BRIDGET
Cc: CO, CANOPUS (3). Battery “A” (1). Battery “C” (1). Gunner Carlson (1). Nav. Ammn. Depot (1). CO, Anti-tank Bat. (1). Col. Roemer (1). Com-16 (2). Nav. Battn. Hedqtrs. (1). Capt. Dessez (1). General Wainwright (1). General Pierce (1).
(I notice something called Com-16 got 2 copies, but is referenced nowhere else in the document).
It’s funny, I’ve read this document before, but only just noticed that line item 13. mentions six .50 caliber machine guns that were to be provided by the Naval Battalion. I have to wonder if these were some of the .50 caliber machine guns Capt. Pollock helped “scrounge up” for the Naval Battalion before he was evacuated to Australia aboard the submarine SEAWOLF. There is also a very good chance Capt. Pollock helped establish the “Naval Battalion field phone circuit” referenced in line item 15. Sorry, I just had to share that.
Again, I hope any of this is useful, or at least interesting and not completely irrelevant to this thread.
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Post by EXO on Mar 22, 2011 21:46:01 GMT 8
Thankfully, you missed the section for "guest spots" and went direct into top quality. Welcome to the board.
Though there has been a section on "Secret Corregidor" my google analytics tells me it hasn't been visited often. I hope you can breathe some life back into it, as you clearly are an authority in the area.
My take on why some personnel were evacuated later than others is to the effect that a good part of what Corregidor was able to do involved traffic interception and analysis, and that this was capable of being done at a comparatively lower level of technology. After all, a radio is a radio is a radio, and much less a loss than any top secret machinery. Having a base station at Corregidor would have provided a much superior triangulation to establish origin of signals, I guess. Hence, the longer Corregidor was operating , the more accurately they could locate the various fleet and army elements by RDF.
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Post by okla on Mar 23, 2011 0:27:40 GMT 8
Hey Sender. I am sure that all the regulars on this forum would agree that this material is "relevant, useful and damned sure interesting". More good stuff to "chew on". I hope there will be much more of the same coming in the future. Cheers.
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Post by okla on Mar 23, 2011 4:20:28 GMT 8
Hey Chad...I was going over the log of the USS Spearfish, that you so kindly posted previously, and came upon another of those type of "insignificant" tidbits that tend to run me up the wall. It dealt with the two "stowaways" from the vessel, PERRY, who were members of the working party of the afore mentioned craft, transferring baggage onto the submarine. I was wondering just what type vessel was the PERRY. Inter- island steamer, etc? There was an old "four piper", DMS ??, with this name, which was at Pearl on Dec 7, 1941, that was operating between Hawaii and the West Coast in May 1942 so this ship/craft,etc ain't her. Besides, any larger US Naval surface units were all down South by this time, (or recouping from the Doolittle Raid) readying themselves for what would be big time actions in the Coral Sea and later on, Midway. Little things, such as this, literally run me "nuts", as I am sure you have recognized. Cheers.
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Post by fots2 on Mar 24, 2011 18:52:15 GMT 8
Hi Sender,
That is interesting information you have posted. I am always looking for anything new on Bataan and Station CAST on Corregidor. Thank-you.
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Post by okla on Mar 24, 2011 22:36:13 GMT 8
Hey Fots....Am I plunging headlong into senility or am I correct in thinking that you are/were in the midst of preparing another Fantastic Fots Foto Tour pertaining to Station CAST, and the code breakers,etc? As we all know, I am prone to falling prey to my runaway imagination. Maybe a more descriptive word might be "hallucinating". Postscript...Heard from Phantom, viz our "project". Thanks again. Wife loves the "little Tees".
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Post by fots2 on Mar 24, 2011 23:35:09 GMT 8
Hi okla, You are as sharp as ever, a report on what remains of Station CAST is coming. I wish I could say when but I keep getting distracted for one reason or another. For example, I will soon be away from home for a week in the southern Philippines. My wife’s sister is getting married plus it is a family visit. I have been to the Monkey Point three times this year to wander around and collect photos. If you remember ‘post explosion’ photos from 1945, not much was left standing but some things still do remain today. Officer’s quarters were easy to find but barracks for the lower ranks were scattered around a bit. I think I have found them all now. The location given to the Navy for Station CAST is not large but the antenna farm is more extensive than I expected. To date I have recorded the location of 17 big concrete encircled wooden antenna poles. There are probably more of them hidden in the bushes. I had intended to determine the antenna orientations and shapes but when I plot them on a map, it makes no sense; they are all over the place. Due to the amount of destruction at the site, the trip report will not be too extensive but it will at least show everyone what remains. This little piece of real estate has earned its place in history and deserves to be remembered. Here is a little teaser for you. P.S. I am glad that you enjoyed the “project”.
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Post by okla on Mar 25, 2011 1:37:09 GMT 8
Hey Fots...The "teaser" did its' intended job 100% percent. You are certainly correct in the fact that this "beat up" piece of turf was an extremely important piece of real estate to this country, especially, during the lead up to actual conflict in those dangerous days of 1941 and even earlier, I would think. Who knows really what was going on with "CAST" in those tunnels and even earlier over at Cavite,etc??? Is your destination down south at Davao? I would venture that most students of the Pacific War (this supposition certainly doesn't include the "regulars" on this forum, no way, no how) don't know that the first overt act against the PI was near Davao, rather than against targets on Luzon (Clark, Baguio, etc). The Japs attacked the Seaplane Tender USS Preston in the Gulf of Davao. A couple of PBYs were destroyed but the vessel escaped, survived the war only to be de-Commissioned and sold for scrap. Will be waiting for the CAST Tour with baited breath. :)Cheers.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2011 9:24:22 GMT 8
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