Fort Mills
Fort Mills | |
---|---|
Corregidor Island, Philippines | |
Part of Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays | |
Site information | |
Controlled by | United States |
Site history | |
Built | completed 1910 |
Built by | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
Battles/wars |
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Garrison information | |
Past commanders | Col. Paul D. Bunker |
Garrison |
|
Fort Mills (
Overview
The United States acquired the Philippines as a territory as a result of the
Construction
The initial construction on Fort Mills was largely complete by 1911 except three 3-inch gun batteries. The initial gun batteries were:[8]
Name | No. of guns | Gun type | Carriage type | Years active |
---|---|---|---|---|
Way | 4 | 12-inch (305 mm) mortar M1890 | barbette M1896 | 1910-1942 |
Geary | 8 | 4 12-inch (305 mm) mortar M1890,[9] 4 12-inch (305 mm) mortar M1908 |
barbette M1896, M1908 | 1910-1942 |
Cheney | 2 | 12-inch (305 mm) gun M1895 | disappearing M1901 | 1910-1942 |
Wheeler | 2 | 12-inch (305 mm) gun M1895 | disappearing M1901 | 1910-1942 |
Crockett | 2 | 12-inch (305 mm) gun M1895 | disappearing M1901 | 1910-1942 |
Grubbs | 2 | 10-inch (254 mm) gun M1895 | disappearing M1901 | 1910-1942 |
Morrison | 2 | 6-inch (152 mm) gun M1905 |
disappearing M1905 | 1910-1942 |
Ramsey | 3 | 6-inch (152 mm) gun M1905 | disappearing M1905 | 1911-1942 |
James | 4 | 3-inch (76 mm) gun M1903 | pedestal M1903 | 1910-1942 |
Three additional batteries of two 3-inch (76 mm) guns each followed within a few years; Battery Keyes in 1913 and Batteries Cushing and Hanna in 1919. The 3-inch "mine defense" guns were intended to prevent enemy minesweepers from clearing paths through underwater minefields.[10]
The last new armament at Fort Mills until 1940 was significant but small in quantity: Batteries Smith and Hearn, completed in 1921. These had one
Spare gun barrels were provided near some batteries, including Smith and Hearn, due to the inability to re-line used barrels except at specialized facilities in the continental United States (
Battery names
The name sources for the batteries at Fort Mills were:[16]
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Minefields
Manila Bay and Subic Bay had
On the night of 16–17 December 1941 the passenger ship
The Malinta Tunnel
The main part of the
Japanese conquest of the Philippines
Prelude
From the late 1930s through the surrender in 1942 a number of batteries for
On 26 July 1941 Lieutenant General
The siege begins
The
One aspect of MacArthur's Rainbow Plan was the Inland Seas Project, intended to defend a shipping route to keep his forces supplied. Part of this was a buildup of
Fall of Bataan
Although the US and Filipino forces achieved success in defending Bataan through the end of February,
The Japanese in Bataan received substantial reinforcements and replacements in March, including 240 mm howitzers and aircraft, and prepared for an offensive scheduled for 3 April.[39] It started with a five-hour air and artillery bombardment that destroyed many of the Allied defensive positions and stunned the defenders; a three-day assault threw them back along much of the line.[40] On 6 April the US and Filipino forces attempted a counterattack, which ran into a fresh Japanese attack that eventually threw the Allies further back.[41] Over the next two days many Allied units disintegrated, and on 9 April the Allied forces on Bataan surrendered.[42] About 2,000 stragglers made it to Corregidor, while about 78,000 became prisoners of the Japanese and were transferred to camps in northern Luzon on the Bataan Death March.[43]
Fall of Corregidor
Corregidor had been bombed intermittently since 29 December 1941. Supplies on the island were short, with food and water severely rationed and the defenders correspondingly weakened. Japanese artillery bombardment of Corregidor began immediately after the fall of Bataan on 9 April. It became intense over the next few weeks as more guns were brought up, and one day's shelling was said to equal all the bombing raids combined in damage inflicted. However, after an initial response from a 155 mm GPF battery, Lt. Gen. Wainwright prohibited counterbattery fire for three days, fearing there were wounded POWs on Bataan who might be killed.
On 3 February 1942 USS Trout (SS-202) arrived at Corregidor with 3,500 rounds of 3-inch anti-aircraft ammunition. Along with mail and important documents, Trout was loaded with 20 tons of gold and silver previously removed from banks in the Philippines before departing.[47]
By the end of April Corregidor's main power plant was too damaged to function most of the time. This was needed for the ammunition hoists of the disappearing gun batteries, which had gasoline-powered generators but for which fuel could not be spared. The Malinta Tunnel had its own generators, but sometimes these failed too.[48] The bombardment by high-angle artillery and aircraft gradually destroyed the utility of almost all of Corregidor's big guns, which had no overhead protection except for magazines and generators. The 12-inch (305 mm) mortars of Battery Geary and Battery Way fared better until near the end; their battery arrangement did not require electric power for ammunition hoists. However, Battery Way at least had been out of service for years; only three mortars were restored to service and these not until 28 April, and by 5 May two of these were out of action. There was also a shortage of high explosive shells, and adapting the armor piercing shells for instantaneous detonation was time-consuming at only 25 shells per day. On 2 May a 240 mm shell penetrated one of Battery Geary's magazines; the resulting explosion put the entire battery out of action, blowing one mortar 150 yards (140 m) from the battery and embedding another mortar entirely inside another magazine.[49] Among the harbor forts, only Fort Drum's turrets proved impregnable to attack; they remained in action until the surrender despite damage to other parts of the fort.[50]
On the night of 4 May a submarine returning to Australia from patrol evacuated 25 persons. Among the passengers were Colonel Constant Irwin, who carried a complete roster of all Army, Navy, and Marine personnel still alive; Col. Royal G. Jenks, a finance officer, with financial accounts; Col. Milton A. Hill, the inspector general, 3 other Army and 6 Navy officers, and about 13 nurses. Included in the cargo sent from Corregidor were several bags of mail, the last to go out of the Philippines, and "many USAFFE and USFIP records and orders".[51]
The bombardment increased in intensity through 5 May, and the Japanese landed that night. Their initial landing was near the east end of the island, north of Kindley Field, the airstrip. This was somewhat east of their objective, which was between Infantry Point and Cavalry Point, due to a miscalculation of the current.
Although all the harbor forts were included in the surrender, General Wainwright made every effort to avoid surrendering the troops in the southern Philippines. He sent an order placing them directly under MacArthur just before surrendering Corregidor. However, the Japanese insisted that all US and Filipino forces in the islands be included, and stated they would not cease offensive operations until that took place. Wainwright believed this meant they might start executing the 10,000 or so prisoners from Corregidor and the other forts, so he ordered the surrender of all forces. The units in the south were in much better positions for both supplies and continued resistance than those at Bataan or Corregidor were, and their commanders believed Wainwright's surrender orders were made under duress. It was not until 9 June that the Japanese accepted that all of the islands had surrendered. Some units never did surrender, and became nuclei for
The conquest of the Philippines by Japan is often considered the worst military defeat in United States history.[56] About 23,000 American military personnel were killed or captured, while Filipino soldiers killed or captured totaled around 100,000.[57]
The Philippines,
Recapture of Corregidor
US forces returned to the Philippines in a major
The airborne assault began on schedule at 0833 on 16 February 1945. It achieved surprise and Japanese resistance was light. However, a higher drop altitude and stronger winds than planned, combined with the small drop zones, resulted in a 25 percent injury rate. Many troops landed outside the drop zones in wooded or rocky areas, or on ruined buildings and gun batteries. One group of paratroopers landed on an observation post that included the Japanese commander, and killed him. The amphibious assault at 1030 on the south shore of Bottomside at San Jose was also successful, despite encountering land mines. The surface of Malinta Hill was captured in half an hour, although numerous Japanese remained in the Malinta Tunnel below it. The second paratroop lift dropped at 1240, with a much lower injury rate than the first lift. However, due to the success of the attack, the commander of the 503rd decided to cancel the drop scheduled for the 17th, and bring the remaining paratroops in by sea. The combined forces on Corregidor became known as "Rock Force".[67][65]
As well as the force in the Malinta Tunnel, the Japanese were dug in on various parts of the island, occupying numerous tunnels and small bunkers. Many of these were south and west of Topside. Rock Force cleared the bunkers in the typical fashion of the war in the Pacific: air-delivered napalm bombs where needed, followed by assaults with flamethrowers and white phosphorus grenades among other weapons. The Japanese would sometimes reoccupy these positions at night. In some cases demolition charges were used to entomb the Japanese in their bunkers and tunnels.[68] The Japanese occasionally made banzai charges at this point in the war, which mainly succeeded in increasing their own casualties. There were attempts made to persuade the Japanese to surrender, but few did so. On at least three occasions the Japanese were able to detonate ammunition caches near American troops, usually followed by an attack, though these tactics killed more Japanese than Americans. The most spectacular of these was the detonation of a large amount of explosives in the Malinta Tunnel on the night of 21 February. Apparently the intention was to shock the Americans on and near Malinta Hill and allow the force in the tunnel to escape eastward to the island's tail. However, it appeared that the explosion was larger than intended, though perhaps several hundred Japanese out of an estimated 2,000 in the tunnel were able to join their main force on the tail. Two nights later more explosions shook Malinta Hill, probably the suicide of its remaining defenders.[68] By this time the entire western part of the island was cleared and preparations made to clear the tail area. On 24 February the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry was relieved by the 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry of the 38th Infantry Division. At 1100 on 26 February the Japanese apparently decided to finish themselves and take some Americans with them, setting off an ammunition-filled bunker at Monkey Point. Perhaps 200 Japanese were killed outright, along with 50 Americans killed and 150 wounded. Within a few hours the only Japanese left alive were in a few caves along the island's waterline, who were mopped up in a few days.[68]
Corregidor's flags
Flag re-hoisted during bombardment
On 16 April 1942, during an intense Japanese artillery bombardment, the 100-foot flagpole's halyard was severed and the flag began to come down. Four men of Battery B, 60th Coast Artillery (AA), including Captain Arthur E. Huff, left shelter to catch the flag before it reached the ground. They repaired the halyard, re-raised the flag, and returned to shelter. Each of them received the Silver Star.[69]
Pieces of flag preserved
Just before surrendering on 6 May 1942, Colonel Paul Bunker, commander of the 59th Coast Artillery and the Seaward Defenses, followed General Wainwright's orders to haul down and burn Corregidor's flag, to avoid turning it over to the Japanese, and run up the white flag. He kept a piece of the American flag that he sewed into his clothing.[70]
On 10 June 1942, in the
"He was taken to Bilibid prison in Manila and came down with pneumonia. While he was in the hospital Col. Paul D. Bunker of Taunton, Mass., was brought in suffering from seriously infected blisters on his feet and blood poisoning in one leg. On June 10, Bunker watching carefully 'to see that there were no Japs near,' swore him to secrecy, Ausmus continued, and 'said he wanted to turn something over to me to deliver to the Secretary of War.' From beneath a false patch set into the left pocket of his shirt Bunker took a bit of red cloth. Solemnly he gave Ausmus part of it and put the rest back."[72]
On 16 March 1943, Colonel Bunker died in a Japanese prison camp in Karenko, Taiwan. While giving one piece of the flag to Ausmus, he held onto another piece until the time of his death. General Wainwright later recalled the circumstances of Bunker's death in the prison camp, still holding onto the remnant: "He must have suffered ... constant pain of hunger ... I sat with him for a part of the last two hours of his life ... [He was] cremated in the rags in which he had carefully sewn a bit of the American flag he had pulled down in Corregidor."[73]
Ausmus did deliver it to the Secretary of War who unveiled it during a speech on the event of Flag Day in June 1946.[71] The remnant of the U.S. flag from Corregidor saved by Bunker and Ausmus is on display in the West Point museum.[74]
Flag raised again on Corregidor
On 2 March 1945, with Corregidor secured, a flag-raising ceremony with General MacArthur present was held at Topside. With a new flag raised, Colonel Jones of the 503rd Parachute Infantry saluted the general and said simply, "Sir, I present to you Fortress Corregidor."[75]
Present
The ruins of Fort Mills are impressive, and feature the largest concentration of surviving US coast defense guns in the world. Including spare barrels, twelve
See also
- Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays
- Geography of the Philippines
- Military history of the Philippines
- Military history of the United States
- Seacoast defense in the United States
- United States Army Coast Artillery Corps
References
- ^ Morton, p. 478
- ^ a b Forts in the Philippines at American Forts Network
- ^ a b Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays at the Coast Defense Study Group
- ^ Fort and battery names at Corregidor.org
- ^ a b McGovern and Berhow 2003, pp. 7-12
- ^ Berhow 2015, p. 430
- ^ Morton, p. 473
- ^ a b c Berhow 2015, pp. 222, 233-240
- ^ Battery Geary's four M1890 mortars were transferred from Battery Whitman at Fort Andrews, Massachusetts.Battery Whitman at FortWiki.com
- ^ a b Lewis, pp. 83-89
- ^ Battery Hall, Fort Saulsbury, Delaware at FortWiki.com, with the same weapons as Batteries Smith and Hearn
- ^ Berhow 2015, p. 61
- ^ Berhow 2015, pp. 227-228
- ISBN 0-87021-192-7.
- ^ Berhow 2015, p. 194
- ^ Order of Names at Corregidor.org
- ^ a b "Map at "The Sinking of SS Corregidor" at MaritimeReview.ph". Archived from the original on 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
- ^ Some accounts indicate the ship sank near La Monja Island, but this would mean the ship somehow got through the Corregidor-Bataan Army minefield.
- ISBN 978-1-61251-062-0.
- ^ Discussion with quotes from several sources about the sinking of SS Corregidor at Corregidor.com
- ^ Diary of CPT George Steiger, entry for 19 December 1941
- ^ Strong, Paschal N., The Lean Years, p. 2 at Corregidor.org
- ^ A French design, designated Grand Puissance Filloux for its designer.
- ^ Gaines, William C., Coast Artillery Organizational History, 1917-1950, Coast Defense Journal, vol. 23, issue 2, pp. 34-35
- ^ Morton, p. 474
- ^ Table of Armaments & Coast Artillery Assignments at corregidor.org
- ^ Major General when recalled, promoted two days later.
- ^ Morton, p. 19
- ^ Morton, pp. 491-492
- ^ Morton, pp. 232-238
- ^ Morton, pp. 230-231
- ^ a b Morton, pp. 61-70
- ^ The Doomed Philippine Inland Seas Defense Project
- ^ Account of the 8" railway guns in the Philippines, 1940-42
- ^ Morton, Ch. XVII, XVIII, XIX
- ^ Morton, pp. 367-380
- ^ "Swordfish I (SS-193)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
- ^ Morton, pp. 353-366
- ^ Morton, pp. 413-414
- ^ Morton, pp. 421-426, 430
- ^ Morton, pp. 445-441
- ^ Morton, Ch. XXVI
- ^ Morton, p. 461
- ^ Morton, p. 536
- ^ Morton, p. 549
- ^ Bogart, Charles. "Carabao Island's Fort Frank". The Corregidor Historical Society. Retrieved on 10 March 2018.
- ^ "Trout I (SS-202)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical Center. 1970.
- ^ Morton, p. 546
- ^ Morton, pp. 540-541
- ^ Morton, pp. 486-487, 540
- ^ Morton, p. 548
- ^ Morton, pp. 553-554
- ^ a b Morton, pp. 556-558
- ^ Morton, pp. 560-561
- ^ Morton, Ch. XXXII
- ^ "War in the Pacific: The First Year", accessed 4 May 2016
- ^ "American Prisoners of War in the Philippines", Office of the Provost Marshal, November 19, 1945, accessed 4 May 2016
- ^ "The Largest Naval Battles in Military History: A Closer Look at the Largest and Most Influential Naval Battles in World History". Military History. Norwich University. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ Smith 1963, Ch. XVI
- ^ Smith 1963, Ch. XVII
- ^ Smith 1963, p. 340
- ^ Smith 1963, pp. 337-338
- ^ Smith 1963 also lists the 162nd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, but it is not in the Rock Force list, and Stanton 1991, p. 401 shows this was not a parachute unit and it served in Europe. This may refer to fire support from Corregidor in the later recapture of Caballo Island by the 163rd Field Artillery Battalion, as listed at RockForce.org.
- ^ Smith 1963, p. 341
- ^ a b "List of Rock Force units at Rockforce.org". Archived from the original on 2016-01-26. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
- ^ Smith 1963, pp. 339-340
- ^ Smith 1963, pp. 341-345
- ^ a b c Smith 1963, pp. 345-348
- ^ Morton, p. 538
- ^ Duane Heisinger. "Father Found, p. 41".
- ^ a b c "Flag Day Brings Memories Of Heroism To Gen. Brougher". Anniston Star (Alabama). 1946-06-16.
- ^ "Last Tattered Fragment of Flag Lowered At Corregidor Is Delivered in Washington". Abilene Reporter-News. 1945-11-15.
- ^ Heisinger, Father Found, p. 41
- ^ "The Class of 1903". The MacArthur Memorial.
- ^ Smith 1963, pp. 348-349
- ^ Berhow 2015, pp. 232-236
- ^ Surviving American seacoast artillery weapons at the Coast Defense Study Group (PDF)
- Berhow, Mark A., ed. (2015). American Seacoast Defenses, A Reference Guide (Third ed.). McLean, Virginia: CDSG Press. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-9748167-3-9.
- Lewis, Emanuel Raymond (1979). Seacoast Fortifications of the United States. Annapolis: Leeward Publications. ISBN 978-0-929521-11-4.
- McGovern, Terrance; Berhow, Mark A. (2003). American Defenses of Corregidor and Manila Bay 1898-1945 (Fortress, 4). Osprey Publishing (UK). ISBN 1-84176-427-2.
- Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines. U.S. Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 5-2. Archived from the original on 2012-01-08. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
- Smith, Robert Ross (1993) [1963]. Triumph in the Philippines (PDF). U.S. Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 5-10-1.
- Stanton, Shelby L. (1991). World War II Order of Battle. Galahad Books. ISBN 0-88365-775-9.
External links
- Corregidor Historical Society website (includes Corregidor.org and RockForce.org)
- Coast Artillery Battery assignments in the Philippines at Corregidor.org
- Forts in the Philippines at American Forts Network
- Surviving American seacoast artillery weapons at the Coast Defense Study Group (PDF)
- Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays at the Coast Defense Study Group
- Maps of US forts in the Philippines at the Coast Defense Study Group