Short History about Corregidor Island
Corregidor Island is rich in history from Spaniards, Japanese and Americans who became our superiors in a very long time. It is the entrance of Manila Bay which south part of Bataan Province.
December 1941, Japan invaded the Philippines and Gen. Douglas MacArthur chose Bataan and Corregidor Island as his major defense positions. Bataan fell on April 9, 1942, and Corregidor Island became the last outpost of organized resistance in the islands. Lieut. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright and his forces repelled the invaders for 27 days, until May 6, 1942, when they were forced to surrender Corregidor Island to Lt. Gen. Homma Masaharu. U.S. forces regained the island in 1945.
Now, I will show you what’s inside Corregidor Island, there are 11 Historical Sites Inside Corregidor Island when you visit.
Mile Long Barracks
Built and completed in 1941 and also. Mile Long Barracks covered up to 8,000 American soldiers during that time. The barracks is a three-story concrete building which was constructed to be hurricane-proof. It was used for the billeting of American officers and enlisted personnel detailed at the garrison during World War II.
The entire length of the building measures about 1,520 feet that it became popularly known as the world’s longest military barracks. Although it is just less than a third of a mile long, it was, however, commonly referred to as the Mile-Long Barracks. The headquarters of Gen. Douglas MacArthur was also located in this building.
Spanish Lighthouse
First lit in 1853, it is one of the oldest structures on the island. The Siege of Corregidor left it damaged but was reconstructed in the 1950s. Souvenir shops and small stars flank the walkway leading to the main tower.
Battery Way
This battery way was constructed in 1904 and completed in 1914. They named this after the named of Lieutenant Henry Way of the 4th US Artillery who died in service in the Philippines in 1930. This Battery Way was protected by a depression in Corregidor’s terrain. This well-preserved fortification was relatively well-hidden from enemy bombs and artillery shells.
Japanese Memorial Garden and Anti-Aircraft
Located at the tail side of the island and is the site for various soldier’s memorials and anti-aircraft gun relics. The garden was made for the Japanese soldiers that died during World War II. Thousands of Japanese Soldier fought during World War for their country and some even committed suicide as a sign of pride an honor. The park includes a praying area, shrines, markers and a small pavilion that houses photographs and memorabilia.
Battery Hearn
At firing elevation between 15 and 25 degrees, the gun could cover the full 360-degree field,” brags the site marker. “On May 6, 1942, the gun and carriage were disabled by the crew before surrendering, but the Japanese had American POW’s place the battery back in service.” Today the gun bobs beside a crater, left when the US dropped a bomb here in January 1945.
Pacific War Memorial
Located in the highest part of the island known as the “Topside”. It was built to honor the American and Filipino soldiers who fought during the Second World War. The United States Government provided funding to construct the memorial, and it was eventually completed in 1968.
Battery Geary
Battery Geary had two mortar pits, with three magazines, one at each side, and one between the two pits. Armament was eight 12-inch [305mm] Mortars, four M1890 M1 on M1896M1 carriages in Pit A and four M1890 on M1908 carriages in Pit B. These could fire a 1000lb [4554.5 Kg] deck piercing shell 700 lb [318Kg] High Explosive shell 8.3 miles [13.35 Km] in any direction. The Maximum bagged charged weight was 63 lb [28.6Kg].
Minimum firing elevation was 45 degrees and maximum elevation was 70 degrees [M1890] or 65 degrees [M1908]. The vertical plunging trajectory of these mortars made them ideal against enemy entrenchments on the higher ground in Bataan. The maximum rate of fire was one round every 45 seconds, though this was for crews at the peak of physical perfection. Each mortar required a four-man crew.
Battery Crockett
The main armaments of Battery Crocket were the 12-inch disappearing guns, located about 400 yards to the southeast of the center of the barracks and across the golf course. These monsters of the U.S. Army’s Coast Artillery had, in theory, a 360-degree traverse and could hurl a 900-pound projectile more than 16 miles. Each weapon needs 30 men to operate, and a well-trained crew could get a round off every 40 seconds.
MacArthur Statue
One of the attractions found on the island is the General Douglas MacArthur Park. It is situated near the ruins of Lorcha Dock (which we believed Gen. MacArthur departed Corregidor on board PT Boat 41, a torpedo).
Gen. Douglas MacArthur Park has a life-size bronze statue with his notable message “I Shall Return” is engraved in concrete.
Filipino Heroes Memorial
One of the most notable spots you’ll encounter when you visit Corregidor is the Filipino Heroes Memorial, located at the tail end of the island.
The structure completed in 1987. Considered to be one of the newest installations in Corregidor, it is one of the landmarks that honors the courage of Filipinos who fought for the country’s sovereignty. It houses a museum on one part of its wing, and hold old photographs of the late Manuel L. Quezon, miniatures of Corregidor Island, and some paintings of Lideo Mariano portraying the agony during the World War II.
It features 14 murals which portray diverse scenes in Philippine history – starting from the Battle of Mactan in 1521 until the first People Power in 1986.
Malinta Tunnel
The Malinta Tunnel is located on the hilltop of the eastern side of the Philippine island of Corregidor. The construction of the Tunnel is between 1922 and 1932. The Engineers of the US Army Corps overseen the construction using the labor of 1,000 convicts from the Bilibid Prison of the city of Manila. The main tunnel, running east to west, was 253 meters (831 feet) long, 7.3 meters (24 feet) wide, and 5.5 meters (18 feet) high.
There were 24 lateral tunnels branching off of the main tunnel; these lateral tunnels were each about 49 meters (160 feet) long and 4.6 meters (15 feet) wide. Early of 1942, the tunnel network concurrently served as the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur, the seat of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, a 1,000-bed military hospital, a warehouse for food and ammunition, and an air-raid shelter.