My Share for #BeautifulSunday initiated by @ace108

Welcome back to the second part of our visit to the museum in Corregidor island in the Philippines. Last time I shared with you relics from the time of war and including the first American flag that was raised on the island. Today I will share with you the weapons that were used during the time of struggle and liberation of the island. Walk with me today as I take you to another historic walk back thru time.

Pacific War Memorial Museum "Weapons of War"

You can follow our progress on the island on the links below.

Part 1 Voyage to the Island of Corregidor

Part 2 Exploring the Island of Corregidor

Part 3 The Ruins of Middleside Barracks

Part 4 The Last Stand of Battery Way

Part 5 The Colossal Gun of the Island: Battery Hearn

Part 6 The Haunted Hospital of Corregidor

Part 7 The Mile Long Barracks

Part 8 Pacific War Memorial Museum

 

As shared previously, you will see a map of the entire island upon entrance to the museum.

Also at the entrance is this 57 mm anti tank gun. There were no mentions about tanks brought by the Japanese during invasion. This was probably were used on smaller targets which might have been very effective.

The M1 mortar 81 mm was used by the Americans during WW2 up until 1950s.

This weapon looks like a small anti aircraft gun. There were no descriptions on it to identify this gun. Just by looking at it, I could say that it could hold it's position. If you notice that large magazine that can hold a lot of rounds.

More machine guns on display which are well preserved. Judging from the appearance it could still function, but the last shots were fired during the liberation. Now they are on display as a reminder of the retaking on the island from the Japanese.

The M2 60mm mortar was used by the Americans throughout WW2. It was continued to be a support weapon during the Korean War and early Vietnam War.

The M1917A1 Browning machine gun was also used during WW2. Its earlier version the M1917 was used during the first world war. It was also used during the Korean war and it has been said that the American soldiers urinated on the gun when water cooling failed because of the winter temperature.

The M1919 Browning .30 caliber air cooled machine gun was used as the standard machine gun during the war. Was also in service during the Vietnam war until 1990's. It is known that other countries still use this machine gun.

On display are photos of aircrafts from USA and Japan during 1941 up to 1945.

A painting called "Breakout from Corregidor," which was during the escape of General Douglas MacArthur from the island.

Another painting called "The End of a Fighting Ship" which was the first US naval ship to be sunk by the Japanese by a Kamikaze fighter pilot. The ship U.S.S. St. Louis was abandoned by its crew as its own ammunition was blowing the ship apart.

An old photo in 1904 during battery target practice.

Enclosed in a glass casing are models of American war ships also used in the campaign.

The B-25 Mitchell used by the Allied forces throughout WW2. A medium bomber introduced in 1941 and continued service up to four more decades.

The B-26 Marauder is another American medium bomber plane. It was also known to be called the widow maker due to the high accident rate at takeoffs and landing. It was later made safer by re-training the aircraft crew and modifications on the plane.

The P-40 Warhawk is an American single engine attack fighter plane. An American Volunteer group known as the Flying Tigers were recruited by the Chinese Air Force in defense of China against the Japanese. The recorded kills of the Flying Tigers were 297 enemy planes and only lost 4 of its own.

The B-24 Liberator is a heavy bomber as is known to be the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a routine. With more than 18,500 units produced it holds the record of the world's most produced bomber. It was heavily used in WW2 in bombing operations in the Pacific.

Here are some other Japanese war artifacts that were recovered on the island.

There is also a mosaic which shows all the major events and campaigns during the war in the Pacific.

A large glass cabinet displays antique guns from the Americans and the Japanese.

This is an M3 which is a .45 caliber submachine gun also known as the "Grease Gun". It is said that the gun jams easily and is inaccurate. It is a gun that has been mass produced during this war.

 

A Philippine manufactured gun made from scrap metal. Some are poorly made and is very dangerous to use. During these times they had to make something to fight the enemy. Today these guns are still manufactured underground and produced illegally.

Also on display are old photos from the holocaust of war in the Philippines.

 

The famous photo of the return of General Douglas MacArthur to liberate the Philippines. Fulfilling his promise to return and with a speech of his return.

To the Philippine People. I have returned.

By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil,
soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples.
We have come, dedicated and committed,
to the task of destroying every vestige of enemy control over your daily lives,
and of restoring, upon a foundation of indestructible, strength, the liberties of your people.

- General Douglas MacArthur

On September 3 1945 the Instrument of Surrender was signed by General Tomoyuki Yamashita and Vice Admiral Denchi Okochi. The signing took place at Camp John Hay in the mountain province of Baguio. The surrender covered all of their control of the Philippine Islands. The surrender was accepted by Major General Edmond Leavey who is the Deputy Commander of US armed forces in the Western Pacific.

This ended the struggle of the war in the Pacific. Lives from two nations have been given to fight for what is right and defend the freedom of our nation.

Thank you for joining me on the second part of the tour in the war museum. Please do leave some comments and let me know what you think about the tour. Any thoughts about the artifacts please do let me know as I would love to hear from you.

Until then enjoy the rest of the weekend and hope that one day there will be no more wars.

Resources

M1 mortar

M2 mortar

M1917A1

M1919

B-25 Mitchell

B-26 Marauder

P-40 Warhawk

B-24 Liberator
To the Philippine People: I have returned

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All photos are original and taken with

Lumix GX85 12-32 mm kit lens

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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://watersnake101.steemblogs.club/2019/08/18/pacific-war-memorial-museum-weapons-of-war-beautiful-sunday/

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