1938
May
1942
1945
Bill
Bartsch 1975
Justin Taylan 2004
Location
Corregidor
Island, Philippines.
Construction & Pre-War
Begun in 1904 and named for 2nd Lt. Henry N. Way who died in the
Philippines in 1900. The battery cost $112,969 to build, and
was completed
in 1914. The battery of four mortars, built at
Waterville Arsenal. were capable of firing in any direction. They
are 12" (305mm) M1890
mortars
on M1896M1
Mortar
carriages, capable of firing one round per minute at best for each
mortar, of either HE or AP shells a maximum of 8.3 miles, with
a crew of 14
men per mortar.
Wartime Usage
The position was unmanned until April 17 1942. Then, manned by the Battery
E 60th coast artillery commanded by Major William Massello. On
May 2, mortars 3 and 4 were disabled by direct hits on the barrel. After
midnight May 6 the the last mortar began firing at Japanese landing
craft in the north channel between 4-6:00am. The battery was under
fire, sustaining 70% casualties. At 11:00am its breech block froze
from continuous firing, it was the last gun firing before the island
surrendered. Americans removed all the breech blocks from
the guns.
Today
The Philippine military cleared the area of danger in preparation
for the island being opened for tourism. Today, it is one of
the main tourist attractions on Corregidor Island tour.
