"Fishing" Unit located in the
organization chart could well be another suicide boat unit, and it is of
added interest that both Army and Navy personnel are included in this
unit. The presence of the 331st Construction Bn on the island has been
confirmed by a PW. The PW did not know this unit as the "331st" but
stated he was from the YOSHIDA Naval Construction Unit, led by Comdr
YOSHIDA, and gave a strength figure comparable to the one listed in the
organization chart. This unit was engaged in digging tunnels on
CORREGIDOR. One PW each has been captured from the AKIRI and TASHIRO
Units, undoubtedly the "2nd and 3rd MG Btrys" listed in the organization
chart. These PW's said their units were "Ind NLP Units" and spoke of
themselves as "Marines". Actually, they are not Marines, but Naval Guard
personnsl, engaged in AA defense; they were armed with HMGs and 13-mm
and 25-mm Machine Cannons.
Two other PW's (both seamen) captured while swimming from CORREGIDOR
stated they were from the KONDO and NAGATANI Forces, respectively. The
PW from the KONDO Unit stated this was a Naval Construction Unit,
organized in MANILA in December 1944 under WO KONDO, Haruyuki, and had a
strength of 60 men. The PW from the NAGATANI Force stated that this unit
was composed of two medical orderlies and 100 men performing guard
duties. These two units may or may not be in addition to the units
listed in the organisation chart. Corroborating the strength of 522
which the organization chart listed on CABALLO ISLAND, was the statement
of a PW who had just swum to CORREGIDOR from CABALLO; he stated there
were approximately 500 troops on the latter island.
As
the period closes, 4009 Japs have been killed on CORREGIDOR, and it is
estimated that there are approximately 500 remaining, excluding
civilians.
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