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The Presidential Yacht ‘Casiano’

 

© 1999 Edward Michaud

 

The Presidential yacht ‘Casiano’ was anchored just off of Corregidor’s Engineering Dock when she was sunk by Japanese aircraft on January 26th, 1942. The Philippine President, Manual Quezon, had packed his entire wealth onto the ill-fated vessel prior to the evacuation of Manila. A number of Government silver ingots were also loaded on board by the Treasury staff as well.

Although some of the valuables were removed to the safety of the Malinta tunnels, over twelve tons of silver bars and pesos were left aboard for "security reasons." After the fall of the island in May of 1942, a few of the captured US Navy Divers were forced to salvage the silver out of this wreck by the Japanese. However, all they brought up were silver pesos, leaving the silver ingots at the bottom of the wreck.

The ‘Casiano’ resides in only twenty-five feet of water and on a sunny day one can clearly see the outline of the wreck only 50 yards off the Engineering Dock.

 

POST-WAR RECOVERY OPS 1945-88 | SPEEDY GONZALES  |   BATTERY MORRISON  | AH-MOON'S   |  THE ENGINEERING TUNNEL   |   GRAVE - GOLD   |   THE MARCOS CONNECTION   |   THE NORTH DOCK GOLD HOLE   |   THE FOURTH LATERAL   |   THE NORTH HARBOR SALVAGE BARGE   |    THE PRESIDENTIAL YACHT "CASIANO"   |   THE LORCHA DOCK   |  SILVER PESOS    |  NO MORE GOLD   |   CONCLUSION

CORREGIDOR - THE TREASURE ISLAND OF WWII    |    GOLD IS ALSO BALLAST    |    THE GOLDEN PATROL OF THE USS TROUT |  SALVAGING A SILVER TREASURE  | THE JAPANESE OVERSTRIKE

H Version 09.09.11