War in the Pacific Historic Resource Study

I. Agat Unit (continued)

Bangi Point and Bangi Island

Although within the boundaries of the park, the historic resources at Bangi are presently privately owned. Bangi Island may be reached by wading the shallow water from Bangi Point. Also, it is possible to wade around the island, even at high tide--providing the water is calm. Large coastal guns on Bangi island flanked the 4th U.S. Marines' landing on Beaches White 1 and 2.

No. 10. Japanese pillbox. Like No. 9 above, this reinforced-concrete pillbox on Bangi Point has two embrasures for covering the beaches to the north and south. There is also a rifle slit on the west side which faces Bangi island.

No. 10. Japanese pillbox, Bangi Point, Agat.

No. 80. Japanese coastal gun emplacements. At the time of the American invasion, the Japanese had two 20cm (8-inch), short-barrel guns emplaced on the north side of Bangi Island. The reinforced-concrete pillboxes to protect the guns Ware. still under construction. Two unfinished conrete walls remain standing.

No. 80. Japanese 20cm gun, Bangi Island, October 1944.

No. 80. Japanese 20cm gun, Bangi Island, October 1944.

No. 80. Japanese 20cm gun emplacement, Bangi Island, 1984.

No. 80. Japanese 20cm gun emplacement, Bangi Island, 1984.

No. 80. Japanese gun emplacement, Bangi Island, Agat.

No. 81. Japanese cave. It is on Bangi Island adjacent to No. 80, above. Probably used for storage or a personnel shelter.

No. 81. Japanese cave, Bangi Island, 1984.

No. 81. Japanese cave, Bangi Island, Agat.

No. 82. Japanese cave. It is on Bangi Island in the cliff directly above No. 83, below.

No. 82. Japanese cave, Bangi Island, 1984.

No. 83. Japanese pillbox. It is so sited on Bangi Island as to cover beaches to the south; thus, it played no direct role during the American invasion. Here, the Japanese took advantage of holes in the limestone cliff and added a reinforced-concrete wall with an embrasure to the front. Two tunnels, each lined with concrete, lead into the gun emplacement. The more easterly tunnel is in relatively good condition; the other, exposed to storms, is more fragile. Rock rubble has fallen into both tunnels and into the pillbox. The gun embrasure is placed so low to the high-tide water level, that water occasionally enters. The Japanese, however, provided a drain. Although not tacticalty important during the American landings, the pillbox's engineering is of sufficient interest for it to be included in an interpretive program.

No. 83. Japanese pillbox, Bangi Island, 1984.

No. 83. Japanese pillbox tunnels, Bangi Island, 1984.

No. 83. Japanese pillbox tunnels, Bangi Island, 1984.

No. 83. Japanese pillbox, Bangi Island, Agat.

No. 104. Aluton Island. It is off Bangi Point and within the national park boundaries. It was occupied by the 4th U.S. Marines who found it undefended.

No. 105. Yona Island. Also off Bangi Point and within the park boundaries, Yona Island had a Japanese 75mm field piece which, in conjunction with the 75mm guns on Gaan Point, placed a crossfire on American landing craft, sinking 20 of them. A recent survey of Yona Island failed to disclose a gun emplacement.