Wrecked Relics & Hidden Tunnels of Guadalcanal | History Traveler Episode 406

[@ericstroup3082]

Thank you, JD. for taking your viewers to places that they would not be able to get to on there own. Fantastic job. Really enjoy your channel, keep up the good work.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@CD-SU]

I hope you went back to the museum when it was open... potentially the best resource on the island, and therefore a must see.

[@Bob-gm1zq]

Sacred ground, air and sea, a source of pride for every American. You do great work with these videos.

[@joshh8245]

Great video! That tunnel and the wreckage that was left behind must've been cool to see in person. Really enjoying this Guadalcanal series. Thanks for sharing!😊

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@joshh8245 👍🏻

[@terryeustice5399]

Thanks!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow! Thank you!

[@bwaynem11]

In 1988, we camped on Red Beach a few days during training in the NZDF. Some fragmemts of skulls were found on the beach as well as several US Dog Tags. They were respectfully repatriated back to the US.

[@Wreckdiver59]

Just looking at the relics laying around, you can tell it was remote enough that they didn't bother scavenging them for scrap. It's nice to see them preserved. I can't say I wasn't a little disappointed we didn't get one of your trademark smack-in-the-head moments 😅

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@Wreckdiver59 😂

[@Chris-Nico]

Awesome! Seabees don’t get enough credit…The US Navy engineers! Thanks JD! 💪💪🇺🇸

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

They sure did a lot of work on the island.

[@Chris-Nico]

@ The Seabees built Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. A very strategic location!

[@Chris-Nico]

And I’m an Army veteran!

[@TimothyLoso]

"I'm winging it" while walking through the plane parts. Ha! Keep up the awesome work!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙂👍🏻

[@charliemansonUK]

As a British veteran I know little of this campaign so it's great to follow this series fillong in the gaps of my small amount of general knowledge of this hard fought campaign. Thank you A 🇬🇧 veteran

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Appreciate that.

[@Ronaldl2350]

Very cool JD! I am glad you were able to go into a WW2 tunnel and not bump your head!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ha! thanks.

[@davidwillis4839]

Was kinda anticipating the tradition being continued. lol

[@bennettrogers7921]

Outside of those tunnels is where they took a famous picture of the Marine staff seated and standing. It’s in quite a few books. Vandegrift, Clifton Cates, Goettge et al.

[@davebetts9843]

Never heard of the US built tunnels on Guad. It would be nice to keep those artifacts under cover and out of the weather.... Great video , Thanks!

[@JackFlemingFan1]

Thanks for posting your excellent videos JD and for keeping history alive for all generations to learn from.

[@Jacked97Ram]

Thank you JD! If I ever win the lottery I want to take some time off and retrace the footsteps of WWII. Your videos help tremendously. However I will never hit it big so I’ll continue watching, and in my book that’s a win!

[@Bullrider33Outdoors]

Never Say Never Not All Is A Sando 😂

[@Jmp64-ns8zl]

Another good one! We can't forget that Naval and Marine Corps aviation assets were of course involved heavily on Guadalcanal, in addition to the AAC. Especially early on. Very cool that bit on Pagoda Hill, I have always wondered what happened to that area. It's nice they've somewhat memorialized it in naming that structure "Pagoda." You are very near the area the was used as the American Cemetery, between the airfield and the beach area.

[@michae8jackson378]

Now you’re talking my stuff JD. I get excited by the flying portion always of your reports. I’m ex AF and retired airline pilot. My dad was AF fighter pilot. You did good IDing those aircraft. More of that please! Safe travels!

[@Rocks_Dad]

The Seabees were known for some of the best construction/civil engineering work thrown together to support the war. An unsung group I believe.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻🇺🇸

[@Chiller11]

I’m so old I remember the John Wayne movie The Fighting Seabees. That’s where I learned of their existence.

[@mustangGT232]

"Im just winging it here" while looking at wrecked planes, clever 😂. Another great and interesting video! Loving this series!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@mustangGT232 - I seriously didn’t even think about that until somebody mentioned it. 😅

[@TribeTaz]

Very cool video, JD. Those tunnels are cool and so cool you didn't hit your head.

[@stevenhill7614]

Glad you are showing the airforce s. Thank you

[@MopTop88]

Thanks so much for doing this series, I know it must have been a bucket list trip but Ive enjoyed these so much.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks, I really enjoyed putting it together!

[@noeleckroth6907]

Great video! Thanks, your work is appreciated!

[@tubbers20]

The caves give me the creeps. I've read 'Guadalcanal Diary' about 10 times.

[@burrellbikes4969]

I really liked the acoustic guitar background this time. Nice choice! Was it cooler temps in the tunnels? It would seem that in addition to being bombproof, they would have been motivated to be in cooler temps.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Yeah, it was a bit cooler in there. Nothing like a cave in the Ozarks or anything, but a bit cooler.

[@Deathtroopers09]

‘I’m not a plane guy. I’m just winging it.” - JD Don’t worry you at least got one term down. I’m not a plane guy either. 😆

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😂

[@lesthiele4921]

Morning JD, that was a fantastic look back in history, I don't know a lot about that part of WWII, but I do know it was a very brutal campaign, the tunnel would have been great to see, thanks for this great video, best regards from a New Zealander living in Australia, Les

[@Craptastic760]

Well, someone did some work to put that P-39 up as an elevated display, and then it eventually collapsed. Never knew about the tunnels. Great video.

[@Wideoval73]

I had no idea that the HQS were underground. The Japanese shelled the field from large ships on a regular basis, so it would make sense that they built these facilities. Thanks

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

Thank you. Straight up.

[@timorvet1]

I was there in 2003/04 with the Australian Army as part of OP RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands) We lived on henderson Field near the Airport Terminal and in sight of "Bloody Ridge" in tents at first and later demountable buildings. I remember trying to find the remains of the "Pagoda" which was on raised ground, pointed in the right direction I was saddened to find it was completely overgrown and difficult to access. I did get to the museum with the wrecked aircraft, if memory serves me the SBD was wrecked trying to land at night, killing the pilot Capt Spang after striking an obstacle?, the radioman/gunner survived the crash. I hope you managed to visit the other wreck locations near Honiara and the LVT Amtrac Dump.

[@swgeek4310]

So cool! Learn so much more every episode.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@captainsalty9022]

Interesting photo of Gen. Geiger and staff in front of of the pagoda. The second man from the right looks a lot like my father who became Geiger’s Asst. Air Opns. Officer after turning over command of his Squadron, VMF 215. The photo is a little too fuzzy to be sure, but looks suspiciously like him.

[@georgec4917]

I would love to go to the Islands that so many battles took place but as you say it's not easy to get there.

[@dirtdigger949]

Dammit when you said tunnel here comes bumped head but all no those seabees did us wrong lol. My uncle AJ Bolt was a seabee durning the war he had some great stories the stories that stick with me are the snipers they delt with then later the kamikazes raids.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😂

[@DK-gy7ll]

The night of 13-14th October was no mere artillery barrage. The Japanese sent down two battleships, and they literally plastered the airfield with high-explosive shells from their 14" guns. Basically like using a bazooka to take care of a fly on the wall.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, they got hit hard.

[@JonStallings]

You "winged it" well JD 😅

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😂

[@terryeustice5399]

Wonder how they got thru all that rock. Dynamite? Thanks JD 💯💕

[@briancooper2112]

Never knew about tunnels. Great video!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@briancooper2112]

@TheHistoryUnderground i think you'll enjoy Okinawa if you go there.

[@frankwrenchman4573]

Yes very interesting we need history to learn from and try not to repeat 😊

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@vaughnbluejr5960]

The Spokane International Airport was originally a military air field called Geiger Field (hence the airport designation KGEG to this day). Since you mentioned Gen. Geiger, I'm assuming KGEG was named after him. I live about 3 miles from there.

[@GuyPipili]

This is a great look at the sites and relics from the Guadalcanal campaign, JD! And no 'head meets low ceilings and/or entrance thresholds' moment! Darn it!😅 Winging it while looking at airplane wrecks, sounds tongue in cheekJD. 😆

[@DRAGONSLAYER1220]

On the Dauntless dive bomber, those were dive flaps you were looking at.

[@dave3156]

Great segment JD. I think this Guadalcanal series is your finest work to date. Thx

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you!

[@bobkohl6779]

SBD and dive brakes. P400s on Guadalcanal. More than one airbase on Guadalcanal

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Six airfields by mid 43.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yep! 👍🏻

[@gerryhromowyk83]

That was really cool seeing all those wrecks. I have watched many shows on Guadacanal and tht is the fist time anyone has shown that.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! You should also check out Dave’s channel.

[@MrBradleyDavid]

Thanks for the homage to the Catus Airforce. I always was impressed with what they did, with what little they had. There was a Dauntless pilot who was in the book the Pacific, that didn't make it into the HBO series, and would like to have learned more about those pilots. Congratulations on not having a "crack" your on head. That's always good!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😅👍🏻

[@patrickmccrann991]

There are several books that cover the Cactus Air Force, especially early in the 6 month campaign. "Cactus" was the codename for Guadalcanal.

[@jimwjohnq.public]

I believe that the Rockefeller kid disappeared and was never heard from again out in that neck of the woods. It was in the early '60's.

[@brettcurtis5710]

Very cool, JD, brings back memories of my cruise with my parents in 1969! I remember we drove up the coast and saw the wreck of a beached Japanese transport ship and also went to Henderson Field - this was before the new international airport was built, it still had one of the control towers. and walked to Bloody Ridge, saw the foxholes and wire - it was May and it was HOT!!, Ship air-cond was set at 85degF and it felt like walking into a fridge when we got back. The P&O sailors manning the boats had the traditional square rig on and they were burnt!! Remember having a Coke at the Hotel Mendana too beautiful beach with big NO SWIMMING signs!!

[@davidwillis4839]

These locations are definitely outside my travel ability. Thanks for sharing a very cool experience and well done.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad to share the experiences. Thank you for watching.

[@1psychofan]

This is cool! That tunnel was awesome! What about the temperature in the tunnel? Was it cooler than outside?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, it was a bit cooler. Interesting place.

[@seagoat420]

Another awesome video thanks JD, keep em coming!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

You bet!

[@marcoosvald8429]

I always love your travels and stories. Thank You for sharing. AIRBORNE

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching.

[@dannyhoward3437]

Great series!

[@davidbailey6350]

Thanks Again JD, as they say, History Is A Warning For The Future…..!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@robertspeicher5047]

The one aircraft, " P-39". It is a P-400. A version ordered by the Brits. But were taken and shipped to be on Guadalcanal. They had no oxygen sydtems so they were restricted to limit of 14,000 ft altitude. Were not able to defend the airfield from aircraft. But were found to be great ground support. All that fire power in the nose. If you look further you will find out how P-39s and , later. P-63s were loved by the Sovirts. Great ground attacking.

[@slimeydon]

Very cool! One thing though, I don’t think that was a Bren carrier. I don’t think the Marines or Army used those.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

The British had a presence on the island prior to WWII. It’s also possible that the U.S. borrowed some gear from the Australians.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

The US Army 164th brought 16 Bren Gun (universal carriers). The one on the video is from when the NZ 3rd Div trained on the island.

[@slimeydon]

@ I stand corrected thanks. I always associated them with Commonwealth troops.

[@centurion1010]

I thought the same as you at first, but when you look at original photos of BGC track rotators they're exactly the same as the one here.

[@peterisaacs1344]

Surprisingly it actually is a Bren carrier .

[@marypasco2213]

Starting @ 8:30, what were those square marks on the floor along the walls, the round marks in the center of the room & the stakes along the corridor near the walls? Those looked interesting. Like someone mentioned, in another comment below, thank you for all these trips to places many of us will not be able to get to. ❤

[@maverick5006]

At 3:48, JD, viewing aircraft wreckage, says "I'm kinda winging it here"!! LOL

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😂

[@melvinbullock3392]

I believe that was an m3 Stuart tank chassis not a Bren gun carrier

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

No definitely a universal carrier. NZ made.

[@69Applekrate]

very cool seeing the tunnel/headquarters. thanks. recommended

[@Legendary_UA]

Very interesting on the tunnels.

[@Jimbocue]

Seabees Hoorah! Can Do!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@Jimbocue 🇺🇸👍🏻

[@romulopartoza5598]

These remnants of war must be well maintain to avoid further deterioration..... This may served as living memory for those who were not experience the horror of war!........ from the Philippines

[@kplante7881]

Great video. Did you eat at the Pagoda restaurant? Thanks for sharing…!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

No, the restaurant was closed.

[@reloadncharge9907]

Excellent overview….you like those tunnels huh? Well done as usual, thanks, Andrew

[@cheesenoodles8316]

That was very interesting.

[@jimmywr32]

great video thank you

[@Johnny-ip4mk]

The narrator of that archival footage was definitely from Boston! I’d recognize that accent anywhere 😉

[@erikguth4830]

Awesome tunnel history. Strange they only recently opened it.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@MrFrankturbo1]

Speed brakes on that avenger ? another good one JD !

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Dive brakes. 🙂

[@PaulDouglasDouglas97]

Really enjoyed the video mate watching breaveheart there's going to be a number 2 can't wait

[@tyeeggleston6159]

Great video once again..its great to see all these places, bc ill never get the opportunity to go there in person. Those tunnels are crazy..i wonder how long it took to make them..especially with the lack of equipment in those days...i just cant see a bomb destroying those unless it landed right in the entrance/exit. Thanks for the insight..cant wait for the next chapter.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad to share the experiences.

[@matthewstaz9691]

"Kind of winging it here" hahahaha I love a bit of aviation humor!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I seriously wasn’t trying to make a joke there. 😂

[@cyndiebill6631]

Awesome!! I love the old relics. You know when a tunnel is made by the Americans it’s going to be tall enough to walk through so the Generals didn’t wack their heads. Can you imagine how PO a commanding Officer would be if he hit his head on a ceiling? Thanks JD this one was a lot fun and very interesting 👍😊

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@Moredread25]

Going someplace on the day it's closed. Classic History Underground.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

100% 😂

[@allenweisler2nd237]

Great video,big World war 2 enthusiasts.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@josewilliam6155]

Loving the series. Are you going to go to Okinawa and Iwo Jima? Or do you have videos on those already?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Both are on my list.

[@ncwoodworker]

Can’t imagine what the island looked like 80 years ago.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I’d have loved to have visited right after the war.

[@allencollins6031]

My Dad, from Queens, NY said it was not very pleasant.

[@misterbaker9728]

Can tell USA made that tunnel Japanese tunnel would be shorter I’ve read a lot of books and never knew about that tunnel cool stuff

[@sbishop6450]

Interesting video again JD. I can imagin the pagoda building sticking up there being used as a reference point as there’s little else above ground level thereabouts. Glad your head is intact this time although I did hold my breath a bit with you in another tunnel! 😂❤🇬🇧

[@diggler5319]

Mega-nerd comment here but I think flaps aren't intended to slow down the plane per se but insure it can fly safely at low speeds. Primarly for landing

[@davidk7324]

Thanks JD. Very enjoyable content. Bruning's Fifty-Three Days on Starvation Island is excellent, as is Paul Woodadge's WW2TV episodes. I appreciate the pixelated explosions over the images in your intro. Inspired by the COMBAT TV series intro of the 60s?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! I'm going to confess that I've never seen or heard of the Combat TV series.

[@davidk7324]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Oh my gosh. Required weekly viewing in the 1960s, along with the Rat Patrol and 12 o'clock High. GOOGLE "Combat TV series". Check out the Intro graphics. for the pixelated explosive design. You'll understand why I made the connection.

[@terryadams1951]

JD, is that you picking on the guitar?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Nope. I play bass. Not talented enough to play anything with more than 4 strings.

[@Chiller11]

Jaco Pastorius, my vote for best bassist ever.

[@terryadams1951]

@@TheHistoryUnderground 😎

[@corbynborbyn1194]

Thank you for showing us things that you aren't as knowledgeable about, I love seeing all of it

[@dandyjones1185]

Great job JD. Not everyone knows the perforated flaps were called dive brakes on the Dauntless

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@kellyharbour7140]

How in the world did they dig that tunnel?

[@Idliketoknow303]

Whats the go with the bren gun carrier? Captured from the british?

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

The 164th US Army brought 16 of them in Oct 42. In 1943 the New Zealand Air Force brought more.

[@gregsayre4700]

all those tunnels and not a hard hat to be seen 😆. Another great video. Thank you for the high ceilings.

[@wildcolonialman]

Fabulous.

[@rejean2744]

My dad was on Bougainville in the Solomons., then Luzon with the 37th Inf. Div. I hope this series continues. He saw some serious action. I wish I had asked him if he wanted to go back there with me before he passed. Alas , I didn't .

[@barrydysert2974]

Yes JD, i believe technically those are called dive brakes as opposed to flaps. i'll overlook it because You're showing it to me on Guadalfreakin'canal!!! Thank You. Not only do i get to see places i never thought i would, but i don't have to put up with the hellish heat and humidity !:-) 🙏💜⚡

[@andrewfischer8564]

2:55 im not saying your wrong. only its very strange to see english equiptment ith the us army in the pasific? p39 cool as heck

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

They picked them up in New Caledonia before they arrived in Oct 42. 16 of them.

[@andrewfischer8564]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 wow and tohave one surviving today

[@TheGravitywerks]

You can get serial numbers off the engines and identify aircraft squadrons and pilots...thank you for the video!

[@bennettrogers7921]

I have some pictures of some of the engine plates from those, some are somewhat hard to read

[@markrinehart7224]

Looking at the wrecked planes "kinda winging it." Nice

[@panthercreek60]

The unfortunate US Navy suffered far more casualties than the Marines or the air elements during that campaign. Not to diminish any efforts of the beleaguered marines and the makeshift Cactus Airforce.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yep. We talked about that in a previous episode.

[@gregcollins7602]

Wow that is very cool. I didn't know the Command Center still existed. I am curious about your experience with the weather. Is it hot? Do the tunnels offer some relief? I am from the dusty plains of West Texas and right now it is below freezing but in the summer it gets close to boiling, but it's a dry hot heat.

[@patrickmccrann991]

JD, the Douglas SBD Dive Bomber was flown by Navy and Marine units (VS/B and VMSB). The P-39, possibly a P-400 export model, was flown by the Army Air Force 67th Fighter Squadron. Most of the units that fought during the air war on Guadalcanal were Navy/Marine at least during the first 6 months.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@patrickmccrann991 - Thanks!

[@bikerz3857]

Another great video. They're called speed brakes not flaps. Modern military aircrafts still use them.

[@Fabled_Past]

Imagine being one of the CBs digging these tunnels, thinking, 'Let's make the ceilings tall so no one smacks their head in the future.' True MVPs of foresight