The supply of American flags was exhausted as the enemy simply blew them to shreds.  However, the flag was kept flying at all times by painting the stars and stripes on galvanized sheet iron.

 

e.  Personnel.

 

The approximate strength of Fort Drum was 240 officers and men consisting of the following organizations and detachments.  From the 59th CA, there was the Fort Headquarters and two batteries;  Battery E and Headquarters Battery, 2nd battalion.  This was augmented by the following detachments:  13 Marines from the 4th U.S. Marine Corps Regiment;  detachment approximately 6 men from the 60th Coast Artillery for manning the 60-inch antiaircraft searchlight;  4 Philippine Scouts from Fort Frank manning the B-2 station for that fort;  medical detachment, one officer and one enlisted man;  Ordinance personnel were civilian Ordinance machinists, numbering 3 or 4.  Approximately 12 April 1942, the Fort was reinforced by 20 men from a tank battalion to augment the garrison.  These men had escaped from Bataan when that command had capitulated.  All personnel manned certain battle stations regardless of their organization.  There was not sufficient personnel to man all the positions at any one time, therefore, personnel might have 2 or 3 assignments depending on the signal given at the call "Battle Stations"

 

3.  History

 

a.     Period immediately preceding war.

 

 On the night of 29 November, General George Moore, commanding the harbor defenses, suddenly summoned all the officers of the command to their regimental headquarters.  There, orders were issued that the entire command of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Cubic Bays would immediately take the field.  The barracks were to be abandoned and troops moved to the field in accordance with previously prepared war plans.  The entire command would be alert at all times, and that under no conditions would less than half the tactical armament of the defenses be out of action due to absence of personnel.  The entire defenses were to be prepared to open fire immediately on any enemy targets.  The complete move from peacetime to wartime conditions was to be completed by 1200 the following day.  In the meantime, all organizations would report ready for action as soon as they were actually moved and set up in the field.  Approximately 2 days prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor an official communique was issued by Harbor Defense Headquarters, which stated that planes positively identified as enemy, had been sighted flying over positions in the Lingayen area.

 

b.   Period 8 December - 29 December 1941.

 

Immediately upon the notification of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Fort Drum took final steps to clear its deck for action.  In peacetime, the troops assigned to Fort Drum had lived topside in temporary wooden barracks.  These barracks were shoved over the side.  During this period, there was very little action in the harbor defenses.  Only a few enemy planes flew about the fort and occasionally they would be taken under fire by some of the antiaircraft batteries on the different forts.

 

c.  Period 29 December 1941 - 6 January 1942.

 

 On December 29 at 1200, Corregidor was attacked for the first time by enemy twin-engine bombers.  There were between 50 and 60 of these bombers flying at altitude over 20,000 feet.  They were accompanied by numerous Japanese dive-bombers, including nine old-fashioned bi-planes.  These attacks continued daily on Corregidor through 6 January.  During this period there were no attempted bombings of Fort Drum.  This Fort assisted the other islands at this time, by taking the enemy bombers under fire with her two AA guns whenever the enemy came within range.