WWII Radio Tower Visit

So I'm waiting for Elin to wake up from her nap and today is one of those days where I never know if it's going to be a 1 hour nap day or a 3 1/2 hour nap day. However we're approaching the 3 hour mark so I thought I'd sit down and write about yesterday's field trip to the Radio Towers here in Sasebo. I had an opportunity to go with some other spouses from the OSC to visit this historic site that is only ten minutes from our houses. These towers can been seen from all over the city and hold quite a bit of historical significance. They are responsible for sending the order "Niitakayama Nobore 1208" to the Japanese Imperial Navy to attack Pearl Harbor in 1941, bringing the United States into World War II. Along with similar towers in Tokyo and Taiwan, they were used throughout the war to broadcast information to the fleet.

Despite the towers' grave significance to Americans, it was a unique opportunity as it is not open to the public. Our tour guide explained they are in the process of adding the site to the National Registry so they can preserve its history.

There are three towers that surround a wireless telegraph station which would relay messages north, southwest and east...hence the three towers. We were allowed to visit the inside of Tower #1. Inside lies a crank that would be used to tighten the cable to the telegraph station to improve the clarity of the messages. 

Thanks to a photography class I recently took I learned how to use my camera to photograph the inside of a dark space. With no indoor lighting it is essentially pitch black inside. However tiny windows above us allowed in a bit of light that showed off the impressive structure of the tower. 

Here is the telegraph station. The station and towers were actually in use until 1997. If you look at the beam covered in vine below, you will see the support for the wire that was connected to Tower #1. Tower #3 stands behind the building. Given it was a cold, dreary day, combined with the overgrown brush and decaying buildings, it really brought a surreal feeling to the experience. 

We couldn't quite figure out what this little hole in the building was for but I did find it quite entertaining that it held empty sake bottles. For a rainy day perhaps? 

This reminded me of our time diving in Chuuk and all of the sake bottles that still remain in sunken ships on the ocean floor. I doubt they are from the 40's like the one below but I still found it to be funny. 

                                        

So anyway, it was a really neat experience to see something like this. I love studying history and having the opportunity to live in a country that was an enemy of ours just over 70 years ago really provides some fascinating experiences. I can't wait for the next one!

Matane,

Caitlyn