REVETMENTS
BEFORE an attack is launched against the enemy we must know where to expect the greatest opposition, where he has built his strongest defenses and gun positions. Reconnaissance photographs can supply this vital information, but even though interpreters may point out enemy installations in a report on the area, it is up to pilots and bombardiers to be familiar enough with the appearance of these installations to recognize them at the crucial moment.
It usually is fairly easy to recognize gun positions from the air and in photographs, as their revetments make a distinctive pattern and are arranged in a definite relation to one another. Even though these positions may be camouflaged, the scarred earth of the revetments and the shadows which they throw make them conspicuous to the observer.
Evidence that the Japs had devoted a great deal of time and care to their defenses of Guam is the construction of revetments shown on this page. In the case of the double revetments at Agano airfield an outer ring of two rows of coconut logs filled wtih earth and crushed stone is backed up by an inner ring of fuel drums also filled. In the case of the roadside defense position, a concrete CRENELLATION with slots for firing rests on top of fuel drums firmly embedded in the earth. These positions were tucked away among the foliage, adding to the difficulties of our attacking forces.
