後龍飛行場踏查（Excursion to Koryu Airdrome Site）

看到「台灣區各飛機場要圖」中的後龍飛行場平面圖時，有幾個區域（上圖中標示為A~D）看起來很特別，引起我的好奇心。所以這次去實地踏查，就以這幾個地點為優先，下圖中的綠線是當天的路線，標出來的數字則是以下我分享的照片的拍攝點。由於是搭火車去，走了兩個半小時後腳就吃不消了，時間也不夠，所以B區後來沒去。
When I first saw the Koryu (currently Houlong) Airdrome Plan in the 1945 Taiwan Area Airdrome Plans, four areas, marked A to B in the above map, immediately drew my attention. Although I tried to cover as many of them as possible during the excursion the other day, I did not make it to area B because 2.5 hours of continuous walking made my legs very sore and there was not enough time left. The following Google image shows the route I took (the green curves) and the points where I took the photos (indicated by numbers).

1945年的A區看起來像是後龍飛行場的行政區或營區：
There were buildings and installations of unknown purposes in the following 1945 reconnaissance photo of Area A:

現在的A區看起來也還蠻空曠的：
This is what Area A looks like today:

在1號地點，我發現了這個疑似防空洞的入口：
At location No. 1, I found what could be the entrance to an air raid shelter:

1945年的C區，因為日軍特別修了一條路從滑行道通到這裡，所以這地方一定有文章，只是我不知道真正的用途：
Since the Japanese specifically built a road to Area C, it should have been a location of some importance. Unfortunately I do not know its real purpose:

這張2號地點拍的照片顯示C區是在一個小山坡上，旁邊的路應該是依據日據時代遺留下來的路徑修建的：
The following photo taken at location No. 2 shows that Area C was located on a small hill. The trail must be based on the road built by the Japanese.

我在3號地點發現了幾棟舊的磚造房子，雖然上面的空照圖顯示當年這裡曾經有建築物，不過我還是懷疑這些磚造房子是戰後才建的：
I found several old brick houses at No. 3 location. Although they appeared aged, I doubted they were built by the Japanese because they did not look THAT old. They could have been built after the war.

日軍曾經在D區四周修築道路，而且還有道路直通主滑行道：
Area D was encircled by a road in 1945. Another straight road led to the main taxiway:

第4號地點拍攝的照片也顯示D區位在小土坡上：
The following photo taken at location No. 4 revealed that Area D was also located on a small hill:

後來我信步走到仁德醫護管理專科學校的西側，過去這裡有好幾座飛機掩體：
Before I left for the train station, I passed by the west side of Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management. There used to several aircraft revetments in the past:

結果非常幸運的，我在上圖的5號地點發現了這座碉堡：
I ran into this pillbox at location No. 5:

可惜它已經被人剖成兩半：
Unfortunately it had cut in halves:

之後我經過6號地點，照理說這裡不該有這麼高的土堆，所以我懷疑它其實是飛機掩體的土堤：
At location No. 6, there was this mound, which I suspected was part of an aircraft revetment:

在北勢溪畔有一座神風公園（7號地點），不知道是不是紀念當地傳說中的神風特攻隊？雖然有好幾個網頁根據耆老的描述說後龍飛行場以前是神風特攻隊的駐地，我卻找不到比較可信的資料。
There is a Kamikaze Part at location No. 7. I am not sure if it was for the Kamikaze that was rumored to be stationed at Koryu Airdrome. Anyway I could not find plausible evidence to confirm this.

• Download the kmz file showing my excursion on Google Earth.
• View my excursion on Google Maps.

這次踏查真的是臨時起意，事前準備不夠詳細，而且連走兩個半小時也是挺累人的，所以有些地方漏掉了。希望將來可以再去一次！