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[StartQuote] PT320 PT320 was the boat my Dad (Thomas L Bennett) served on during WWII. Over the years I have attempted to trace his service based on his stories and historical research. What follows is what I have discovered. It is my hope that others may be able to contribute more and help fill in the gaps. Even though a PT Boat only has a crew of 17 it was a large war and many may have crossed paths with PT320 and its crew. PT320 was an 80’ Elco armed with a 37mm Olds gun on the bow, a 40 mm Australian Bofors on the stern, two twin 50 caliber machine guns amidships, and the heavy hitting power of 4 21” torpedoes. In defense it carried a smoke generator. PT320 was named the “Sea Bitch” and was known by the call sign Nan - King - Roger - Easy. She was assigned to the 21st PT Squadron commanded by Commander Bowling. My Dad served under two different skippers of PT320 Burke and Hogan. The 21st Squadron was unique in that Commander Bowling was allowed to hand pick his personnel. He chose only men over 6’ and with athletic backgrounds. It was never decided if the experiment was a success, but the 21st Squadron was a crack outfit. The 21st Squadron did receive a Presidential Citation for its’ service. Dad was a Chief Petty Officer and served as a torpedo specialist. PT320 began its’ Pacific Theater service in Australia. Dad developed a deep love for the people in Australia and always wanted to return and drive truck in the outback. They left Australia on 11/5/1943 to move to Marobe base to begin the New Guinea campaign. Just 20 Days later on 11/25/43 they joined the action by moving to Dreger Harbor as a base. It was on 1/8/44 that the action was found. The Skipper named Burke demonstrated to his superiors that his crew could stay calm and be fearless by destroying 10 armed barges in one night. PT320 was under heavy fire as made its’ first pass on the 10 barges and one shore battery destroying 7 of the barges. Instead of counting their blessings they turned 180 degrees and went back to destroy the 3 remaining barges and the shore battery. After a few more weeks of patrols on 1/28/44 they were assigned the task of landing Army Rangers on various islands for missions. Dad often told how impressed by the Rangers he was. He would tell stories of them setting a log on the bow and then while leaning against the cabin throw knives at the log and never once missing the target. The knives they threw were modified bayonets. He was given one of the knives that he sent home that I still have to this day. It is one of the most wicked looking knives I have ever seen. In March they were continuing these missions but now were being harassed by sniper fire at the home base. No harm was ever done by the snipers but it kept everyone on their toes. The sniper problem was solved in late March when they moved from Dreger Harbor to Seadler with the tender Oyster Bay. As soon as they were there , 3/30/44 they were sent on a mission to pick up some Rangers that had picked up 4 prisoners. They transported this unwanted cargo and then went to guide landing craft in to the beaches of Atylu Island by laying buoys. The next day was spent strafing and shelling Norillo Island while it was being invaded. A few weeks later on 4/17/44 they were back to their old home Dreger Harbor. They remained there for over a month before moving to a new port and new missions. That new mission began on 6/5/44 when they moved to Wakde base. From there they began to do scouting missions on various islands. Since Dad was a torpedo expert and not manning the guns he was usually one of the shore party on the scouting missions. It was during this time he saw the horrors of the Japanese occupation during WWII. He thought it prudent to share these stories with me as he prepared me for Vietnam and war. I find it prudent not to share the stories here. A couple of weeks of that and it was back to hunting barges. On 6/20/44 PT320 went hunting barges on the Sorendidori River on the island Biak. They chose to investigate the island based on rumors of activity there. The mission had a tense moment when the boat got stuck on a sand bar. Things went from bad to worse when the 3 of the rumored barges arrived and attacked PT320 while it was stuck. In short order the gunners of the PT320 sunk all three barges while still stuck. Later PT161 pulled the boat free and they both returned to the base. It was on 7/7/44 when their next close call happened in combat. During an attack on a large barge they were suddenly attacked by a 90mm shore battery that scored several near misses. In established fashion PT320 turned into the fire and attacked the shore battery until it was silenced. After this fight for some reason it appears Skipper Burke was moved to another boat and a Skipper named Hogan took over PT320. Oddly enough this all occurred as PT320 prepared for their part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The battle that proved to be the last battle for PT320. On the way to Leyte on 10/21/44 PT320 ran into a very bad storm and had to take shelter in the leeward side of Destroyers to survive the huge waves. This is one of the few times Dad admits to being flat scared. Much has been written about the Battle of Leyte Gulf but most if the PT Boat participation is shrouded in confusion and darkness. As far as PT320s part it was assigned the most northerly patrol sector and saw little chance to participate in the actual battle. It just sort of passed them by the first night. The next few days after the battle though the PT Boats found themselves being the chosen targets of the Japanese bomber planes. It was 11/5/11 when a wave of bombers came over San Pedro Bay and the PT Boats went into defense maneuvers. Dad was off duty and sleeping below deck on a lower berth. A lone bomber dove on PT320 and scored a direct hit on the deck of the wooden ship totally destroying it at 11.11n - 125.05e.. The explosion trapped Dad between his mattress and the upper berth mattress and thus saving his life. This twist of fate allowed him to be the sole survivor of PT320. He was found floating in the wreckage and picked up by a destroyer. Dad spent the rest of his life with an almost total loss of hearing, severe back problems from being badly broken, and was still picking shrapnel out of him till the day he died. It was November 1970 that he joined his crew when involved in a trucking accident. Many questions remain unanswered and I hope the power of the internet might answer a few more. I would love to do a painting of PT320 but am unsure if it was camouflaged or just plain green? Was there and emblem for the Sea Bitch and was it displayed? What were the boats markings? Were the torpedoes in tubes or hung free? Most of all does anyone else’s family cross paths with the events mentioned above? [EndQuote]
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