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Topic: Preparations & Readiness of PT's |
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Russell Pullano
Advanced Member
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 Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 6:33am
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C.J.Willis,.... Evidently you and I were at Treasury at the same time. I, in Ron 9. Three days after you sank those barges, on New Years eve ,we encountered a Jap Lugger off Bouganville.
I remember that night,but other than hat I can't remember anything. . There were other squadrona at Treasury with us, but I couldn't tell you of anyone else. I wish I had kept a diary, which was against rules.
Russ
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Nuge210 |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 7:06am
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Thanks to you guys for sharing those personal stories, always so interesting.
Steve Nugent |
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QM
New Member
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 8:39am
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| BobPic: I believe that your skipper had it right and that the others were wrong. The skipper of an aircraft carrier does not handle the wheel but he is still responsible. |
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 9:25am
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Russell: I guess we were at Treasury at the same time. I recall coming back to Treasury base after sinking the barges. Commander Kelly came down to the dock that morning and came on our boat to look at the damage. He told us crew mwmbers "Good shooting Boys!" which made us feel pretty good.
C. J. Willis |
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Russell Pullano
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 12:55pm
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QM....Of course the skipper of an aircraft carrier doesn't man the wheel during combat. Neither does the skipper of a battleship. You are not talking about quick turns, zig zagging, and dodging bullets .
Nor does a skipper watch the radar, which is in the chartroom, on a PT boat. He should be up there in the cockpit directing the action, laying smoke screens,etc. If he isn't uncomfortable and not confidentat the wheel, he would never be selected as an officer by Kelly in Ron 9.
Maybe that is just my opinion.
Russ
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Randy Finfrock
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Feb 19, 2009 - 7:31pm
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Hi everybody - I've enjoyed very much reading all of the replies to my questions.
'QM', thank you for the information on your duties, both preparing for and while underway. It was very enlightening to me.
'EARL', you say that you've forgotten a lot, but I for one am amazed at all you have shared on this board. When you start typing, you seem like the energizer bunny to me. Seem like you can't settle for just one sentence!
And, that's good!
'CJ', I guess it was pretty nice to only be on the 242 boat during your PT service. You said you were at Samar when the bombs were dropped, then the war ended. Did you have a sense of feeling a little to close to Japan at that time?
'BOB', I thought it was pretty neat that you went out on many missions as a "Guest QM". Your posts that you are entering today seem to me to be as good as a diary. Maybe you can print your own posts and then fill in the blanks as you recall something if you so desire?
'RUSS", thanks for the reminder of the wealth of information in past posts. I was away from the board for quite a time due to family illnesses. It is nice to get back on. I appreciate your taking the time to post the details of your service. And, thanks for being "Gabby"!
PT Boats Inc is a wonderful organization and this message board is a great place to learn about PT service from those who were there. You guys were a select few as you served our country in WWII, and you remain to be a special group as PT veterans.
Thanks again for your service and for feeding us details, thoughts and feelings of what it was like. We need to pass this on to future generations. I not only want to tell my kids and grandkids that my Uncle's served in B17's & B-24's and my father-in-law in PT's - but to present them with some firsthand information and dialog that helps make it real to them and to understand how important it was for our country to come together at that time.
OK, I'm getting like Earl now... CU all on the board later
Randy Finfrock |
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BobPic
New Member
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Posted on: Feb 20, 2009 - 6:12am
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Although this post has been interesting to me, this is likely all I have to say. I am sorry my inept writing skills have left the wrong impression of the command skills of my Skipper. He charged each man with diong his job and was present to see that it was done right. He wanted to be everywhere during GQ and said he could not do that as the "chauffeur". If I could see him, I would follow his hand signals to Zig, otherwise I was on my own. After all, some famous Skippers Zigged when they should have Zagged. We had no one assigned to the chart room at GQ. We had a large opening in the dash and the Radar was lined up so I could see it from the helm well enough to spot blips. The Skipper (GQ or not) usually went below and analyzed the potential target and decided the best approach. He seemed to be with everyone in battle and when a man was killed or wounded, he took it personally. He was my friend until his death some 10 years ago and I am still thankful I served under his command.
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QM
New Member
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Posted on: Feb 20, 2009 - 6:00pm
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Bob: My intention was to approve of your skippers method of operation. Although I have not heard of others going that route full time, I can see his point. I have heard of a few instances where under attack from the air, the skipper would stand near the man at the wheel watching the attacking aircraft and calling directions to the man at the wheel. The skipper could watch the aircraft full time while the man at the wheel could keep his eyes ahead.
I like your skippers system. |
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Allan
MASTER
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Posted on: Feb 21, 2009 - 6:17am
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To Bob Pic:
Your last post was super! You made it perfectly clear and left no doubt whatsoever as to your loyalty to your skipper and to his memory. It is obvious that you appreciated and respected him.
Any good supervisor must make decisions based upon his assigned task and his resources. Put the people who are best at any given task, on that task. It makes for a very strong working group and leaves no room for egos. Egos can get men into troubles that they never foresaw.
I thank you for sharing your remembrances and for your service so many years ago. Be well.
Allan
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 23, 2009 - 4:43am
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Bob;
After reading all the posts, I don't think anyone misinterperted your Skippers leadership style. It was just not the norm, it was different. I imagine one of the best things about being in the PT Squadrons, as with being in my generations Special Boat Squadrons, is a Skipper/Boat captain is given general command guidance, but as for Leadership styles is given alot of lateral leeway as compared to the big ship Navy. A Skipper/Boat Captain leadership style develops quite quickly and soon he knows himself and what will work and what won't. Mr. Gray's "hands on" approach is very effective, it may have differed radically from Mr. Berlin's style, or Mr. Bernking, or Mr. Sparks, but it worked for him, and the most important thing of all: when the S--- hit the fan, you guys knew what he was going to do and where he was going to be, what was expected of you and you guys had faith and immense trust in him and he had immense trust in you guys to bring "Who Me" Home.
take care,
TED
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