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 Author  Topic: "CAT" SCRATCH FEVER
  FRANK

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of FRANK  Posted on: Dec 1, 2009 - 5:59am
Hello Everyone-

I remember reading a post here not long ago about the possibility of subs inter-acting with PT's and that person said it would make for a neat diorama. I wholeheartedly agree!

My question is this! Did PBY's also inter-act with PT's? There was a Catalina PBY out post base on the northern portion of the island of Tulagi that had the BLACK CAT squadron and I was just wondering if they worked with the PT's at all. Does anyone have any knowledge of this type of action? If so are there any photos available?

Frank Andruss and I are thinking about a future project with a sub and PT diorama. I think a BLACK CAT with a PT would make an awesome diorama as well! Any input would be great on this subject!

Thanks guys!

Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT- 169 " ZEBRA SNAFU " BASE TULAGI

HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!

YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!

Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm | IP Logged

BobPic

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Dec 1, 2009 - 6:08am
Black Cats with PT's? You bet!. Several of our missions was to act as decoy to attract shore batteries so a "black cat" soaring above could spot the installation and/or drop a bomb (they couldn't carry much of a bomb load). They usually used the bay for a runway, but there was an emergency land strip on one of the islands they used, especially if the "hull" was damaged. They were so quiet, it had to be a still night for you to detect them audibly. The pilots were happy to have PTers visit them altho they couldn't allow us to patrol with them as other air groups would.


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  FRANK

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of FRANK  Posted on: Dec 1, 2009 - 7:09am
Ahoy there Bob-

Thank you so very much for the speedy reply to my question. I had aways thought that they inter-acted and now my thoughts are re-assured.

I have a vision for a diorama in my head and using the re-tooled Revell PBY in 1/72 scale as well as the Revell 1/72 PT-109 it should work out fantastic. Thank you for giving me the ol' shot in the arm for another diorama, Bob.

Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/ Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU " BASE TULAGI

HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!

YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!

Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm | IP Logged

CJ Willis

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of CJ Willis  Posted on: Dec 1, 2009 - 10:45am
Bob: When we were patroling out of Green. We operated a lot with Tar Baby. We would call for them to drop flares to light up the shore to see if barges were hiding along the shore line. The PBY's were based at the airfield at Green. It was nice to know we had a friend up in the sky but they were warned to never fly up our wake.

C. J. Willis

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BobPic

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Dec 1, 2009 - 12:19pm
CJ; I heard about the flare dropping bit, but we never used them for that. We preferred to throw our own flares from our mortar. We felt it was more accurate. But you are right, it was a comfort to know you had support from the air, bombs, machine guns and a rescue vehicle. The cats had no insignia or light colored lettering and all had black sounding names. I met one of the pilots after the war, he had been hired to fly a converted PBY5 as a company plane, lousey choice I thought.


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EARL RICHMOND

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of EARL RICHMOND  Posted on: Dec 1, 2009 - 4:25pm
hi guys as bob said they were quiet. i was on watch in the forward twin fifty turret one very black night.one of the cats was just about on top of us bwefore we knew it was there.wjhat a scare that one was. earl

earl richmond

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Dec 2, 2009 - 8:34am
Frank

Your too funny. I think this Diorama has given you PT BOAT FEVER. I love the idea as you and I talked about, but adding a PBY to the mix would be just awesome. The Sub still gets me going, but even at 1/72 scale it would be pretty long. I checked the prices on some of the subs, which are Gato class, and they run a pretty penny. The PBY purchase and 1/72 Elco would be much cheaper no doubt. GOD does this ever end................... I hope not............


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  FRANK

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of FRANK  Posted on: Dec 2, 2009 - 11:08am
Hey Frank A.-

This is why I love this message board so dang much! What with Earl, CJ and Bob chiming in, I can't help but NOT be inspired.

I think the Cat and the PT diorama would be an awesome build with my water technique. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!

How's that ol' Travis Tritt song go- Drift of to Dream, yeah that's it!!

Thanks guys for all the input!

Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU " BASE TULAGI



HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!

YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!

Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm | IP Logged

EARL RICHMOND

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of EARL RICHMOND  Posted on: Dec 2, 2009 - 11:41am
if my memory serves me correctly there was a sub base on florida island just before you turned the point to go into tulagi. harbor. earl

earl richmond

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CJ Willis

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of CJ Willis  Posted on: Dec 3, 2009 - 7:34am
I mentioned that the PBY's were warned not to fly up our wake. One night while patroling at slow speed we picked up on radar a slow flying plane coming up our wake. The QM down in the charthouse asked for identification on IFF. There was no response. (Bob as you know those Jap float planes flew slow too). The QM asked again for identification - still no response. We could not see the plane visually. I was in the Port turret next to the skipper in the cockpit. Mr. McLane said "fire a burst of tracers up that way". I fired away for about 5 seconds and that got his attention in a hurry. He yelled down on radio "Goddam hold up down there it's me Black Cat".

C. J. Willis

Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm | IP Logged

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