PT Boat Forum


Moderated by: Dick, Jeff D

The PT Boat Forum ª PT Boats of WWII ª  PT Boats - General

Page: 1 of 1

« Back to Topic Index Page 173 | Replies: 3

 Author  Topic: Recollections of a PT Radioman at Tulagi
Randy Finfrock

Advanced Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Randy Finfrock   Send Email To Randy Finfrock Posted on: Dec 15, 2009 - 8:11am
Hello all,

I have recently re-discovered some notes that I'd taken while asking Bill R. Tatroe about specific incidents that took place in the Solomon Islands while he was assigned to RON-2 at Tulagi from 20 Nov 1942 thru 7 Apr 1943. For those new to the msg board, Bill was my father-in-law. Once he understood my interest (to record his stories and pass on to my sons and to future generations), he seemed to feel more comfortable in sharing those experiences. I was pleased that his memory was quite vivid.

Now of course, I think about other things I would have liked to ask him, but at the time we were just taking care of him and getting closer as family. In a way, that is the way I feel about this msg board. Folks here seem like family, due to the fact that they have a common interest in not only preserving the memories of those who served us, but also honoring each one.

My plan is to post here from time to time various subjects about Bill's PT past. Maybe in doing this, it will also trigger some similar memories or comments from our friends QM, CJ, Earl, Bob, and others?

Here is the first one. I had asked Bill: I know you had been on the scene at Tulagi just 10-days prior to the Battle of Tassafaronga (in which both sides incurred huge losses). Afterwards, or following other combat missions, were you and your crew ever involved with searching for and picking up survivors?

THE BATTLE OF TASSAFARONGA; the night of 30 Nov 1942.
(Naval battle that took place near Savo Island, between Guadalcanal and Tulagi - later to become known as 'Ironbottom Sound'.)
> as recalled by Bill R. Tatroe, 06 Oct 2007:

The Vincinnes, Quincy, Astoria – cruisers sank. I remember that night. And, the Canberra, an Australian vessel. The Minneapolis and Northampton were severely damaged . It was a night battle.

We went out and ships were towed in by fleet tugs and with help from the Aussies. We tied up at the dock at Tulagi. At daybreak we went out in the PT’s and picked up survivors, mostly from the Northampton. We felt so sorry for those guys floating around all night. Many were burned and mangled. The luckier ones were on balsa rafts or evacuation rafts. Coming aboard our PT, their teeth were chattering. They were cold, in shock, and scared from being in the shark infested waters.

We used the ‘Bum Boat’, the boat that was kept between the living area and the officers area and radio station. It was an open ‘motor whale boat’ that was used as a ferry to Guadal. I remember that it was open because it rained a lot and we got wet!

Daytime was the time to service the boats, so typically not all went out to pick up survivors. We had to reserve some for duty during day time – though it was rare that we went out on day patrols.



Randy Finfrock

Total Posts: 97 | Joined: Nov 27, 2006 - 6:21pm | IP Logged

BobPic

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Dec 15, 2009 - 10:14am
Randy and all; We were at times called on to search for downed pilots. If they went down in US controlled territory, they sent Army crash boats. But when it was suspected they were in Jap controlled seas, they sent PT Boats. That made some sense, but irritated us. The PTs were classified as expendable and apparently could be risked to save one pilot. On the bright side, we were involved in more than one rescue. It was always interesting to try to find a bobbing head in a very black ocean, without alerting the enemy.


Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered | IP Logged

CJ Willis

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of CJ Willis  Posted on: Dec 15, 2009 - 12:52pm
We were sent out several times to look for downed pilots but never recovered one. A PBY either beat us to them or they were never found. We did however rescue two Navy flyers. At Green Island we were called over to the fuel dock area at the end of the airfield runway. A S.B.D dive bomber was in trouble and was going to have to ditch in the cove. We got there in time to see him come in and land - wheels up on the water. The water splashed probably two stories high completly hiding the plane. When the water settled - the plane was floating and the two flyers in the plane already had the canopy back and were standing up in the plane. They got out on the wing then into the water. By then we were alongside to pick them up. Neither was hurt - we took them to the fuel dock and they were met there by people from the air base. The plane floated for probably 5 minutes before it sunk.

C. J. Willis

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

Nuge210

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Nuge210   Send Email To Nuge210 Posted on: Dec 15, 2009 - 3:20pm
Randy and all. I know of at least one instance where several Ron 15 boats were involved
in a rescue of survivors of two ships that hit mines just outside the harbor entrance at
Bastia, Corsica. I think it was about this time in 1943, or maybe just after Christmas.

I also agree that I think of many things I wish I could ask my father now.



Steve Nugent

Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am | IP Logged


Lock Topic

 

Forum Legend

New Member

Reply to topic

More than 25 posts | Full Member

Reply to topic with quoted message

More than 50 posts | Advanced Member

Edit Message

More than 150 posts | MASTER

View profile

More than 300 posts | TOP BOSS

Email member