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Topic: PT-157: Talks this week with 2 original crew members |
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EARL RICHMOND
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 24, 2010 - 6:56am
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SHANEO2 I AM TRYING TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE WATER SUPPLY ON RENDOVA.I WAS IN RON 9 AS A BASE COOK.THERE WERE LISTER WATER BAGS SCATTERRED AROUND THE AREA.I THINK THERE WAS A WATER SUPPLY TANK TRUCK THAT CAME AROUND AND SUPPLIED THE GALLEY ANMD FILLED THE LISTER BAGS.I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE TRUCK GOT MTHE WATER FROM.I KNOW THAT ON EMIRAU THERE WAS A WATER DISTILLERY TANK ALONG SIDE THE ROAD GOING UP FROM THE DOCK TO THE BASE.MAYBE THERE WAS ONE ON RENDOVA??I DO NOT REMEMBER THE WELLS.WE USED 55 GAL DRUMS TO CATCH THE RAIN WATER FOR WASHING AND BATHING.WE HAD A MOSQUITO NET OVER TOP OF THE DRUMS.WE USED OUR GREEN COLORED HELMEYS TO HOLD THE WATER AS WASH BASIN.WE HAD 55 GAL DRUMS NEAR THE MESS AREA TO HOLD HOT WATER TO DIP THE MESS KITS IN AFTER WE ATE.I NTHINK WE HAD ONE FOR WASHING THE KITS AND ANOTHER FOR DIPPING AFTER THE WASHING. GUESS I HAVE THIS RIGHT. BEETWEEN THE ASGE THING AND MY EYES GOING BASD I GUESS I AM CLOSE TO HACVING IT RIGHT EARL
earl richmond |
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TheBridge
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 24, 2010 - 6:59am
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Let me catch up with some of the posts...
Nathanial - The crew list from the log is great! I now recognize some of the names from the conversations. Harry Armstrong was the MoMM that created the aces 'n' eight theme for the 157 and painted to logo on the front. J.S Smith (Smitty) was Starboard GM that hit the plane that night (saved our lives according to West)...and so one. History comes alive. Who you like if I add a tribute page to the book I've written on the building of the model (see www.pt-157.com) using this crew list as a full page image? If so can you please email the image to me at bridge@pt-157.com
Frank - I'll take on the task to get these tapes transferred to CD/DVD if that's good with you. My email is bridge@pt-157.com and I can give you my address. tapes will be returned.
BobPic - your recount is great insight. We can blend all the experiences into the general PT crew experiences because no two are quite the same. Cornellius Ryan constructed the book 'The Longest Day' by weaving actual individual events in the story line. All the scenes you read/see in the movie actually happened as truth is far more engaging then fiction!
Bridge
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 24, 2010 - 7:22am
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Frank;
I think Bob just gave you a novel idea for you shelved Black Cat Diorama!!!!!
TED
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 24, 2010 - 8:05am
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II WAS JUST THINKING THE SAME THING. I will contact bob when I get a chance. That would be something, having a PT BOAT towing a PBY BLACK CAT...........
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Apr 24, 2010 - 8:39am
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BobPic & Earl-
Thank you for your reply's I always enjoy information/input about Rendova Harbor. Often information I get from the veteran & researchers on this board helps me verify the information I get from the locals.
An elder I talked to in 2008 mentioned the Catalinas (using the word seaplane) that would take-off and land in the harbor.
In the Solomons it helps to "introduce", or ask about certain subject matter as usually the locals will not come right out and tell you, which made the item about the PBY's interesting.
I was fortunate to also locate a man who as a child actually witnessed the P'sT attacking the US transport (name slips me now as I just woke up) on East side of Rendova. He brought this up in general conversation about the war, while we were talking about a wrecked USAAF B-17.
I hope to go back to the area in a couple years- this time I will do "a lot more" camcorder recording.
Earl, that is interesting about the water- the wells I was shown would be non potable water only "or" were they the remains of a outhouse etc. (I doubt). I see from photos when the Bau base was up and running the toilette facilities were over the water out on the point.
All your information from memberrs on this board, plus what I gather from the locals over there- helps me inform some of the younger generation of Solomon Islanders of the history there....and lets face it "history" is not a real interesting subject for most young folks...
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The reason for me is if I tell the locals what something is, they may be less inclined to move/destroy/build over it. They also can show the occasional tourist the sites as an additional source(s) of income.
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 24, 2010 - 1:19pm
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I was aboard 242 at Rendova from the middle of January until about March 1st 1944. We (Ron 19) had been up the line in combat for 3 months and the squadron was sent down to Rendova where 1/2 of the boat personell were given R and R to New Zealand. Since my name was not drawn out of the hat I stayed with the boat at Rendova - went in dry dock scrapped, sanded and painted the bottom and added two twin fifties mounted on the bow in front of the charthouse while the other guys went on R and R for a good time at Auckland. The half of the crew that didn't get to go was promised a leave later but that never happened. While we were at Rendova we would go to a fresh water hole nearby somewhere and get water for bathing, washing clothes etc. We would go about every other day. We had two 55 gallon drums on the boat that we would fill for the times we didn't get to the water hole. I think it was at the mouth of a creek or river. As for drinking water I can't say where we got it but it was kept in the fresh water tank on the boat. I would think that the drinking water was from a desalination unit. I know at Green Island we got water from a desalination unit.
By the way - one of the crew brought back from New Zealand a pair of ladies panties which we flew from the radar mast for some time.
C. J. Willis |
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TheBridge
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 24, 2010 - 1:44pm
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I have to straighten out the story I wrote earlier of the 157 shooting down a Japanese plane (believed to be a pontoon style,observation type plane) based on asking Welford West to repeat the details of the story again today. I apologize for having screwed up on this and would rather get it right then not report my error.
The event of shooting at the plane at night was not against regulations as I reported, West says that the regulation was a gunner was not to shoot at a any plane unless OK'ed by the Capt or XO. In this case Smith (Gunner mate - starboard turret manning the Oerlikon) did shot without OK but saved the boat as the Japanese plane was lined up and about to make what would have been destructive and killing run on the 157.
The plane was NOT shot down but rather veered away, persuaded by Smith's (called 'Smitty by West) accurate shooting.
Bridge
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 24, 2010 - 1:57pm
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I forgot to mention in the above post. That one of our crew brought back from his leave to New Zealand a pair of ladies panties which we flew from the radar mast for weeks until they disintegrated.
C. J. Willis |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 24, 2010 - 2:37pm
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I find it so hard to believe that any gunner on a PT BOAT could not shoot unless given orders. Many times the gunners trained eyes and keen night vision would see things others could not. This was the first time I have ever heard this when involving attacking aircraft. I have been told by some crew members, that as gunners, they opened up without hesitation if a target in an area where no US Planes or Ships would be. I would think that waiting for an order to fire could mean the difference between life and death...............
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