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Topic: Ted found the red sterned ELCO!!!! |
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Mark Culp
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Feb 12, 2011 - 4:57pm
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What was the purpose ? Aerial identification?
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Hadly
New Member
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Posted on: Feb 12, 2011 - 11:05pm
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Nice link Al thanks a load
SH
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2011 - 10:41am
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Mark;
Yes aerial Identification was the purpose.
TED
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2011 - 12:27pm
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As for which boats had the red panel and when, there are two photos that would help us if we had scans of the actual print - that of the boats at Bastia on page 44 of Vic's book and that on page 10 of US MOSQUITO FLEET. Neither one is particularly clear as printed, but look like the original print was quite clear.
In the Bastia photo, all of the US boats in the photo, including the 63' crash boat by the seawall, have the bow panel. That suggests that the markings were specific to certain vessel type, theatre, and time period. The sterns on the ELCOs by the seawall and a few in the nest are sufficiently visible to see the panel if it is there. You can almost make out the boat numbers on the charthouses as well.
In the second photo, the panel is clearly visible on the middle boat, the number of which appears to be 563. The number on the left boat is less visible but seems to be either 552 or 562. The just visible boat to the far right appears to start with 56. A clearer photo would give us a better idea.
If the second photo shows what I think it does, it would also give us a general idea of how long the panel was carried. Note that the roll-off racks have been removed and that two depth charge racks are vislble on the stern of the center boat. The number and location of the latter are consistent with the configuration of the ELCOs sent to the USSR (shown on the ELCO plans for 731), This may be a photo of the RON 29 boats being readied for transfer to the Soviets, which occurred during the spring of 1945.
So, Victor, do you have a clear print of your photo that you can scan for us? And, does anyone work closely enough with Germantown to get a scan of the other photo?
Al
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2011 - 4:04pm
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Al: In addition, it looks to me like the lefthand bow-on Bastia boat is the 561, then an unidentified boat, then the 563, then who knows?
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2011 - 4:40pm
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The second boat from the left is a THUNDERBOLT boat. If you enlarge the photo, you can see the shadow of the four barrels on the deck. I think the outboard boat near the seawall is also mounts a THUNDERBOLT.
Al
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2011 - 9:30pm
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Al;
Just got word from Bob who is with the PT 305 restoration team. He pointed out some great observations. 1. the PT 305 skipper in the photo is Dick Hamilton and his exec is Charles H. Murray, not Purdy and Morris(as I previously stated).
2. look at the boat in the backround with the red stripe, now look at the darker paint on the starboard stern.
3. Now look at the paint scheme on PT 309, again she was the only boat in RON 22 with this paint scheme(it sort of reminds me of the Santa Fe "Blue Goose" steam engine, or more the art deco lines of the Packard LeBaron V-12 Coupe, or the lines of the 1938 Delahaye 135M or the 1939 Delahaye 165M)
take care,
TED
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2011 - 9:40pm
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somtimes this really kicks my a- -!!!
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jun 12, 2011 - 5:13pm
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Charlie;
Good find!! Steve should like this one. These look to be all RON 15 boats, as they were the the only ones shipped to the Med with tubes, RON 22 were shipped to Med with roll off racks.
Take care,
TED
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