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Topic: PT 505 Last known surviving member |
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djwhite |
New Member
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Posted on: Mar 24, 2012 - 1:36pm
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I have the priviledge of working for the Colorado State Veterans Home at Fitzsimons.
We have an Adopt a Veteran Program here where staff members "adopt" a veteran and try to make their retired years comfortable and happy.
I have adopted a Mr. Joe Frank who was the radioman / radar operator on the PT 505. For anyone not familiar with the 505, it was at the D-Day invasion, went after a german U-boat and struck a mine with such force that the three Packard engines were knocked completly out of their mounts. He is very spry yet and when I told him that I would like to adopt him he said that it would make me his grandfather. So now I have 10 grandchildren ranging from 87 years to 2 years old.
I would like for any information that I can get from anyone on the board about the 34 Ron and PT 505. I am building the Italiai kit and have asked questions and received much assistance from the members here.
I got Mr. Frank's permission to share some of his stories and will add them as I can. I can not believe that I am able to actually speak with one of these Heros face to face. I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet.
I know of three other guys here in Denver who won't be able wiat to speak with Mr. Frank as well.
Thanks in advance for everything guys.
Denny "djwhite"
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pappy bj
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Posted on: Mar 24, 2012 - 4:00pm
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sir,......you have truely been blessed; as actually have we all . If not for the likes of your new friend & others of like stature................we'd all be eatin sauerkrout & sushi..................GOD BLESS HIM.................& GOD BLESS AMWERICA................here endeth the lesson. Cheers, B.J.
B.J. |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 24, 2012 - 5:10pm
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I think that is great news. I know we would love to have any photo's of Mr, Frank, so please share them with us. I have photo's of PT-505, just E mail me when you can............
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djwhite
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Posted on: Mar 26, 2012 - 7:42am
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Thank You Don for the pictures of the Portland base.
I am going to print them and give them to Mr. Frank so he can show his family some of what happened to him on D-day.
That is an excellent representation of the daily life then.
Denny
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TED WALTHER |
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Posted on: Mar 26, 2012 - 8:44am
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Denny;
Here are three photos I have of PT 505 for Mr. Frank, The photo at speed is also in Don's collection. the second has been in books before, The color photo I came across quite recently, If he was part of the repairI am sure Mr Frank remembers spending the night on Utah beach, making temporary repairs on PT 505's hull while the boat was beached, and the long wait for the tide to come back in the next morning, so they could "get the hell out of Dodge"! and head back to Portland. They were taken further out and anchored, however, they were not towed back to Portland Bill until 11 June, by PT 500. Send us photos of your model as it progresses. Also if Mr Frank, can i send him some questions concerning RON 34 and PT 505? Please reply at my e-mail:LTWALTHER2@aol.com
Take care,
TED
PT505 RON34 UNDEWAY AT FULL THROTTLE 1944.
PT505 RON34 8 JUNE 1944 BEING TOWED TO UTAH BEACH BY TWO LCM's
PT505 RON 34 9-10 JUNE 1944 ANCHORED OFF UTAH BEACH, AFTER TEMPOARAY HULL REPAIRS, AWAITING TOW FROM PT 500 BACK TO PORTLAND
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djwhite
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Posted on: Mar 26, 2012 - 9:20am
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Ted
WOW Thanks for the color photo. It's amazing from the photo you can tell how far down in the water they were.
Mr. Frank, Lt. Godfrey and the Exec were the three who stayed on board while they waited to be towed to Omaha Beach for repairs. He told me that the only thing left working on the boat was the batteries.
He hardwired the radio, his mother gave him before he shipped out, to the batteries so they could receive radio reports about the invasion. The only signals he said they could pick up were from the German radio which was telling them they were all being pushed back to the sea.
Mr. Frank said they laughed all night about that since they were in a cove, and even the German sentries walking the beach couldn't care less that they were sitting there.
It was like the Germans were just happy they weren't shooting at the beach and they were very happy they were just sitting out there.
Denny
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Nuge210
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Posted on: Mar 26, 2012 - 12:14pm
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Is that part of the patch job down at the water line, starboard quarter ?
I love that 'full throttle' photo.
Steve |
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 26, 2012 - 6:02pm
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Denny;
Your welcome, glad to share with Mr. Frank and you. I know two of those guys in the color photo is LT Godfrey and Mr Frank, (the official report reads 3 officers and 2 enlisted remained to make repairs, it does look like an officer is in the cockpit). But what really matters is that he can point to himself in this photo and say to you "Look Denny(Grandpa), thats me on deck"! Those moments make everything worth it. Enjoy!
Steve;
It looks like it might be part of the patch, but if it is, that piece alone is 10' -12' long. I am sure there are more below the waterline, possibly reinforcing the whole starboard aft quarter. If you look at the LCM towing photo, she does appear to be down slightly more by the starboard aft quarter, but this might also be because of the towing effect combined with the water already in the lazerette and engineroom. Only Mr Frank can tell us if she was damaged more on starboard side, maybe Denny will ask him.
Take care,
TED
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Jeff D
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Posted on: Mar 26, 2012 - 7:16pm
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That must have been a heck of a night for Mr. Frank. Please give him my best and deep thanks Denny.
Wikipedia:
Operation Overlord began on D-Day (June 6, 1944) and ended on June 30, 1944.
He was marooned in German territory right at the start of it.
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