| Author |
Topic: PT 505 Last known surviving member |
|
David Waples
TOP BOSS
|
  
Posted on: Mar 29, 2012 - 6:04am
|
Oh boy !! At least you didn't say 10.... ah!!
Looking at the color photograph my guess would be either 5-O (ocean gray) or 5-B (thayer blue) and it looks like it was painted one color all over with the possible exception of the deck.
It looks like we have some red on the back there for some reason. Not sure if it has something to do with the recovery or if it is part of its identification markings.
The State side camo is interesting. Almost looks like Measure 32. Hoping some body can weigh in. I may have to go find John Snyder.
Dave
David Waples |
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined:
Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm | IP
Logged
|
|
Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
|
 Posted on: Mar 29, 2012 - 8:21am
|
Denny
If you would, please take a photo of MR. FRANK. I, as others would love to see him, and if you would, send us his address. I would be most happy to send him a card.................
|
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined:
Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am | IP
Logged
|
|
David Waples
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Mar 29, 2012 - 7:07pm
|
Denny & Ted,
I would be interested to know more about the photo showing the 505 being towed to Omaha Beach. I'm wondering if the LCI tied up to the 105 was fitted with pumps. The photo is not easy to see but it almost looks like there is some sort of hose elevated and coming across the LCI. I'm wondering if Mr. Frank has any recollection of that.
Thanks!
Dave
David Waples |
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined:
Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm | IP
Logged
|
|
TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Mar 30, 2012 - 6:01am
|
David;
If you are looking at the samething I am, I believe you are seeing a railing on starboard side of the LCM, this LCM has what looks like railings on both sides. the forward one does not have any.
However, in your diorama a World War 2 P-250 type dewatering pump and a few sections of fire hose, would not be out of place in this situation.
Take care,
TED
|
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined:
Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am | IP
Logged
|
|
David Waples
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Mar 30, 2012 - 6:16pm
|
Hi Ted and Denny,
I think we're talking about the same thing. I can't tell if this is a rail or some sort of arrangement to support the water being pumped out. I thought the end on the port side near the hull looked like water being pumped out but I'm not convinced. It could be railing.
Denny, I wonder if Mr. Frank has any recollection?
It also doesn't look like they have any of the typical hard stands for weapons next to the helm. I'm wondering if their purpose is strictly maintenance. I"ll have to do some hunting around..
Thanks guys
Dave
David Waples |
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined:
Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm | IP
Logged
|
|
TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Mar 31, 2012 - 6:11am
|
Dave;
Yes we are looking at the same thing, but I don't see the reason why the "hose" would be elevated in such a way(this is why I think it is a railing, the other side also appears, but looks more lik a shadow.), this would make the pump work harder. Usually the hose would just have some small stuff attached and it would be tied off to a cleat, weapon tripod, or stanchion(ie: something secured to the deck to keep the hose from going all the way over the side).
TED
|
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined:
Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am | IP
Logged
|
|
djwhite
New Member
|
Posted on: Apr 1, 2012 - 6:42am
|
I just knew that some of you would fall in to the what was the color discussion.
I did ask Mr. Frank originally what color his boat was and he said " Battleship Grey" They painted the PT while they were on the way to England. They spilled paint on the deck of the freighter they were on and it dryed and blended right in.
I have to get permission to post his picture and address and when I do it will be posted.
He seem to enjoy having someone to talk to about his boat and so I don't want to seem like I am interogating him.
I did ask him about pumps on the LCT. He said they borrowed three pumps from a destroyer and had them all running trying to keep the English channel from filling the boat completely.
"Remember we could see all the way through the boat and the three pumps barely kept the front watertight compartments from filling up."
I can't believe how harrowing that would be.
Mr. Frank was on his boat almost the whole time and so he may not know if those pipes were for the pumps or not But I will point them out to him and ask him if he knows what they were for.
Denny
|
Total Posts: | Joined:
Unregistered | IP
Logged
|
|
David Waples
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Apr 1, 2012 - 7:26am
|
HI Denny & Ted,
I trust Ted's understanding of the pumps so I think we're looking at railings. As Ted points out there is a shadow of the railing mirrored on the opposite side of the LCM. If Mr. Frank remembers anything about them I would love to hear about it. The P-250 Mod 1 and Mod 2 are relatively new piece of equipment. I couldn't find much on WWII pumps so I started hunting around for pumps on destroyers. I found a P-500 pump as part of a destroyers ships equipment. They all look about the same in 1:350 any way.
I don't know anything about LCM's. Both boats have some crazy mast arrangement that I've never seen before. Unique to D Day operations? No idea. These boats with railings mounted are rare and only the one tied up to the 505 has them. I'm wondering if this boat has some special purpose.
I can't really tell if the gun mounts on the LCM are removed. The photo isn't that good and at least the one boat tied up alongside the 505 has lots of people milling about. Certainly none are visible.
David Waples |
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined:
Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm | IP
Logged
|
|
TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Apr 1, 2012 - 10:17am
|
David;
It might be a special purpose LCM(ie:salvage), in the photo it looks like they are flying the S-for-Sugar flag. I do remember seeing P-500 pumps like this one back in the day, but they were being phased out for the P-250, at least on small boats like our 65' MKIV PB.
Take care,
TED
|
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined:
Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am | IP
Logged
|
|
djwhite
New Member
|
Posted on: Apr 5, 2012 - 8:12am
|
Well it has been a couple of days since I posted an update on Mr. Frank.
He would love to hear from others from the PT's. I want to protect my "Grandson" from unwanted mail. Cards andsuch canbe sent to:
Mr. Joe Frank
Colorado State Veterans Home at Fitzsimons
1919 Quentin Street
Aurora, CO 80045
I looked up his muster records on the web and copied all of the records that pertained to him. I was able to find the "Change of Records for each time he was promoted and for the transfer to the 7th fleet.
Now for the bomb shell.
Mr. Frank was transferred to the pacific with Lt. Godfrey to the Ron 8. After spending time in the Med, they really didn't need as many PT's there he was by Lt. Godfrey to transfer with him.
I asked him what other boats he was assigned to and he told me he was always assigned whatever boat Godfrey was assigned for any particular mission. Lt. Godfrey was commander of Ron 8 at th time so he got to pick which boat he would go out on.
He remembers that Godfrey seemed to like one particular boat for most missions. He wasn't very keen on the 59 boat but really liked the 108.
If anyone has a copy of the log book for the 505 or the 108 I know he would love to read them.
Oh, one of the first stories he told me was meeting Lt. Godfrey for the first time. He was helping wire up an external power line from the dock across the group of boats being prepared for the commisioning ceremonies the next day.
A small boat came up to the 505 and four officers got off the boat. Two went to the 506 boat and two came up to Joe. The Lt. asked where the rest of the crew was and Joe, not being in the navy that long, said that they were "downstairs". The Lt. laughed and told him they were below decks. From that moment on it was a running joke that the crew went below decks but Joe had to go downstairs. It was heartening to him that his new commander was not a hard--s, but really liked his crew.
|
Total Posts: | Joined:
Unregistered | IP
Logged
|
|
|
