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Topic: Operation Blissful, PT 59 |
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 1:38pm
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Jeff I find these articles very interesting. Our Squadron 19 commenced patroling out of Vella La Vella on November 1st, 1943. PT 236, the boat that towed Kennedy's 59 back after running out of fuel with the injured marines was a Ron 19 boat skippered by Ens. Crawford. Our PT 242 participated in the evacuation mention in the article of the marines on the night of Nov 5th-6th. however I was not aboard that night. Our 242 berthed in the mongrove bushes tied up next to the 59 all the time until they left which the article say was Nov 16. Another gunboat PT 60 moved in to there berth after they left and was there until we had the fuel dock fire on Dec 14th. Some of Kennedy's crewmen were being sent back to the States for leave having served their time. One of them gave me a 45 pistol which he did not want to bring back. It was an Army issue. I carried it until I was relieved from 242 a year later.
C. J. Willis |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 2:11pm
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C.J.
Just curious, with you guys tied up near PT-59, had you ever encountered or talked with Kennedy, and had you met Lenny Thom.
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 3:07pm
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Frank: I never had a conversation with Kennedy. I was just a lowly seaman. I saw him when he would come out to the boat to go on patrol. At that time he was just another PT officer At Vella La Vella the officers stayed in tents on the beach when at the base however our Exec Mr. Raney stayed with us on the boat. Our skipper Mr. McLane stayed on shore.
C. J. Willis |
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 5:12pm
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Glad you found the article interesting CJ. PT boats sure were versatile, well used as both fighting and rescue craft.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 6:08pm
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Thanks for the information C. J., which I always appreciate hearing.
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PeterTareBuilder
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 7:32pm
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Hey Frank!
Wouldn't that rescue of the marines make a fantastic diorama with a new Italeri 77' Elco boat? And there are loads of decent quality styrene U.S. Marines available now too. The boarding nets can be made from coarse hairnets.
St aaa nnnn?
Cheers
"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!" |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 17, 2012 - 2:46pm
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Peter;
Way to go! I think Stan just changed his phone number again!
Take care,
TED
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Frank Andruss
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 20, 2013 - 8:32am
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Pete and Ted, I think Stan might kill me again if I asked hin to do this, but you are right, it would make for a great depiction of that night in question. Right now Stan is busy with his own Ship, then will begin my PT-61 1/24 scale PT. I still need to have PT-109 built from the Italeri Kt I have had for a while now, and I am having PT-302 built from a very nice gentlemen, who has offered to donate it to my Exhibit. See Stan, not everybody charges me,.....................
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Roy Forbes
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 20, 2013 - 9:42am
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Thanks for posting that Jeff. It was a great read.
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