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 Author  Topic: Operation Blissful, PT 59
Jeff D

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 7:53am
I ran across these articles and thought others might also enjoy them. Part of the Operation Blissful mission was to search for a location suitable to build a PT base on. The article also details JFK's role in a rescue mission while commander of PT 59:
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2010/fall/blissful.html

Another article details Kennedys service aboard PT 59:
http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=10448



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CJ Willis

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of CJ Willis  Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 1:38pm
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

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 2:11pm
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

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of CJ Willis  Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 3:07pm
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

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 5:12pm
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

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 6:08pm
Thanks for the information C. J., which I always appreciate hearing.


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PeterTareBuilder

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of PeterTareBuilder  Posted on: Nov 16, 2012 - 7:32pm
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

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Nov 17, 2012 - 2:46pm
Peter;
Way to go! I think Stan just changed his phone number again!
Take care,
TED


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Frank Andruss

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank Andruss   Send Email To Frank Andruss Posted on: May 20, 2013 - 8:32am
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

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Roy Forbes  Posted on: May 20, 2013 - 9:42am
Thanks for posting that Jeff. It was a great read.


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