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Topic: George W. Vanderrbilt |
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Jeff Sherry
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Mar 5, 2013 - 2:37pm
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I have a photo of G. Vanderbilt and PT-342 skipper Herbert Punches in my Dad's photo album. Very neat. Dad said Vanderbilt had great maps....now that makes sense.
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Jeff Sherry
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Mar 5, 2013 - 4:12pm
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I have a photo of George Vanderbilt aboard PT-342 with skipper Herbert Punches...Dad always said he had the best maps. This thread explains a lot.
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Mar 6, 2013 - 7:10am
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Jeff;
Could you post the photo of George Vanderbilt on PT 342 with Herbert Punches. While I have some photos of Alfred V. the only photos I have of George, are of him presenting the Vandebilt Cup to 1936 winner Tazio Nuvolari and his Alfa Romeo racing team
Just as a side note(which became alot longer than I thought, it would), Jeff, he was an OUTSTANDING selection for RON 12 Intelligence Officer,(he ended the war as Intell Officer 12th Naval District 11/ 2/ 44 to 8/27/45.). He was an very experianced Yachtsman, in fact before the war, He owned several yachts and used them to conduct scientific expeditions all over the globe. His voyages conducted important research in expeditions to Africa in 1934 and aboard the schooner Cressida(Pioneer's first name), he made an ocean journey in 1937 to the South Pacific notably in Sumatra that carried out a systematic study of more than 10,000 fish specimens (434 species in 210 genera).
His fifth major expedition was on the schooner Pioneer in 1941 to the Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Panama, Galapagos Archipelago and Mexican Pacific Islands. During World War ll Pioneer became IX-79 EL CANO: On 13 Jul 42 VCNO asked BuShips to negotiate a bareboat charter agreement with the owner of the auxiliary steel schooner yacht PIONEER at $1.00 per year. This vessel had been designed by Cox & Stevens and built by Krupp's Germaniawerft at Kiel, Germany, in 1927 as CRESSIDA for the German-American industrialist Hermann Oelrichs, who was a member of the Vanderbilt family. She was reputed to be one of the fastest tall ships on the west coast, often making 14 knots in races off Newport Beach, Calif. Oelrichs sold her in the mid-1930s to George Washington Vanderbilt III, who used her for recreational cruises and to explore Africa and the South Seas. Vanderbilt renamed her PIONEER after 1937 and before visiting Isla Floreana (Galapagos) in her on 4 Jun 41.
On 17 Aug 42 the Navy assigned her the name EL CANO "after the former vessel of that name" (presumably ELCANO, PG-38), and she operated during the rest of the war "in service" in the 11th Naval District. A report that the Coast Guard used EL CANO ex PIONEER for merchant training between 1939 and her return to the MC on 31 Aug 42 appears to be inconsistent with the preceding information, but merchant training could have been her function in the 11th Naval District. The schooner was returned to Mr. Vanderbilt in late 1945. PIONEER made her last major voyage in 1951, from California to Hawaii, and then remained pierside at Newport Beach from 1954 until Vanderbilt's death in 1961. She was sold in 1965 to Windjammer Barefoot Cruises and converted into the passenger ship YANKEE CLIPPER. She was refitted in 1987 with a third mast and a top deck. Windjammer ceased operations in 2007 and the ship is now (2009) laid up in Trinidad and looking for a buyer.
His former yacht, the Pioneer, is now the Yankee Clipper, which sails with passengers in the Caribbean for Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
He also established the George Vanderbilt Foundation for scientific research but outside academic circles, his important work has mostly been overshadowed by the lavish lifestyles and the Vanderbilt mansions of some of the other members of the Vanderbilt family.
Take care,
TED
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Jeff Sherry
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Mar 6, 2013 - 3:54pm
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Ted,
That is interesting info on Vanerbilt. I had no idea. It would be easier for me to e-mail a copy of the choto but be forewarned it is small and kind of dark. I'll do my best.
sherry4@zoominternet.net
Jeff
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 7, 2013 - 5:20am
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Jeff;
Ok, thanks.
Take care,
TED
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