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 Author  Topic: Wanted: Picture of ELCO 80-ft PT-107
rickas

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of rickas   Send Email To rickas Posted on: Dec 26, 2013 - 7:07pm
I believe this may be the last photo of PT107. I was mistaken on this. Please read the explaination below. It is PT 63


I found the original in my father-in-laws footlocker and had it restored as a Christmas present.

http://s629.photobucket.com/user/rickas47/media/PT107.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0


PT 107 Emirau Island photo PT107.jpg


Dad was Torpedoman 3rd Class on PT63. He said there was nothing left to photograph of the 63 after the fire.

I am just starting to investigate my F-I-L's WW II experiences and am so happy that there is a place like this where so many knowledgeable people are willing to share.

If anyone can ID any of the young men in that photo I'd appreciate knowing. My F-I-L (91) is drawing a complete blank on names.

PS - To the original poster, the email address in your profile is being returned unknown by Yahoo.


Rick Schaefer
Splinter PT 63
Solomon Islands
Dec 43 - Jan 45

Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Dec 26, 2013 - 5:16pm | IP Logged

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: Dec 27, 2013 - 4:57am
Rick;
Thanks for sharing photo of PT 63's bow, at least everyone got off safely. See Al's explanation posted below.
Take care,
TED


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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Dec 27, 2013 - 2:52pm
I believe the wreckage shown in the photo is that of a second series 77' ELCO rather than that of PT107. Here's why:


80' ELCO, first series


77' ELCO, second series


Note location and orientation of forward hatch, single toe rail, wooden sampson post, rectangular chain pipe cover..

Compare keyed items to drawings above - they correspond to the 77' drawings.

Al Ross




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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: Dec 27, 2013 - 6:23pm
Al
You are right, That is PT 63's bow, I now notice the hinges on the forward hatch which opens towards centerline, vice towards bow as a 80' Elco would have. The S shaped bow is quite prominent, I will blame it on the fact that I have been stuck using a table for the past 3 weeks, while my PC was in the shop. It Died. Santa brought me a new laptop as a replacement.
Thanks again,
Take care,
TED


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rickas

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of rickas   Send Email To rickas Posted on: Dec 28, 2013 - 8:24am
Thank you for the correction. I was basing my post on dads recollection. Now I need to decide how to approach him about this. Early on he said it was the 63, but recently he said it was the 107.

Amazing to me that you quickly recognized the discrepancy. Passion about a subject promptly reveals itself.

. Thank you very much. I will soon be posting an introductory Topic and will be asking for help in filling in the blanks of my Father-In-Laws' Service.

PS - Please explain Firsts and second series. I thought that the 77 foot boats were built first, yet your explaination labels it second series. Thanx again

Rick Schaefer
Splinter PT 63
Solomon Islands
Dec 43 - Jan 45

Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Dec 26, 2013 - 5:16pm | IP Logged

Wayne Traxel

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Wayne Traxel   Send Email To Wayne Traxel Posted on: Dec 28, 2013 - 10:20am
Hi Rick, Wow! In 1993 I met former PT-63 crew member, the late Gene Eaton who was also on this boat when it caught fire along with PT-107. From what I recall of Gene, the guy third from left, back row looks like Gene.

Wayne

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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Dec 28, 2013 - 10:30am
Quote:

PS - Please explain Firsts and second series. I thought that the 77 foot boats were built first, yet your explaination labels it second series. Thanx again




In a nutshell, all of the boats (Higgins, Huckins, ELCO) were built in groups or series to a specific design. When a major design changed occurred to the original design, they became a distinct new group or series. For the 77' ELCO, there were two distinct series for the USN and one for the Royal Navy. PT 20-44 comprised the first group, PT 45-48, 59-68 comprised the second group. The former PT 49-57 (BPT 1-10) became MTB 307-316. Here are examples of each group:

FIRST SERIES PT 20-44


SECOND SERIES PT 45-48, 59-68


ROYAL NAVY MTB 307-316


Al Ross


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rickas

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of rickas   Send Email To rickas Posted on: Dec 28, 2013 - 11:36am
Al Thank you for the explanation. So 63 was in the SECOND series of the 77 footers and 107 was in the FIRST series of the 80 footers.

I was thinking ( totally unqualified) that the reference was to first and second series of ELCO boats.

AND WAYNE - That is great to hear. I checked the Duty Roster I have from RON 5 and Eugene Eaton (Milwaukee Wis ) is listed. We are seeing dad for dinner tonite and this WILL be a topic of discussion.

Rick Schaefer
Splinter PT 63
Solomon Islands
Dec 43 - Jan 45

Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Dec 26, 2013 - 5:16pm | IP Logged

earl

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of earl  Posted on: Jan 15, 2014 - 8:25pm
ROBERT
I WAS ON PT108,TIED UP TO A BOUY,IN THE LLAGOON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PIER BETWEEN UUS WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURED. WE SAW THE EXPLOSIOMN AND TRIED TO GET SEPERATED FROM OUR BOUY.WE HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP BUT WE DID KNOW WE HAD TO
DO SOMETHING.WE COULD NOT APPROACH THE AREA OF THE FIREBECAUSE IT WAS SO INTENSE AND WE HAD TO Also be carefull of getting too close and exposing ourselves to the fire.it was a tterrible sight .we saw one man that had been blown off the boat
soing his best to swim towarsds tghe pier but he didnm,t make iit.it alll happened so suddenly and we saw debris and men being blown into the air and water.most of the help was given by those that went to the end of tthe pier.it iS a wonder that there was anything eft oof the two boats.when the explosion happened you could see the flasmes fed by the gasoline completly cover the boats.the best we could do was pray that some were able to get away from the boats,platform and firre.we felt useless that we couldn,t do anytghing but watch.it is hard to explain the dfeeling that it could have been any one of us.my best to you and my prayers to the men that were injured and lost that day
earl/cook on the 108 boat/ron 5.

earl richmond

Total Posts: 197 | Joined: Oct 18, 2006 - 12:13pm | IP Logged

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