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 Author  Topic: PT-108 Helm armor
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: Jan 17, 2014 - 8:39pm
Once again I am having Stan do a project with PT-108 as the subject matter. This time, Earl Richmond's boat will be helping wounded Marine's transfer to a waiting LCVP. We will be doing this using PT-109's Italeri boat, so it will be pretty good size. My question is, in 1943-44 was the protective armor around the helm in place or removed. I tried to contact Earl but no luck yet, any ideas or comments would be great...............I could not find any evidence in my photos.


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Andy Small

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Andy Small  Posted on: Jan 17, 2014 - 8:58pm
Hi Frank,

Dick Keresey mentions on page 52, of his PT 105 book, that all Squadron 5 boats had the armor removed as an attempt to correct the inability of the ELCO boats to plane. This was done as part of an experiment to correct the problem once they reached Panama. Even though that (weight) was not the problem, the armor was never later re-installed.

Andy


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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: Jan 18, 2014 - 7:24am
Andy, thanks very much, all I need is to hear from Earl on this issue, but with Dick's passage in his book, that is pretty concrete evidence.


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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: Jan 18, 2014 - 9:01am
Frank;
Here is all I have for PT 108 in the war zone.


PT 108 RON 5 NOV 1943, LTjg Gene Foncannon and crew Empress Augusta Bay.



PT 108 RON 5 LTjg Gene Foncannon's Crew, Empress Augusta Bay NOV 1943



PT 171, PT 167, PT 108, alongside USS Pontus (AGP 20). 9 June 1945.

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: Jan 18, 2014 - 3:12pm
Thanks Ted, I have these photos, which do not tell me much, although Earl contacted me this afternoon to clarify that the armor was removed when he came onboard.




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JBG327

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of JBG327  Posted on: Jan 21, 2014 - 5:26pm
Wasn't109 in RON5? If so how do we explain the "armor" in the Kennedy cockpit photos?

JG


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David Waples

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Waples  Posted on: Jan 21, 2014 - 7:40pm
When I exchanged information with Mr. Keresey he confirmed to me that they had removed the armor as explained earlier. I don't have concrete evidence but I think the 109 took a different path than the other boats which may explain why she retained her armor. Or maybe they never took it off. Or maybe they just put it back on. Not sure we'll ever know the exact reason why.
Dave

David Waples

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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: Jan 22, 2014 - 9:17am
David;
PT 109 (ENS. Bryant Larson CO) along with PT 110_PT 114, was transferred to RON 2 on 22 Sept 1942, almost as soon as they reached Panama. According to Gene's website and his extensive history of the Guadalcanal Squadrons, The second section of RON 2 was PT 43 (Ens. James J. Cross), PT 59 (Ens. David M. Levy) PT 109 (Bryant Larson) and PT 110 (Lt. Charles E. Tilden). The first division's boats were hoisted aboard Liberty ship SS Robin Wently The two cargo ships departed for the Solomons on October 14, therefore, PT 109, and the other boats, did not have the armor removed like RON 5 boats, since it was mentioned Dick Keresy stated this was removed, with the idea the boat would get on plane faster, this was probably as a result of RON 5's training sojourn from Toboga Island to the Galapagos Islands in November 1942.
Take care,
TED


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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: Jan 22, 2014 - 4:05pm
That explains why images of PT 114 with the jap prisoners aboard show armor fitted. Nice Ted, thanks.



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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: Jan 22, 2014 - 4:48pm
Jeff;
Do you have that photo?? If it is an early photo of PT 114 Carlton Byrd is on the boat! Post it please!
Thanks,
TED


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