PT Boat Forum


Moderated by: Dick, Jeff D

The PT Boat Forum ª PT Boats of WWII ª  PT Boats - General

Page: 1 of 1

« Back to Topic Index Page 43 | Replies: 9

 Author  Topic: Japanese personnel on PT-324 (photo)
54scooper

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jul 12, 2014 - 7:27pm
As I posted on this board last week, my father, Clay C. Cooper Jr. was PT-324's last CO. Attached to this post is a photo of my father on PT-324 with two Japanese servicemen. On the back of the photo the following is written, Jap commander and aid picked up on Mindanao. At first, I thought they were POWs, but now I'm not certain. Does anyone know if PT boats operating in the Philippines immediately after Japan surrendered were involved in the transportation of Japanese personnel to staging or collections points for eventual repatriation to Japan?

Thanks!




Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered | IP Logged

David Waples

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Waples  Posted on: Jul 13, 2014 - 9:54pm
I think we would only be guessing. It's fun to wonder about these scenes. The Aide looks more comfortable than his commanding officer though.
Dave

David Waples

Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm | IP Logged

Randy McConnell

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Randy McConnell  Posted on: Jul 14, 2014 - 8:26pm
I have posted this picture from my Dad's album before but I don't remember what thread it was in. The caption my father wrote in his photo album is, "Japanese surrender party with Australian Army officers on board PT 377. Mel Everingam, Skipper of PT 377, with left hand on hip, is seated on front of chartroom. Randy was on troop transport headed for San Francisco when this photo was taken by Chuck Welsh, Skipper of PT 359."

I know the war in the Pacific ended while Dad was on the transport ship, so this picture would have been shortly after that while he was still in transit.



I also have four or five pictures of Japanese prisoners in transit on RON 27 boats before the war ended, so the PTs did move Japanese soldiers under both conditions. I'll try to get the prisoner pictures loaded into Photobucket and post them here.

Randy McConnell
Lakewood, Colorado


Total Posts: 12 | Joined: Mar 16, 2013 - 7:42pm | IP Logged

Randy McConnell

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Randy McConnell  Posted on: Jul 14, 2014 - 8:33pm
As a pure assumption on my part it seems unlikely that the PTs would move Japanese soldiers for repatriation, which I now see was the original question. Since the original picture showed an officer and an aide I would think it was part of some "surrender" process that required getting the right officers to the right place, similar to the picture I posted.

Again, pure assumption . . .

Randy McConnell
Lakewood, Colorado


Total Posts: 12 | Joined: Mar 16, 2013 - 7:42pm | IP Logged

54scooper

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jul 15, 2014 - 8:38pm
Randy:

Thanks for your responses and the interesting photos from your father's collection. I think we're saying the same thing. When I referenced "repatriation" I was thinking that there was a possibility that the photo I attached was taken after hostilities had ceased and the Japanese personnel in the photo were being taken to collection points or staging areas where they would remain until eventually transported / "repatriated" back to their homeland. I didn't mean to give the impression that the PT boats were used to repatriate them back to Japan. Maybe some of them were being taken to N2 or G2 (intelligence) where they could be debriefed or interrogated. It's all speculation at this point. Thanks again for your photos.


Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered | IP Logged

TED WALTHER

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Jul 16, 2014 - 12:02pm
Shep;
Your idea of surrender and N2/G2 Intell debrief is a strong possibility, RON 10(specifically, PT 169, 171, 174 and RON 27 PT 374, 375, 376, 377, LCDR H. S. Taylor, COMRON 27 and LCDR F.S. McAdoo, COMRON 10 were both aboard PT 377) boats(which I think are the subject of Randy's photo) performed the same type of operation at Balikpapan on 0900-1330 September 8, 1945.
Take care,
TED


Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am | IP Logged

54scooper

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jul 16, 2014 - 7:20pm
Ted:

Thanks for your historical insight. Given the information you provided, and the fact that the two individuals on my Dad's boat were a "commander and aide," it seems likely that the two were being taken to a base for debriefing/interrogation.

By the way, which is the "commander" and which is the aide-de-camp? I believe Randy thought the guy on the left (in the middle) was the "commander."

Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered | IP Logged

Will Day

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Jul 16, 2014 - 9:56pm
I think the guy in the middle is a Brit or Aussie

Will

Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm | IP Logged

Will Day

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Jul 16, 2014 - 9:57pm
(2nd picture)

Will

Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm | IP Logged

TED WALTHER

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Jul 17, 2014 - 6:57am
Shep;
From what I can see, I would agree. The guy in the middle is wearing an officers tropical dress and boots, he has probably surrendered his sword earlier. the other guy is wearing tropical field uniform and leggings with belt with canteen, leggings were usually worn by NCO and below.( Now with that said, some field grade officers did wear leggings, but most wore boots). Also it appears they are not wearing any rank insignia, typical. The Imperial Japanese Army Officer Cap Bullion Star Badge Insignia is also on guy in middle. The other guy's cap insignia is either distorted by the lighting of the film, or not there.
Take care,
TED


Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am | IP Logged


Lock Topic

 

Forum Legend

New Member

Reply to topic

More than 25 posts | Full Member

Reply to topic with quoted message

More than 50 posts | Advanced Member

Edit Message

More than 150 posts | MASTER

View profile

More than 300 posts | TOP BOSS

Email member