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

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Posted on: Jul 12, 2014 - 7:27pm
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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!

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David Waples

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Posted on: Jul 13, 2014 - 9:54pm
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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
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Randy McConnell

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Posted on: Jul 14, 2014 - 8:26pm
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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
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Randy McConnell

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Posted on: Jul 14, 2014 - 8:33pm
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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
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54scooper

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Posted on: Jul 15, 2014 - 8:38pm
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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.
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TED WALTHER

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Posted on: Jul 16, 2014 - 12:02pm
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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
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54scooper

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Posted on: Jul 16, 2014 - 7:20pm
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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."
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Will Day

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Posted on: Jul 16, 2014 - 9:56pm
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I think the guy in the middle is a Brit or Aussie
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Will Day

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Posted on: Jul 16, 2014 - 9:57pm
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(2nd picture)
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TED WALTHER

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Posted on: Jul 17, 2014 - 6:57am
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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
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