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Topic: "Crash Boats" Green Island 1944 |
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RRobert
New Member
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Posted on: Sep 10, 2014 - 10:46am
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Hi All,
I'm new to the board so I'll say Hi and ask a question to get started.
I've been interested in all things WWII since I was small and I've always liked reading about the PT's and MTB's of the war.
I'm researching the travels of a relative who served in the Navy during WWII
and I'm looking for any information about 2 "Crash Boats" or Rescue Launch that were Navy operated around the air strips of Green Island.
Any information would be helpful, I found them mentioned in reports and logs from the Marine and Army Air Units based on Green Island in 1944. I think I have located an image of the same type of boat but would like the make and model and any other info about them. See link below,
Image No. N25165 "PT Rescue Boat"
http://realwarphotosgalleries.ifp3.com/2/c731f/44099ca/?a=1&navlist=397b796,397b7fc#/gallery/pt-boats/n25165/
I think Ron-10 was stationed at Green about the same time so perhaps they might appear in photos with them?
I have access to all sorts of research materials and anything I have is available to the members. Since I don't know enough about PT's to fill a thimble, I probably won't contribute much in that regard however, I'll do my
best to look thru my materials and sources to help out.
Best Regards,
R. Robert
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Will Day
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Posted on: Sep 10, 2014 - 1:15pm
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Welcome aboard, R.R. - I imagine some of the guys on here might have some pics. Sit back and see what develops.
Will |
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alross2
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Posted on: Sep 10, 2014 - 6:06pm
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The boat pictured is a 63' ARB which was used by both the USN and USAAF. There were a number of variations, this one probably being a Type 314.
This is a model I built of P399 ( a USAAF boat) that I built a number of years ago for the son of her quartermaster.
I have quite a bit of material on these boats and would be happy to share, but I need some specifics to do so.
Al Ross
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RRobert
New Member
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Posted on: Sep 11, 2014 - 3:57am
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Thanks for the quick reply!
More information and hopefully a photo is on the way.
If anyone is interested in the PBY Black Cat that worked the Green Island
area with RON TEN, I stumbled across a photo and a little information yesterday.
Thanks again for the help!
R. Robert
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CJ Willis
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Posted on: Sep 11, 2014 - 11:46am
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R.Robert: I was at Green Island from the middle of March until the middle of Nov 1944 with Squadron 19 and Squadron 23. I have no photos of crash boats that were there but I remember seeing some that were there at that time. They were a lot smaller than our PT's. They only had two engines but were pretty fast if I remember. The only armor they had were two turrets I believe. While at Green our PT 242 rescued two airmen that crash landed in the lagoon at Green. The air base radioed over for us to come across the lagoon to the air base. We got there just as a SBD landed in the water with the wheels up. Water spray went about two stories high and when the water settled down both guys had the canopy back and were standing up in the plane. Neither was hurt. They crawled out on the wing and into the water with their life vests on. We picked them up. They said the landing gear would not come down and they elected for a water landing instead of crashing on the runway and risking a fire. Our fuel dock was at the end of the runway so we let them off there. I was really surprised at how long that plane floated. It must have been at least 5 minutes before it went under.
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Frank Andruss
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Posted on: Sep 11, 2014 - 3:21pm
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Love the stories CJ please keep them coming.
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RRobert
New Member
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Posted on: Sep 11, 2014 - 5:02pm
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Hello CJ,
I sent some information to Mr. Ross but I think he's correct that they were
63-Foot ARB's. I'm waiting to hear from him. Hopefully I didn't jam up his internet connection.
My Uncle worked at the Acorn Hospitals on the Russell's, Vella Lavella and Green Island. I will have to check his station orders but I think he may have been at Green after you or perhaps a slight overlap.
I always admired him for enlisting at age 35 a few months after Pearl. He was almost 40 when he came home.
Is there an email address for you or a way I can send you photos etc.? I know my Uncle wouldn't mind me sharing a few of these. I would post them but they have no value to the group and I'd prefer not to post them.
Nice to trade posts with you CJ
Sincerely,
Robert
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CJ Willis
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Posted on: Sep 11, 2014 - 7:24pm
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R. Robert: My email is randocjw@aol.com. We operated quite often with Black Cats on our patrols out of Green. They would drop flares in Jap coves so we could see if there might be barges etc in there. Also tell us if they saw something that they wanted the boats to investigate.
Frank: Black Cats reminds me of one more story. We were patrolling New Britain up near Rabaul when we picked up on radar a plane flying up our wake which was the way Jap float planes came in when they bombed us. (You get pretty goosey about that) Our radioman tried on the IFF to get him to identify himself. He never answered. My turret was right by the cockpit so Mr. McLane said "Willis fire a burst up there". I never did see the plane. It is really hard to see a plane at night unless they are between you and the moon. I fired a burst of tracers up and that sure as hell got his attention. He came back on the radio with something like "GODDAM KNOCK THAT FIRE OFF DOWN THERE PETER TARE THIS IS BLACK CAT". Frank I remember too many stories.
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TED WALTHER |
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Posted on: Sep 12, 2014 - 4:46pm
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C.J.
Great stories thanks for sharing!
Take care,
TED
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