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 Author  Topic: PT Boat Commander Lt. Clinton McKellar, Jr.
Pip23

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Pip23  Posted on: Jan 27, 2016 - 3:09pm
I picked a bunch of his belongings recently and was wondering if anyone had any information on him . Below is a link to the items I have

http://imgur.com/a/7bsf8

I found this link about his time in WWII and the Battle of Midway but its about it.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/PT-3.html

Thanks for any help!


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Pip23

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Pip23  Posted on: Jan 27, 2016 - 4:39pm
The plaque says

Motor Torpedo Sq 1,

2-41 - 7-42

Would this be the same as this Squadron?

MTB RON 1
Commissioned: 24,July 1940 - LT Earl S. Caldwell USN
Decommissioned: 9,February 1945 - LT Edward M. Erikson USNR
PT Boats: Early Development Boats PT's 3,4,5,6,7,8,9, Elco 77' PT's 20-31,33,35,37,39,41-43
Assigned To: Philippines, fought at Pearl Harbor, Midway and in the Aleutians.
Postscript: Squadron 1 was the first squadron commissioned and was originally made up of experimental boats. Later, the squadron was composed of Elco 77' boats and sent to the Pacific. It was there at Pearl Harbor, where squadron 1 became the first PT's to see action in World War II, on December 7, 1941.


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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 27, 2016 - 7:07pm
Pip;
Yes it is the same. Clinton McKellar(USNA Class of 1936) was RON 1 Executive Officer and Commanding Officer. He was CO of RON 1 on two occasions (2/19-2/24/1942 and 3/12/1942 to 5/1943). Later in the war He was Commanding Officer of RON 27(7/23/1943 to 7/28/1944).
Nice find, what are your plans? Also, what are all those rolled up items? Are they all photos?
That is Destroyer Division 42 pennant. Which he was Commander of 7/1956 to 6/1957.
Take care,
TED

CAPT. Clinton McKellar, Jr. USN Chief of Staff COMCARDIV 18. On bridge of USS Leyte(CVS 32) July 1957.


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Pip23

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Pip23  Posted on: Jan 27, 2016 - 7:50pm
Hi Ted! Thanks for the info! Is there a way to find out if he was at Pearl Harbor? I normally collect photographs and I was going to buy the ones with the PT Boats . When I talked with the seller he said he had other items for the Officer so I bought everything so it wouldnt get broken up. I dont really collect uniforms and medals so I was trying to figure out a value so I could trade or sell the items. This seemed like the place that would have the most knowledge about something like this.

The rolled up items , there are 3 photographs and the rest are documents.


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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 27, 2016 - 7:57pm
That's a remarkable find. That's an amazing career. Always amazed that these things get away from people's families.
Dave

David Waples

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Pip23

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Pip23  Posted on: Jan 27, 2016 - 8:04pm
The seller is a lawyer who handles Estates. He said the family comes in takes what they want and then they have them sell the rest off and then send them the money. When I spoke with him he said it happens ALOT but he has my number now and said he would contact me with anything military.


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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 28, 2016 - 6:04am
Pip;
Yes he was there. Here is his RON 1 assignments:
PT 28 Commanding Officer 8/18/41 – 11/26/41
He was Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) additional division to be transferred to RON 3 in the Philippines, boats in cradles to be loaded on USS Rampo (AO-12), PT 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 42. As a result of Japanese attack, the transfer to RON 3 was cancelled. All boats were put back in the water 12/8/1941. McKellar was continuously assigned to RON 1 from 8/18/41 to May 1943. He also led RON 1 Division underway to Midway May-June 1942.Here are some of McKellar's and RON1 crewmembers actions at Midway: "4 June 1942: With the Japanese attack on Midway over, the motor torpedo boats of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 1 returned to Sand Island. Although warned that the whole area was “extremely dangerous,” Lt. Clinton McKellar, Jr., CO of MTBRON 1, and MM2c R. H. Lowell, S2c J. B. Rodgers, and F3c V.J. Miastowski cut their way through barbed wire and gingerly made their way through a minefield to organize firefighting parties at the fuel oil dump.As Japanese planes roared low over Midway’s lagoon on 4 June 1942, TM2c Orville R. Mott manned one of the two twin-.50-caliber mounts on board motor torpedo boat PT-24. Despite badly burning his hands when changing the inboard barrel of the starboard .50-caliber mount, he simultaneously fired the outboard .50-caliber gun. Courage in the face of the enemy and a willingness to do what needed to be done was not the sole province of aviators. His Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo afire, Capt. Herbert T. Merrill, USMC, bailed out and landed in the water. Although suffering from second degree burns, he reached the reef off Sand Island after two hours’ swimming. Motor torpedo boat PT-20 found Merrill, nearly blinded and clinging to the sharp coral. Seeing the Marine obviously suffering from shock and burns, SM3c Edward J. Stewart dove into the water with a life ring at the end of a line, and braved the surf breaking over the jagged coral to help Merrill to safety."
Take care,
TED


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Pip23

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Pip23  Posted on: Jan 28, 2016 - 6:54am
VERY COOL!!! This man was pretty BADASS from everything I have read!


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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 28, 2016 - 8:03am
Every PT man was a BADASS!!!
Take care,
TED


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Pip23

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Pip23  Posted on: Jan 28, 2016 - 8:08am
Very true. As I have been reading about him I have read about alot of others and I did not know almost any of it. They all have great stories and kicked alot of butt.


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