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Topic: Blacks in the PT Boat Service |
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TGConnelly
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Posted on: Mar 22, 2009 - 7:34am
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From that photo - I'd say that he was a native helper or maybe a coastwatcher?
Garth
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 22, 2009 - 9:35am
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Wayne: Any chance that second shot is of the 321 boat? (Different gun configuration, maybe name CAROLINA CHILE partially visible).
Will |
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Wayne Traxel |
MASTER
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Posted on: Mar 22, 2009 - 10:31am
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Hello Will,
PT- 331 was nick named "The Wolf" which was written on the starboard side of the charthouse above the side window. On the front of the Charthouse there was a Wolfs head with what appears to be a half moon above the wolfs head. In the second picture you can just see the moon on the front of charthouse. That twin 50 mount made the rounds in various locations on PT 331. I don't know which is the earliest shot of the two pictures. Eventually a 37mm was fitted on the bow and the twin fifties were relocated between the fore and aft torpedoes on the port side.
M-4, 37mm was fitted on the bow of 331 and the twin fifties were relocated between the fore and aft torpedoes on the port side.
Hope this helps
Wayne Traxel |
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victorkchun
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Posted on: Mar 22, 2009 - 12:06pm
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Thank you Wayne for the pictures, especially where they came from.
I will try real hard to convience my publisher to put the name Walter
Keuhn in my book
Victor
Victor K Chun |
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David Waples
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Posted on: Mar 22, 2009 - 7:38pm
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You know what's interesting about these photos is that the twin .50's have moved between the bow and forward of the starboard depth charge. The gentleman in questions seems to be on both boats. It would be great to learn more about this.
Dave
David Waples |
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Will Day
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Posted on: Apr 30, 2009 - 4:31pm
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In leafing through my copy of KNIGHTS OF THE SEA last night, I noticed several pictures of what appear to be blacks in the PT crews.....
Will |
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Donald Shannon
Full Member
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Posted on: May 14, 2009 - 10:00am
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Hello Frank
I have attached this image from the book Knights of the Sea Page 93 of a mess hand or Stewart's mate on board a PT Boat. I have also included this link pertaining to African Americans in the USN during WWII.
www.history.navy.mil/photos/prs-tpic/af-amer/afa-wwii.htm
I was also talking to a former crewmember of the USS Massachusetts about the subject. He informed me that the Battleship had black mess attendants onboard throughout the war but they were segregated until late 1945-post war at that time they integrated both black and white sailors. As you will note on the navy web site some capital ships allowed black Americans to man antiaircraft guns on navy vessels.
Shannon
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QM
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Posted on: May 14, 2009 - 1:18pm
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T. J. Lovvorn served in Ron 12 in 1943 and 1944 on PTs 190 and 195. I can not find Joshua's name among a list of enlisted men. Lovvorn could have been with another squadron later. |
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QM
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Posted on: May 14, 2009 - 1:52pm
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I found another roster that lists Oneal Joshua, St2c in Ron 12 from January, 1944 to March, 1945. No boat number. Enlisted from Jacksonville, Florida. |
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Drew Cook
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Posted on: May 14, 2009 - 1:58pm
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Old T.J. is sporting that classic white-socks-and-boondockers look.
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