Author |
Topic: Rendova Harbor |
|
Nuge210
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Jul 25, 2016 - 10:46am
|
Kind of a cool map of AA defenses at Rendova, found in Archives II a while back. Thought you might be interested.
Now where was the PT Base ?
Steve |
Total Posts: 323 | Joined:
Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am | IP
Logged
|
|
Drew Cook
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Jul 25, 2016 - 1:50pm
|
Steve,
From what I've been able to learn over the years, the PTs were moored around Lumbari Island, which is just off the USMC map you posted, to the west (left).
I've also seen aerial photos of a couple of portable drydocks with PTs in them in the small southern coves on Bau Island.
There may have been scattered PT moorings around inside the harbor, too. Someone else on the Forum may be able to provide more information.
|
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined:
Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am | IP
Logged
|
|
Nuge210
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Jul 25, 2016 - 3:18pm
|
Thanks Drew, I thought at some point the base was on Bau.
But I'm not that familiar with those days.
Steve |
Total Posts: 323 | Joined:
Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am | IP
Logged
|
|
Will Day
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Jul 25, 2016 - 10:23pm
|
Thanks, guys....
Will |
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined:
Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm | IP
Logged
|
|
|
Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Jul 26, 2016 - 1:24am
|
Hi Steve and Drew and Will,
I think I downloaded this from the PT Boat Forum a few years ago, I think one of our members (maybe Shaneo? maybe Ted?) posted this, It looks like the PT Boats were on Bau island. Hope this helps. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR |
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined:
Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm | IP
Logged
|
|
CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Jul 26, 2016 - 10:58am
|
I spent the whole month of Feb. 1944 at Rendova while half our crew went on R&R to New Zealand. My name was not drawn out of the hat so we stayed with the boat. Mounted two twin fifty guns on the bow in front of the charthouse - put the boat in drydock and cleaned and painted the bottom. The PT base at that time was in one of the coves on the south side of Bau Island..There were two or three drydocks and 3-4 quonset huts back in the jungle.. In one hut they had church service every Sunday. That was the only base I was at in the Solomons that we were able to go to Sunday services.
We were also at Rendova for one night about Nov 1st 1943 on our way up to Vella La Vella. At that time the PT base was on a smaller island. (I don't know the name of it.) It was the original base at Rendova. The bow remains of a bombed boat were on the beach. (I think PT164) Just a reminder of what could happen to us as we were on our way up the line then.
C. J. Willis |
Total Posts: 464 | Joined:
Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm | IP
Logged
|
|
Will Day
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Jul 26, 2016 - 3:16pm
|
Good stuff, C.J. Thanks for sharing....Did the other half of the crew ever get any R&R?
Will |
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined:
Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm | IP
Logged
|
|
CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Jul 26, 2016 - 4:39pm
|
Will: The other half of us crew members were promised R&R after 3-4 more months of combat patrol duty but it never happened. When they got back from N.Z. Green Island had just been taken from the Japs. Our squadron moved up there and we patrolled out of there for 8 more months then the whole crew was relieved in Nov. 1944 to come back to the U.S. for 30 days leave. I never got to see N.Z. Just bad luck of the draw I guess. The guys that went had a great time. They were down there over two weeks. One guy brought back a pair of girl's panties which we hung just under the flag until they whipped out. .
C. J. Willis |
Total Posts: 464 | Joined:
Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm | IP
Logged
|
|
Frank Andruss
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Jul 26, 2016 - 6:16pm
|
I love your stores C.J. I can just imagine those panties flapping in the breeze.
|
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined:
Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am | IP
Logged
|
|
Nuge210
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Jul 27, 2016 - 2:36pm
|
Great stuff C.J. and Jerry, thanks for your stories and photos. I can never get enough.....
Steve |
Total Posts: 323 | Joined:
Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am | IP
Logged
|
|