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 Author  Topic: Fire at the Fuel Dock
CJ Willis

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of CJ Willis  Posted on: Aug 21, 2007 - 6:45pm
December 15, 1943 P.T.242 was berthed in the mangrove bushes next to the 60 boat in Lambu Lambu Cove on Vella La Vella. Squadron 19 had been operating out of Lambu for about 6 weeks. We had been on patrol the night before - had cleaned our guns, refueled and after noon chow most of the crew had bedded down because we had had very little sleep for about 36 hours. About 02:30 we were awakened with explosions coming from the fuel dock. There was a tremendous fire raging - flames 30 feet high. There were two native grass huts where ammunition and other supplies were stored. They were completely in flames. The 238 and 239 boats were tied side by side at the small dock. The outside boat (238) was being refueled with hoses across the 239 which was tied to the dock. We saw crewmen jumping in the water off both boats and swimming across the narrow entrance to the opposite bank away from the fire. Two guys on the 238 got the engines started and tried to pull the 239 with them but the fuel hoses held them to the dock. By then the 239 was burning in the stern pretty good. One of the guys grab an axe which all boats carried and chopped the lines and pulled away saving the 238. The 239 burned and sank at the dock. The two men who saved the 238 wereTorpedoman Olsen and Gunners Mate Foley. They received the Navy Marine Corp medal for bravery. All the boats of Ron 19 were in the cove but were unable to get out to sea because of the narrow entrance at the fire. We cranked up and laid too at a distance of 200 - 300 Yds The Exec had us keep the deck wet down because of the flying embers. Ammunition was exploding in the grass huts with tracers shooting out. The 55 gallon drums would explode and split along the seams forming floating torches. Several drifted back toward our boat. We got the carbine rifles out, shot holes in the barrels but that only made things worse because burning gasoline spread out over the water. We lost Chief Gunner Mate Connor and Boatswain Mate Joe Mitchell. They were working in one of the grass huts and were trapped. My friend Floyd Williams was in the hut with them. He jumped out the window and got away O.K. He said they went out the door. Another friend Chuck Webb, Quartermaster on the 239 jumped overboard swam to the bank and over to the New Zealand camp nearby. We lost all our fuel, ammunition, spare parts and food supplies. It was determined, the small gasoline engine used for refueling back fired which ignited the 100 octane. The next day the carpenters built caskets and funeral services were held for our two comrades. They were buried in the cemetery at Vella La Vella. We loaded what was left of our base that afternoon and moved up to Treasury. We operated with Commander Kelly and Squadron 9.

C. J. Willis

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newsnerd99

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 22, 2007 - 2:42am
What a tragedy...thanks for sharing.

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT-209
RON 23 PT-243

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Jul 29, 2010 - 5:56pm
Thanks CJ. I was looking for this post for awhile. Glad I found it. Aweful accident.............


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CJ Willis

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of CJ Willis  Posted on: Dec 12, 2014 - 9:25am
I posted the account of this fire several years ago here on this board but every year at this time I am reminded of the loss of two of our Squadron comrades who was unable to get away. Sad dea!!! It really was a huge fire with over 600 barrels of 100 octane gasoline and all our squadron ammo going up in smoke. It was a spectacular sight and experience I will never forget. We were lucky not to loose more men. Several years ago from the National Archives and Records I was able to receive the action report prepared by our Squadron Commander, Capt. Russell Smith, with statements by all the personnel directly involved there at the dock when the fire started..

C. J. Willis

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earl

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of earl  Posted on: Dec 13, 2014 - 3:16pm
hi cj// e also had two boats refeuling at emirau .tthey were refueling at the fuel dopck and apparently soome gas must have leaked out from a bad fuuel line into the watwer.wh en they started the engines it ignited the ggas floating on th e eater.both boats exploded and i th ink a cou-le of men were kil;llled. imy 208 boat was tied uop at a buot on th e other side of the opier about 200 jubdred y ards away.i saw one man go uo very high into th e air and land on his stomahch in th e water,.he was abkle to swim to the pier / the boats were destroy ed..i just recwently saw a ph oto of onwe of th e boats and it was after the fire and commpletly burned out.

earl richmond

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CJ Willis

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of CJ Willis  Posted on: Dec 13, 2014 - 3:30pm
Earl: Good to hear from you. Hope you have a Wonderful Christmas and a Very Happy 2015.

C. J. Willis

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Will Day

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Dec 13, 2014 - 4:19pm
A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the both of you...

Will

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