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Topic: PT boats refurbished in Melville, RI |
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CarolAndDave
New Member
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Posted on: Nov 23, 2018 - 11:21am
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Hello all
My wife and I are new members here. Her late father, CPO Charles S. "Pete" Burke, served on PT boats in the Pacific during WWII. We'll be glad to help the forum with any information that we have.
Now for our current question: In late 1944, Charles was a Chief Machinists Mate at the Melville, RI Navy ship yards, serving as an instructor. While there, he was assigned to help refurbish three PT boats that had been sent to Melville from the Solomon Islands area. We have a nephew living in New York who is very interested in researching this (his grandfather's) assignment; but the only information we have to help him is one article from a Pennsylvania newspaper. The article calls the ships "Three old ladies from the Solomons".
You can view the article here: https://imgur.com/BVdyAEZ
Does anyone here have any information about the operations at the Melville yards or possibly the three ships in question? We'd be very interested in even the smallest leads to help Joe get started on his research.
Thanks and best regards,
Dave & Carol Bruce
Ironton, Ohio
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Total Posts: 4 | Joined:
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 23, 2018 - 2:25pm
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Dave and Carol
Melville was the home of the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center (MTBSTC), from which most training and doctrine emanated during the war. The membership on this site possess a vast store of knowledge about the boats and the personnel who manned them. I am sure you will be inundated with information and source material. You have come to the right place!
Will |
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined:
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CarolAndDave
New Member
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Posted on: Nov 23, 2018 - 2:47pm
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smallwi
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Nov 23, 2018 - 4:29pm
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I believe PT 59 was one of those boats.
Bill Smallshaw |
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 24, 2018 - 6:54am
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In July 1944, PT 39, 40 and 46 arrived at Melville. PT 47, 48, and 59 arrived in August. All six boats were 77-ft ELCOs. For the most part, they were used to teach hull repair to the student at the MTBRTU - Motor Torpedo Boat Repair Training Unit, which was established in Feb 1944.
For a complete history of MTBSTC, I would recommend the book MTBSTC (available through Amazon). And for full diclosure, I wrote it.
Charlie |
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 24, 2018 - 6:54am
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In July 1944, PT 39, 40 and 46 arrived at Melville. PT 47, 48, and 59 arrived in August. All six boats were 77-ft ELCOs. For the most part, they were used to teach hull repair to the student at the MTBRTU - Motor Torpedo Boat Repair Training Unit, which was established in Feb 1944.
For a complete history of MTBSTC, I would recommend the book MTBSTC (available through Amazon). And for full diclosure, I wrote it.
Charlie |
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 24, 2018 - 11:50am
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Damn fine book.
Will |
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 24, 2018 - 1:33pm
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Charlie;
From our available photographs, the six boats the were shipped back were PT 38, 39, 40, 47, 48, and 59. PT 46 was not sent back to Melville.
Take care,
TED
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 24, 2018 - 6:23pm
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Yeah, their War Diary for July said it was 36, 40, and 46. I figured 36 was a typo and should have been 39. I guess 46 should have been 38.
Thanks.
Charlie |
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 24, 2018 - 6:24pm
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Yeah, their War Diary for July said it was 36, 40, and 46. I figured 36 was a typo and should have been 39. I guess 46 should have been 38.
Thanks.
Charlie |
Total Posts: 598 | Joined:
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