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Topic: PT 380 RON 28 |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Sep 13, 2020 - 3:06pm
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Travis;
Base 7 was moved up to Green Island. Base 12 was in Bizerte, Tunisia, so unless he was previously with RON's 15/22/29, it must be a typo and it probably means Base 1. 2, which was Tulagi, which for later RON's became their intro-to-theater/training base for just arriving RON's.
Their is no mention of August P. Breidenstein on the Melville Class Rosters, so he was probably picked up along the way, to the Pacific. Many cases were like this, but most were earlier in the war. There is a S2/C W. E. Breidenstein, that graduated in Class 7-42 (10/1 - 12/1/42). This was JFK's class at Melville. I don't think that is a vary common name, Any relation to you?
In the back of Knights of The Sea, only your Uncle's name is listed,not the other Breidenstein. Several guys from this class went to RON 15, so maybe it is Base 12 in Tunisia.I would check all the Doc's on Fold3, if I were you.
If you have not looked on FOLD3 yet, there are about 30 documents with your Uncles name.
Take care,
TED
Here is PT 380's exact location August 1945:
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Travis B
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Sep 13, 2020 - 3:53pm
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Ted, thank you for the response, My Uncle was at Melville RI June-August 1944 then took a train to Shoemaker California. He would later travel by ship to the Pacific arriving at the end of November 1944.
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Sep 13, 2020 - 6:47pm
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Travis;
No first name is noted, just S2/C W. E. Breidenstein.
I suggest you run just the last name through FOLD3, and see what pops up.
Take care,
TED
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PT127
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Posted on: Sep 20, 2020 - 8:03pm
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Travis,
When you were there, Base 17, were you able to identify which beach the boats were burned on?
It might be worth a try with a metal detector if we could sort that.
Thanks.
Mark D. of
pt127.org
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Sep 21, 2020 - 6:57am
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August P Breidenstein arrived at MTBSTC Melville) on June 17, 1944 and left September 22, 1944 for Shoemaker Receiving Barracks. He arrived at RON 28 in December 1944. He went to Base 17 October 22, 1945.
He was on an Oiler, Pawcatuck (AO-108) from Aug 1946 - Jan 1947.
I see no entries at Melville or other PT boats for a C W Breidenstein
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Travis B
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Sep 23, 2020 - 3:25pm
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Quote:
Travis,
When you were there, Base 17, were you able to identify which beach the boats were burned on?
It might be worth a try with a metal detector if we could sort that.
Thanks.
Mark D. of
pt127.org
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The pictures I have posted of base 17 were sent to me by a Australian man who I found on youtube. This gentlemen married a woman from the town of Samar and went back to visit. While he was there he took video and pictures of the old base (what is left of it). Here are links to the videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmz8lZIfZk8&t=12s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1ATTcqrAgQ&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYxfiOuHXB8
This is the email I received from him.
My wife is from a small town called catbalogan, on Samar, where we have a house, & visit family for 5 or 6 weeks annually.
I am interested in many things of which PT boats & WW2 in the Pacific are one. When I found out that the boats were burned on the same island as my wife's home town, I naturally had to find out where. So after figuring out the reported location of the base was incorrect, I researched the old wartime photographs of Base 17, then matched up the geography and landmarks with the satellite imagery and maps of the area. I was very confident that I had the exact location worked out, so before I went over one year I organized to hire a bus and take my 2x brothers in law, one sister in law, and several nephews on a road trip to confirm the location, and to have a look at that end of the island. I had no trouble in getting volunteers as we had previously done road trips north and east, and across Leyte. Taking my extended family allowed me to do the local research worked out far more thorough than I could have done otherwise
The concrete footings are actually the old guard/search-light tower positioned at the sea entrance to the base (apparently with twin .50s) and doubled as an anti aircraft battery.
When you visit, get a driver who speaks English. Its not expensive to hire one for your entire stay & he will double as interpreter and guard you vehicle and belongings. If a foreigner runs over someone's chicken, it is a national disaster accompanied by much wailing and general disquiet. If a Local does the same thing, no even blinks. Always pay for your drivers meals, drinks and accommodation. Remember it is very, very illegal for any foreigner to carry a gun, but it is perfectly fine to hire a local to carry it for you.
Always tell everyone how much you love the food in the country, & that the people are wonderful.
Never play cards or gamble with any local, including your driver. These are incredibly poor people and you will find the rules of any game vary constantly to make sure the foreigner loses as much as the locals can get away with.
Basically it is not really worth visiting Samar, or the old PT Base. There is nothing much to see, it is hot, dusty and the most impoverished province in the Philippines. I go there because I am rather fond of my nieces and nephews, and I like to drink beer in my sister-in-laws bar (while my wife has a family re-union for a few weeks) while my home town of Canberra has its annual run of sub-zero temperatures (& I actually do like the food).
best of luck with it
Brendan
If you all have any other questions I still have Brendan's email. From what I gathered the only thing left of the base is concrete.
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PT127
Full Member
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Posted on: Sep 23, 2020 - 9:08pm
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Travis,
Thanks so much for the information.
I’ve been to Guiuan, Samar looking for some places my father had photographed when he was there. I didn’t spend much time looking for remnants of the base, etc. as I figured the locals would have long ago recycled anything left behind. But, I have seen pics of the beach where the boats were burned. Since they towed them there I can’t imagine it was very far. I don’t know what might be found with a metal detector, but it could be fun to try.
So, yes, please, if you can forward me his email address I’ll drop him a note.
My email address is:
webmaster@pt127.org
Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Mark
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Sep 25, 2020 - 7:17am
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Interesting "inside story" Travis, thanks. It doesn't sound like a place you'd want to go to casually without planning or a guide.
You might be able to find some interesting bits Mark. I've wondered if the residents there still have any repurposed items that they either make use of or just have hanging on a wall. I vaguely recall an old fuel tank being used for water...
Shane posted here a funnel they found while diving. He also posted photos of it cleaned up (can't find the post), it looked like and measured out the same as an Elco. What a cool find!:
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?fid=102&cid=101&tid=1545&sc=20&pg=1&x=0
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Travis B
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jul 17, 2021 - 12:37pm
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With the help of PT Boats INC I have found three more photos of PT380 one being the crew including my Uncle.
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Jul 24, 2021 - 10:48am
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Very cool Travis, finding a photo of your Uncle! Which crewman is he? It looks like the gentleman in the middle of the back row has something on his head, maybe the boat's mascot? It sort of looks like a small cat. PTB Inc is such a great resource for all things PT. I have about 20 of their Elco drawings with the giant Outboard Profile on the wall right above my monitor.
The second photo is of a Higgins, maybe it was taken from the 380?
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