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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 19, 2021 - 8:40pm
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On another site, a poster stated that while driving through Plant City, FL, he saw the hull of PT45 sitting in someone's yard. Do any of our members live around there and, if so, are you aware of any large hulls there? PT45 was reclassified as a small boat in 1944, but I haven't seen anything on her final disposal.
Al
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 20, 2021 - 7:12am
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False alarm, It's just some open cockpit runabout someone uses in parades.
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 20, 2021 - 9:43pm
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Hello Al,
LOL this sounds very familiar. Here in Oregon, when people visit the PT658, we regularly run across people who tell us about a "real" PT boat hull that they know of located somewhere nearby. It often comes with a story of how they used to take it out as a kid etc etc. Our crew would follow up on all of these leads and they always ended up being false. The general publics knowledge of what a real PT Boat hull actually looks like seems to be pretty fuzzy on the details. More often than not these "PT boats" end up being an Air Sea Rescue Crash Boat, or perhaps just a racing boat instead. Just once, I would like to come across a real Elco or Higgins (or even a Huckins or Vosper!) , but I dont think that will happen anytime soon. But I can appreciate your continued efforts to locate the real historic artifacts if there are any still out there!
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 21, 2021 - 12:24pm
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Al;
The real PT 45 was probably destroyed at Noumea, either 1944-1945 or shortly after.
IF it does still exist, the only 77’ ELCO that might be found ( needle in a haystack stuff) would be PT 40. She was purchased and worked with PT 48 at Nikko Tours in Miami(as Falmingo I(PT 48) and Flamingo II (PT 40), working out of Haulover Beach. Circa 1960’s-1970’s.
During an interview in 1996 ( Ken Prescott sent me a audio cassette recording of a PT Boat conference, which was held at the Nimitz Museum) Bill Bolmfalk said he knew where PT 40 and PT 140 were, I have since tried to contact him when he was owner of PT 728, but he never responded, so I think it’s pure bunk. PT 48 was in Fruitland Florida at that time , so maybe he confused 40 with 48. I don’t know.
Take care,
TED
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Stearman
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Nov 21, 2021 - 9:10pm
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One thing we can say for curtain is, with the price of real estate going through the roof, we will be seeing a lot of hidden cars, motorcycles, aircraft and boats, literally coming out of the wood work! So who knows, in some abandoned warehouse, near the ocean or even the Great Lakes, one last PT Boat!
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 22, 2021 - 7:24am
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The only true 77 footer still around would be PT-48 that resides in Kingston, New York still waiting for restoration. PT-48 is a 77’ Elco. She rescued from a Florida trailer camp, this vessel saw heavy action in the Pacific theater. It is credited with sinking an enemy destroyer, an enemy cruiser, and several motorized barges. It is the sole known surviving 77’ Elco. It needs a total restoration.
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 22, 2021 - 2:07pm
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Frank;
Never say Never. Since I discovered PT 48 in 1991, 5 miles from my home, then she was moored in Onancock, Virginia, I have been searching for her sister PT 40, so far nothing, but, who knows. I will never give up looking until I discover concrete evidence of her existence or demise.
Hopefully, Kingston starts working on 48, before she joins the rest.
Take care,
TED
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