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Topic: Australian WW2 Small Craft |
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Jeff D
Moderator
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 Posted on: Feb 25, 2022 - 2:30pm
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Paul in Australia, builder of the PT 109 Full Scale Model, was kind enough to send me some scans of Australian WW2 small craft commonly mistaken there for everybody's favorite, PT boats. He hopes all of us will enjoy them, I certainly did. He also sent some photos of a pith helmet a friend of his picked up for him and Paul was wondering if it could be traced to a specific USN crewman based on the number written on it, 34639. There is also a name but unfortunately it is mostly illegible.
Some notes from Paul:
I have posted you some photocopies of Australian Air / Sea rescue boats.
Seems every one I talk to knows, or heard of a PT boat in OZ.
Check out the similarities.
Interesting photo of the Australian Navy boat (Kuttabul), sunk in Sydney Harbour by Jap midget sub.
3 midget subs entered the harbour.
They loosed torpedoes and shelled the city.
None escaped.
But boy, did Sydney waterfront property values plummet.
Can you just imagine if NAZI subs entered New York harbour and started shelling Manhattan?
Jap subs were operative on the east coast of Australia WW2.
They torpedoed the clearly marked hospital ship......CENTAUR, off Moreton Island, QLD. (where I work).
If it wasn't for the USA PT boats, and the courage of USA military, I would be speaking Japanese.
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 26, 2022 - 3:11pm
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Did he cite the source of this wonderful material? If it's a book, I'd like to get a copy.
The opening statement about them being based on an ASW type is erroneous. The original boats were designed by Dair Long to meet a South African Air Force requirement for a crash boat. These boats were built by Miami Shipbuilding as the Model 127 and were only used by the SAAF. The boats were further developed and the superstructure changed significantly.
Al
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Feb 27, 2022 - 10:56am
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Hey Al, I've asked him and will let you know when he responds.
Man, you are a walking naval encyclopedia! I'm glad that you appreciated the excerpts.
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Feb 27, 2022 - 4:40pm
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Here's the info Paul sent:
My WW2 buddy found this beat up, waterlogged copy at recycle shop.
Title: Australian and New Zealand Warships, 1914-1945
Author: Gillett, Ross 1953 -....
ISBN: 0 86824 095 8
Published: 1983 by Double Bay Australia Pty Ltd
Pages: 360
The author also wrote one for 1946 and on.
I see Amazon has a used one for sale but they're mighty proud of it, about $120 shipped.
Abe Books has a good used one for about $40 shipped (from Australia). I've dealt with them, no problems: https://www.abebooks.com/9780868240954/Australian-New-Zealand-warships-1914-1945-0868240958/plp
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 27, 2022 - 5:47pm
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Thanks, Jeff!!
Al
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 2, 2022 - 5:40pm
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The number on the pith helmet is not an enlisted service number. It could be an officer's file number but don't believe the officer numbers went up that high (starting with a 6) but the insignia on the helmet is a modern pin. Hard to determine what that number really is or how old it actually is.
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Jeff D
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Posted on: Mar 3, 2022 - 11:58am
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You're very welcome Al.
Thank you Charlie, you would make a great detective! 
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Mar 3, 2022 - 4:59pm
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"The number on the pith helmet is not an enlisted service number."
I would agree. I would focus on the "O" rank numbers first if researching this.
I was looking into a couple USN officers back in 2020 (again), both Lt's from MIA F4F Wildcat losses in 1943.
Both had numerical sequence of six (06) digits long with the first digit of: "1" and five others following. The Navy and Marine Corps serial numbers sometimes have been very difficult to return, mostly due to my past work schedule. I have had another work on some of them now. It can take some (+) years...
In some of the early war years you can see some of the Marine Corps pilots etc. with low serial numbers after the "00". Lt Col Bauer who was lost (MIA) near the Russel Islands in 1942 was: O-"004534".
The number on the helmet might be correct as the USN digits increased as the war went along.
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Jeff D
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Posted on: Mar 6, 2022 - 7:22am
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Thanks Shaneo, I'll make sure Paul sees this. 
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 7, 2022 - 6:41am
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Charlie;
They did go a lot higher, my Dad’s Officer Navy service number(issued in 1943, he was prior a Chief Yeoman at ONI) was 6 digits.
Take care,
TED
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