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Topic: PT Boat base Bau Island / Rendova Harbor from Shane Elliott |
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jul 26, 2022 - 12:26pm
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I may have sent these to people here already, maybe posted them here before, but it is a rainy day so hope you can enjoy them as I post them today.
I know once posted on the internet they are for all to see/copy. The PT Boat Forum has the watermark obviously, but if one were to use these photos here, I just ask if you can credit the photo with my name above in the topic title line.
The photos would have been taken in 2008/2009.
I am not going to hoard some interesting history, when others can learn from it, or use the photo to expand on it. Posting here also records a time of visit and such.
Regards
In the photo above I am standing in the small Bau Island cove looking south towards Rendova Island. To the right along the shore is a WWII sunken US barge that the PT boats probably used to tie up alongside.
The rock jetty heading into the cove (in the sunlight) was probably one of the walkways to the dry-docks when they were here.
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jul 26, 2022 - 12:44pm
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This is the foundation/base for the American flagpole. To the right one can see the remains of a probable Quonset Hut foundation. Notice the leveled ground of coral fill. Comparing these against wartime photos I reckon this was dredged fill to expand the shoreline outwards (?) My walking stick is in the base for the actual metal pole (which was probably cut to use the metal).
The house is occupied. If I had more time I would have poked around the building materials. It looks recycled (?) The wood they got right there in Rendova/Munda area was really good hardwood and the US Seabees used it extensively in building.
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jul 26, 2022 - 12:54pm
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This is where they baked the bread and other baked items. It has been sometime, but this bakery/oven is mentioned on one of the PT books somewhere...maybe Robert Donovans PT-109?--- edit: nope, not that one, seen it mentioned somewhere else I guess.
To guage the size just use the vegetation in the picture.
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Shaneo2
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Posted on: Jul 26, 2022 - 12:59pm
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Another view of the bakers oven...
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jul 26, 2022 - 1:06pm
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The remains of another Quonset Hut foundation. Using Google Earth one can pan over the PT Boat base and see other foundations. This one is more toward the NNW and becoming obscured by foliage.
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Shaneo2
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Posted on: Jul 26, 2022 - 1:20pm
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This unit was a bit hard for the locals to explain to me. For sizing you can see the young child crouched at the far end.
It appeared to be a cement tank of some sort. For a liquid?? What was interesting as they went on (talking) about a game the PT Boat guys, etc., would play on top of it here-- sort of two conversations/explanations at once in broken English, and also pigeon English.
I was lost on the game that was played on top of a tank(?). Later that day & thinking back on some of the body gestures made by the locals I was of thought--- maybe some sort of bowling game, or even a type of shuffleboard ?
The "Wally Tree" I discovered is also in this village. I think I may have posted that somewhere here before. It is the name "Wally" that was carved into a coconut tree that some Sailor must have done in WWII.
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Shaneo2
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Posted on: Jul 26, 2022 - 3:11pm
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Some common B/W photos of the Bau PT boat base in WW11. With this compared against mine and Google Earth you can imagine where is what. Notice the coral fill along the waters edge.
As I mentioned before I suspect (but can't prove) it may have come from that channel north of Lumbari Island and elsewhere. Channels like that are unusual (IMHO) next to an existing deep-water channel. Often the channels are helped formed by fresh water from island river runoff which inhibits coral growth.
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Shaneo2
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Posted on: Jul 26, 2022 - 6:55pm
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Seen from above. If I can get this to post, notice the LCVP craft unloading coral dredge fill.
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Grady
MASTER
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 Posted on: Jul 27, 2022 - 2:07am
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Outstanding pics, great information
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jul 27, 2022 - 3:57pm
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Thanks Grady.
Took awhile, but here is the "Wally Tree". I was asking to be shown trees with marks on them because the I noticed from WWII photos the yanks would use the trees to string all sorts of wires.
The locals were a bit surprised and showed me this tree which they said was done by an American.
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