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Topic: Researching PT-156 of MTB RON 9 |
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WW2UsCollector
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Posted on: Feb 13, 2024 - 4:29pm
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| Hello! I'm currently researching Richard Adrian Colgate who was a member of PT-156 from August 28th, 1944 - August 1945. I believe he was the lead engineer aboard the boat. I'd appreciate if anyone who has any documents, photos, or history relating to PT-156 or MTB RON 9, could share them in this thread. So far I've went through the MTB RON 9 War History and War Diaries. I've also seen part of the PT-156 logbook that lists crew members, but if anyone has the full logbook, I'd love to see it. |
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Travis B
Advanced Member
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 Posted on: Feb 18, 2024 - 5:46am
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80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat:
Laid down 19 August 1942 by the Electric Boat Co., Elco Works, Bayonne, NJ
Launched 2 November 1942
Completed 18 November 1942, placed in service and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron NINE (MTBRon 9) under the command of Lt. Comdr. Robert B. Kelly, USN
MTBRon 9, assigned to the South Pacific, had action at Rendova, Lever Harbor, Treasury, and Green.
Japanese naval and army aircraft bomb Rendova, New Georgia, Solomons 2 July 1943; light cruiser IJN Yubari and nine destroyers bombard the beachhead. PT-156, PT-157 and PT-161 engaged the enemy, but inflicted no damage.
Transferred to the Southwest Pacific in May 1944, the squadron had action at Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea; Morotai, in the Halmaheras; and at Zamboanga and Tawi Tawi in the Philippines. The squadron also based for a time at Dreger Harbor, New Guinea, and at Samar in the Philippines, but had no action from these bases
The "Cowboy" was placed out of service, stripped and destroyed by U.S. Forces 24 November 1945 at Samar, Philippines.
Specifications:
Displacement 56 t.
Length 80'
Beam 20' 8"
Draft 5'
Speed 41 kts.
Complement 17
Armament: One 40mm, four 21" Torpedoes and two twin .50 cal. machine guns
Propulsion: Three 1,500shp Packard W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.
Here is a crew photo, looks like it was taken at ELCO in NJ most likely in 1942.
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Travis B
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Feb 18, 2024 - 6:00am
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I would suggest contacting PT Boats INC for further info on RON 9, PT-156 and Mr Colgate. There is a good possibility they will have info and photos more than you could find on the internet. Take some time and look thru the older posts on this forum and you will find some interesting information.
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/prntopic.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=1415
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smallwi
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Feb 19, 2024 - 3:58pm
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Travis,
Interesting photograph. It shows the boat with roll off racks for Mark XIII torpedos, SO radar mast and the air foil ind deflector. With his I doubt the photo is from 1942. But the boat has retained the foundations for the torpedo tubes and the clear plexiglass windshield.
This is an early 80 foot ELCO as evidenced by the location of the forward 50 cal mount.
I would also suggest the photo was not taken in the CONUS a none of his boats shipped back to the States. Location of the photo is big question.
Bill
Bill Smallshaw |
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 21, 2024 - 1:48am
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I have a sneaking suspicion that this boat in the above photo is actually an 80 foot Elco of either RON29 or RON39 of the number 560, 561,562,563,565,566,567,568 or 569. (PT564 was the prototype Higgins Hellcat) I have some very grainy photos of PT156 and 155 and 157 and they all look a little different than this one in the photo.
Also I noticed in the super blurry photo of PT156 you can see they mounted a 20mm cannon instead of twin 50 cals in the forward starboard gun turret.
LT Kelly and Skipper Pessolano on PT156 (Color)
PT157 Aces and Eights crew with LT Kelly in center
PT157 Aces and Eights crew on bow with captured flag
PT155 Ole Spooky crew on bow with different captured jap flag
PT155 Ole Spooky port side view underway note all the extra 20mm and the stinger above the 40mm Bofors barrel
PT156 underway note the 20mm mounted in starboard 50cal turret
PT156 (color photo) with LT Kelly (Squadron Commander) holding binoculars)
Here are some RON29 Boats in Bastia with bow zoomed in
RON29 in Bastia
Zoom onto bow of RON29 in Bastia PT561 562 563
PT565 with MacArthur on bow
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR |
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 21, 2024 - 3:54am
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I was looking at some photos that I took at Fall River inside the RON9 display case and saw these photos of what may show the crew of PT156. I had to zoom in on the photos so hopefully you may be able to recognize a face in the crew. Jerry
Not labeled as PT156 but judging by the 20mm cannon instead of twin 50 cal MG in starboard turret, I surmised this is probably PT156
It is smudged but it looks like the labels says "RON9 PT156 crew"
RON9 Boat Captains pose with ADM Bill Halsey and LT Kelly Squadron CO front center
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
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Jerry Gilmartin |
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Posted on: Feb 21, 2024 - 3:59am
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Jerry Gilmartin |
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Posted on: Feb 21, 2024 - 4:03am
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Jerry Gilmartin
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 21, 2024 - 6:52pm
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Sorry for the triple post! Maybe Dick can delete the extra 2 posts!
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
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Dick
Moderator
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Posted on: Feb 22, 2024 - 10:58am
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No Big-E
had to leave the posting position for countung reasons.
Dick . . .
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