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Topic: INFO ON PAUL STONEBACK, XO ON PT492, RON 33 |
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Ric |
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Posted on: Feb 28, 2008 - 4:22pm
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Paul Stoneback was my father, who was a member of PT Boats, Inc. He retired from the US Naval Reserve at the rank of Commander in the 1970's, and passed away in 1984. Like many veterans, he was very proud of, but also very humble about his PT service. He saw a good amount of action, but rarely spoke about it. I would appreciate any information regarding the battle experience of PT 492, The Impatient Virgin, and RON 33, as well as any personal remembrances of my Dad from surviving crew members and any veterans whose path he crossed. He had great respect for all with whom he served, and always treasured the PT Boat bond you all share. I want to thank any of you in advance who take the time to contact me. My email address is: ricstone@earthlink.net.
Ric Stoneback |
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Will Day
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Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:42am
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Ric: E-mailing you some pictures, including one that shows your father. Check out the book AT CLOSE QUARTERS for history on the ron and the boat.
Will |
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Ric |
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Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 4:43pm
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Will, The pics are spectacular! I responded to your email with a couple of stories my Dad passed on to me regarding the return of MacArthur to the Philippines. My Dad is actually in two of your photos. In the first crew shot, he is waaay in the back to the right, beside the searchlight. Many, many thanks! -Ric
Ric Stoneback |
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Ric |
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Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 5:27pm
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Ed, Thank you so much for the RON 33 shots. They are fascinating. My father told me that at one point during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, his boat, PT 492, threw a towline to a disabled PT. As they were towing it to safety, the disabled boat received a direct hit, turning it virtually to matchsticks. I wonder if it was the 493? I am also fascinated by your model. I believe PT 492 was most likely identical to this in October, 1944. My Dad told me they were installing rocket launchers on deck in preparation for the Invasion of Japan in 1945, when they received word that the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Could you send me the dimensions of your model? The detail is absolutely exquisite! Do you or any of the other builders do custom boats? Someday I would love to get a model of PT 492 made, although the expense would probably be prohibitive. I can only imagine the number of hours that go into making a model with that much detail. Your art, dedication, and love of history are very apparent in this piece. Thank you for sharing it with me. And of course, if you should come across anything else pertinent to the 492, please let me know. Best, Ric
Ric Stoneback |
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ducati650
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Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 6:22pm
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Thanks Ric. I appreciate your kind words. The model is 1/35 scale or about 29" long. It is based on the plastic Italeri PT 596 kit. I'll look through the action logs this weekend.
Ed
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:09pm
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RIC
ON DECEMBER 11/12 SKIPPER LT. MELVIN W. HAINES IN PT 492, ALONG WITH PT 490 ATTACKED A DESTROYER WHICH WAS LAYING TO NEAR PALOMPLON ON THE WEST COAST OF LEYTE. BOTH BOATS WORKED THERE WAY IN TO ABOUT 1000 YARDS WITH PT 490 LAUNCHING 4 TORPEDOES AND THE 492 LAUCHING TWO.
NO LESS THAN THREE TORPEDOES HIT THE JAPANESE DESTROYER UZUNKI, WHICH SANK IN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES. THIS DESTROYER WAS 330 FOOT LONG AND DISPLACED ABOUT 1,315 TONS.
PT 492 ALSO TOOK PART IN THE SURRENDER OF OVER 500 JAPANESE TROOPS WHEN THEY CARRIED ARMY PERSONEL AND JAPANESE SURRENDER COMMISSION PERSONEL TO ISOLATED ENEMY OUTPOST'S ON THE ISLANDS OF SAMAR, MASBATE, AND ROMBLON.
I WILL CHECK MY RECORDS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BOAT WHEN I HAVE TIME.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:24pm
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RIC
PT 493 SKIPPERED BY LT. RICHARD W. BROWN PICKED UP RADAR BLIPS NEAR THE PANAON ISLAND. THE BOATS SET OUT TO INTERCEPT THEM. THEY RAN INTO A RAIN SQUALL AND CLOSED TO ABOUT 700 YARDS OF THREE JAPANESE DESTROYERS AND ONE CRUISER. THE BOATS LAUCHED TORPEDOES AND WERE TAKEN UNDER FIRE BY THE DESTROYERS. PT 493 TRIED TO LAUNCH A TORPEDO BUT IT HUNG UP IN THE RACK. FIRE FROM THE JAP SHIPS WAS SO INTENSE, PT 493 TOOK OFF, LAYING SMOKE. ONE 4.7 INCH SHELL HIT THE 493 GOING THRU THE HULL JUST ABOVE THE WATER LINE. ANOTHER SHELL TORE THRU THE ENGINE ROOM CAUSING SOME DAMAGE TO THE ENGINES.
A THIRD SHELL HIT THE CHARTHOUSE, KILLING 2 MEN, WOUNDING THE BOAT CAPTAIN, SECOND OFFICER AND THREE MEN. ENS. ROBERT CARTER, ALTHOUGH WOUNDED GOT TO HIS FEET AND MADE HIS WAS TO THE PANANON SHORE, BEACHING THE BOAT. THE DEAD AND WOUNDED WERE TAKEN ASHORE. I DO KNOW THAT PT 491 TOOK THE CREW OF PT 493 ONBOARD WITH THEM. I HAVE NO RECORD OF PT 492 BEING WITH THAT GROUP THAT NIGHT. PT 493 FLOATED AT HIGH TIDE, BUT SUNK IN DEEP WATER.
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Ric |
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Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:30pm
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Frank, Thanks for the great info! I have a picture, that PT Boats, Inc. also has on file, of my Dad posing in the cockpit of PT 492 in full battle gear. This was taken directly after the Uzunki sinking. According to the newspaper account of the time, the Uzunki was the last major Japanese ship sunk off the Philippines. Your post was the first time I heard of the surrender mission. Thanks again. Anything else you might find is greatly appreciated! -Ric
Ric Stoneback |
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Ric |
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Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:36pm
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Frank, Thanks for the story of the demise of the 493. I doubt it was the boat at the end of the towline from PT 492 I discussed before. But my father lost some friends that day. -Ric
Ric Stoneback |
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