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Topic: Melville History |
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 17, 2008 - 6:20am
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Greetings All,
As most of you know, there are many great books on PT Boats already out there that cover the intricacies of the development and technical aspects of the boats themselves, the Squadrons and their operational history, or specific people and their adventures. After having probably read most of these books, it occurred to me that there is a gap in the overall written history of PT Boats. I noticed that not much has been written about MTBSTC other than to say it was there and PT Boaters went through there for training. Probably the most I’ve seen written about it is in “At Close Quarters” and that is only about 3-4 pages. Now I know not every PT Boater went through there but most of them did and so much of what went on out in the field, from personnel, boat development to tactics was influenced by MTBSTC, I thought that much more detailed history of such an important element should be included in the overall history of PT Boats.
Over the past 8 months, I have been working on a book on the history of MTBSTC at Melville. Since August, I have been busy gathering photos, data and artifacts related to MTBSTC, basically the research phase. Over the past couple of months, I have begun the writing phase, although the research phase will never be over. My plan for the book was to have a bit of text a lot of photos documenting what went on during its short 3-1/2 year life with some veteran recollections. Although as I get into it, there’s going to be more text than I originally thought but still lots of pictures. I did post an announcement in the last PT Boat Newsletter and the posting of Frank’s Melville photos (some of which I hadn’t seen before) here last week has prodded me to post this announcement here. And the ongoing analysis of these pictures is also great. Thanks to Frank for the generous offer of the use of his pictures and artifacts.
If any of the PT Boat Vets here on the forum remember their time at Melville and would like to share them for the book, please contact me off line at chsu@aol.com. If anyone has anything such as artifacts, pictures, documents or other information related to MTBSTC or MTBRTU that may be of interest for the book, please contact me off line. You will get full credit for anything I use in the book. If anyone wants to offer words of encouragement, I could use that, too. I’m looking at publishing it within the next year.
Thank-you for your assistance in this endeavor.
Charlie Jones
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Gary Szot
MASTER
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Posted on: Mar 23, 2008 - 12:02pm
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With all of the attention lately focused on Melville RI, I think it is only proper to show a piucture of the guys that actual went through the training on the most important day of their Navy days.
Here is a picture of my dads' graduating class in 1944
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newsnerd99
New Member
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Posted on: Mar 23, 2008 - 2:35pm
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Gary...any idea the date of that class?
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
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Gary Szot
MASTER
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Posted on: Mar 23, 2008 - 4:57pm
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According to my dad's service record he went to NYS Newport RI from 7-30-43 to 9-21-43.
EM SCH NTS Newport, RI from 9-21-43 to 1-22-44 and finally MTBS TR. CTR. Portsmouth RI from 2-12-44 to 4-14-44. I guess this picture was taken in April of '44.
For those interested , my dad is in the third row from the bottom 7th in from the left.
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Gary Szot
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Posted on: Mar 23, 2008 - 5:05pm
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I meant from the right. You'd think by this age I would know the difference between right and left.
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Rm2c Ron 16 PT 221
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Posted on: Mar 23, 2008 - 5:40pm
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Go to page 2. Click on PT 221 with names. Click on the PhotoBucket link. Click on WWII in PhotoBucket. This is a picture of PT221 crew. The names of the crew are on the back of the picture stating with the first row left to right. My Dad is Rm2c Jack Crawford, Ada Oklahoma. I dont know if this is at Melville, but I'm sure it is during or right after.
Good Luck with your book.
I will send you more concrete info if I come across it.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 23, 2008 - 5:45pm
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Gary
The photo you have is not from Melville, but from the NEWPOPRT TRAINING SCHOOL, which was his BOOT CAMP. This as you know was only a short hop from the MTBSTC, so he did not have far to go.
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Rm2c Ron 16 PT 221 |
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Posted on: Mar 23, 2008 - 7:08pm
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Thanks,
This fills another gap in my Father's life.
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Gary Szot
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Posted on: Mar 23, 2008 - 7:20pm
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Thanks Frank.
I guess I got carried away with all the talk about Quonset Huts. When I saw these in the background I just assumed...
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Rm2c Ron 16 PT 221
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Posted on: Mar 23, 2008 - 7:43pm
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Frank,
I just realized "too many Garys. Please look at Rm2c Ron 16 PT 221 picsof PT 221 with names and let me know what you think.
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