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Topic: Crew of PT 154 |
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Pat Rogers
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Apr 17, 2008 - 3:05am
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I am looking at the picture where the entire crew (at that time) are assembled on the deck of PT154. I believe this picture was taken somewhere up the river or creek in Tulagi Bay sometime in the Spring of 1943, shortly after part of Ron 9 arrived in the Solomon Islands:
Top: John McLauglin, Ensign or JG, Exec.,came from Boston, MA area
Al Vachlon, Coxswain, Chicago, IL
Hammond Smith, Ensign or JG, CO, New England area
2nd: Arnold Beckett, TM, Craig, CO
B.B. Melton, MoMM, Charleston, WV
Al Walters, S1c, Danbury or Darien, CT
3rd Arthur Schwerdt, QM, Hollis, NY or thereabouts
Pat Rogers, RM, NYC, NY
Al Bates, MoMM, Turtle Creek, PA
Bottom: Bill Nicholson, MoMM, Los Angeles, CA area
Now I am curious as to what will happen next. I will take up the second picture after I see what happens to this one.
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Pat Rogers
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Apr 17, 2008 - 3:57am
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I can be reached at patm1234@yahoo.com.
I was not harmed when PT154 was hit by mortar fire when we were patrolling off of what I believe to be Bougainville, p/o Solomon group on Nov. 13th, 1943. I was part of the group who were off watch and away from the section that was hit.
As a result of the action, three men were killed - McLaughlin, Schwerdt and Beckett were killed and several were injured. I thought it was three, your father, Vachlon and Walters, but I saw later reports that indicated up to 7.
I was sent along with PT154 when it was sent down to Tulagi for repairs and returned with it to Treasure Island. I continued to serve on PT154 when it was later sent to Green Island with an all new crew. The remaining original crew members had been sent back to the States earlier at different times. In June 1943, I was given my orders that allowed me a 30 day leave in the States and instructions to report to Melville, RI for further assignment.
That's the short story.
In this second picture that you sent, I can identify all but the person on the far right. It appears to be one that was taken on a training cruise somewhere around the Solomon Islands. The people are as follows:
Hallie Skiles, GM, Southern IL, a recent addition to the crew
Arthur Schwerdt, QM
Your father at the wheel
John McLaughlin standing on top of the day room
Arnold Beckett standing by the antenna.
The image of the guy sitting on the torpedo tube appears to be slightly distorted but if I had to guess I would say that it is Lt. Cmdr. Robert Bolling Kelly, a name that I well remember. He was the Commanding Officer of MTB Ron 9. He is remembered for being with Lt. John Bulkeley when General McArthur was safely escorted away from the Philippines. Mr. Kelly liked to accompany the various boats on their training cruises and raise hell with every body.
Trust this is what you wanted to know.
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Pat Rogers
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Apr 17, 2008 - 7:11am
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Who can tell me what the meaning is of each of the icons that is the top of the post section?
I have tried the one on the far right and the one on the far left. So far as I can tell, the messages still seem to get out.
Pat Rogers, RM, PT154, Ron 9
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Dick
Moderator
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 Posted on: Apr 17, 2008 - 7:49am
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PAT . . .
See the bottom of the page (Posting), at the left of center the icons are shown with their explanations.
Dick . . .
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Pat Rogers
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Apr 17, 2008 - 11:20am
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You guys are getting real technical with some of your questions.
Yes, we did get radar after we got out to the SOPAC but I don't remember when it was installed. I think it was called an SO radar. I do recall trying to convince other people that it was a true representation but some people were not that technically advanced, I was not either in some respects but I was willing to go along.
I would like to say that the tech reps who installed the equipment did their very best to educate us ignorant characters. In my case, I didn't even know how to turn on the equipment when we first had it installed.
I want to thank everone for their interest in what I have had to say.
Pat Rogers
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Nathaniel Smith
MASTER
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Posted on: Apr 17, 2008 - 12:46pm
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Pat,
Your memory is incredible. I am glad you were not injured that night. I am sorry to hear about Al Beckett. This information I did not know.
I will post the citation later. It refers to an incident in August 1943 when the boat was escorting troop boats and it diverted enemy attacks away from the convoy to the PT's.
I also found a picture of Robert Kelly and John Bulkeley together that I'll post later.
My dad was not aware that the boat lived to fight again. I have a Navy Department memo that says he boat sank in the November attack. Of course false.
Nat
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Nathaniel Smith
MASTER
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Posted on: Apr 19, 2008 - 4:58pm
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My father, Pat Rogers, and the rest of the crew of PT-154 (and I assume the crew from PT-157) earned a citation for what was described in At Close Quarters page 130-131.
Pat ... where were you based at this time? I had assumed Lever Harbor based on the citation but your great memory may set me straight again.
17. BARGE HUNTING
Boat captains learned to lie to when planes were overhead so that the white wakes of the PT’s would not reveal them to aircraft. Lt. (jg.) William F Liebenow, Jr., USNR, in PT 157, and Lt. (jg.) Hamlin D. Smith, USNR, in PT 154, demonstrated the corollary of this doctrine on the night of August 15/16, when they escorted the Apc 25 and LCT’s 325 and 327 from Lever Harbor to Enogai Inlet. Twice planes came over to strafe and bomb. Each time the PT’s created a diversion by zigzagging at high speed, laying puffs of smoke and leading the planes away from their convoy. Except for the wounding of two men of LCT 325 by shell fragments, the convoy suffered no damage.
(At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy, Captain Robert J. Bulkley, Jr. USNR (retired), page 130-131)
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Pat Rogers
Advanced Member
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Posted on: May 7, 2008 - 1:04am
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| To Dave Waples: In regard to the picture, I had a thought that you might want to know about the device tyhat is mounted on top of the chartroom. It is possible that it was some type of calibration device for the torpedo sight that has been installed in the cockpit. That is what is in front of Arthur Schwerdt, the man standing on top of the dayroom. It is when I noticed the torpedo sight in the picture that gave mee the idea. |
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David Waples
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 8, 2008 - 5:26am
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Thanks for the observation Pat. Each boat had a personality of its own. I'm really enjoying the photos, putting names to the faces, and the stories that go along with them. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.
Dave
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Nathaniel Smith
MASTER
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Posted on: May 8, 2008 - 4:32pm
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Thanks for your posts. Is this Hallie? It has that torpedo site you mentioned in another post. It has that funnel others were interested in (this time turned around backwards). Any clue when/where is was taken? It sure looks like tar paper nailed down in front of the helm.
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