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Nathaniel Smith
MASTER
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Posted on: May 27, 2008 - 7:02pm
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I found this article in Time Magazine (internet archive) dated September 13, 1943. It is possible they are talking about PT-158 which on July 5, 1943 was grounded and scuttled off Munda, New Georgia.
How to Keep a Secret
Through the dark, night-hung waters off Rendova Island in the Solomons crept a sleek Navy PT boat, hoping for a crack at Japanese shipping. Suddenly shore batteries discovered the craft and opened up.
Bracketed, the PT weaved desperately to escape, then came to a grinding halt on the cruel edge of a coral reef which held the thin mahogany plywood hull like a bear trap. Jap fire was creeping closer. The youthful skipper ordered men to destroy secret devices and papers, gave the word to abandon ship. One enlisted man was killed on deck; the others swam through shark-infested waters to safety aboard another U.S. vessel.
Dawn, and a check-up of the rescued, brought bad news. The man killed aboard the PT had been assigned to go below and get one device of great importance; had he been able to dispose of it? It was not a matter for guesswork; capture of the equipment would give the enemy a priceless advantage in Pacific operations.
Stripping off his uniform, a young officer swam to the boat and hauled himself over the gunwale, dropping to cover as Jap shells whistled around him. The dead sailor was stretched out on deck, the secret device still clutched in his hand. The officer pried it loose, swam with it to deep water and let it sink out of sight.
In Washington, officers in PT corner of the Bureau of Ships glowed over this latest exploit of the expendables. They were unable to give the hero's name officially. Unofficially they had reason to believe he was Lieut. Commander Robert Kelly, one of the original members of Lieut. Commander John Duncan Bulkeley's squadron in the Philippines campaign.
How much of this is fact and what is fiction?
natsmith |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jun 3, 2008 - 4:06pm
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NAT;
HOW DID YOU MODIFY THE SQUADRON 9 LOGO TO REPRSENT PT 154? I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME FOR PT 48.
TAKE CARE
TED
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Nathaniel Smith
MASTER
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Posted on: Jun 3, 2008 - 5:32pm
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Ted
Is this what you had in mind?
I use Photoshop. I'd be glad to do this for you if you send me your ideas. Send me the base image and describe what you want and I'd be honored to set it up for you. The people on this message board are great. I made a quick mock-up to see what you think.
natsmith |
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Nathaniel Smith
MASTER
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Posted on: Jun 4, 2008 - 2:16pm
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Ted,
My 21 year old son is visiting from college and he had to tell me that I know nothing about photoshop and insisted I learn the right way to make the logo. So after much quality father-son time I made the following for you. The new logo is Stuart approved.
Nat
new old original
natsmith |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jun 4, 2008 - 2:51pm
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Nat
I think you stumbled onto something here. I wonder if these can be made for production. Say a certain size, maybe 8 to 12 inches in diameter, or smaller. They would make great gift ideas, or for me, something that would be god for the Exhibit.........
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jun 4, 2008 - 4:03pm
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I read online the 153 and 158 went aground at the same place, but on different days..
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