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 Author  Topic: George Doolittle
morrisrl

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Sep 11, 2008 - 10:07pm
Hi,

I am looking for anybody who might have information about my Uncle George. Family oral history says tat he was a PT boat skipper for several years in the Pacific, and that his boat was lost with all hands during the invasion of the Philippines. Uncle George was back in Grand Rapids, Michigan on leave at the time.

Where should I start looking in order to fill in the blanks?

Thanks in advance!!


Rodger Morris
rodger.morris @navy.mil



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newsnerd99

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Sep 12, 2008 - 7:43am
Welcome Rodger!

There are a couple of places to start:

- The "PT Boat Info" tab at the top of the page; there is a list of all the PT boats lost in action.

http://www.ptboats.org/20-06-05-boatdata-005.html

- Call HQ...see if they recognize the name and have any information.

- The National Archives...direct next of kin (if I remember correctly) can request a copy of the seperation papers (if I remember correctly.) That won't have a boat number, but should have a squadron or base information. That would help narrow it down for you!

For example - if the family tale is correct, the invasion of the Phillipines started 10/20/44; PT boats lost in the Pacific after that date include:

PT 320 (Ron 21); Destroyed by enemy aircraft (bombing) 11-05-1944
PT 323 (Ron 21); Destroyed by enemy aircraft (suicide attack) 12-10-1944

Those are just guess...other boats were lost in the area (or suffered damage) but probably not lost with all hands - most boats were grounded, or caught fire, etc. There are folks on here who might know specifics on the fate of the boats lost in action.

Of course, please don't think me rude, but family accounts often are close to the mark, but the details aren't always on the money. The National Archives or HQ would be able to help firm things up for you.

Lastly - there are great group of people here who have a lot of knowledge...with a little bit of info you might end up with pictures, crew info, etc.

Good luck!

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

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newsnerd99

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Sep 12, 2008 - 9:04am
Here you go:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

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29navy

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of 29navy  Posted on: Sep 14, 2008 - 7:09am
I can tell you that PT Boats has a George William Doolittle, Jr on their list of PT Boaters. Had him being in Rons 2, 3(2), 27 and in MTBRTU.

Don't know if its the same one or not.



Charlie

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Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Sep 14, 2008 - 8:32pm
I believe we are forgetting that PT300 in RON16 was sunk by a kamikaze attack off the coast of Mindoro on Dec 18 1944. I checked the crew roster and there was never any Doolittle on the crew of that boat either.
PT323 was skippered by Herb Stadtler when it was sunk by a kamikaze attack on Dec 11 1944 off of Leyte, and there was no Doolittle as the skipper of that boat either while it was in the Phillipines. Also, the 323 was not lost with all hands, only the two officers (CO and XO) were KIA, all of the enlisted survived the attack. One of our crewmembers of the PT658 was on the 323 boat when it was sunk.
Jerry PT658

Jerry Gilmartin

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newsnerd99

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Sep 15, 2008 - 8:09am
Rodger - hopefully this will narrow things down for you. Please let us know what you find! Good luck...

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

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