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Topic: Barge Hunting |
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jan 18, 2011 - 2:20pm
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Shane:
You mention the "black nights in the Solomons". You know, I made over 85 nightly patrols of Jap held islands during my 13 months in the Solomons and I can recall only 2-3 of those totally black nights. Usually your eyesight adjusts that even with no moon and cloud cover you are able to see pretty well even with binoculars. Those black nights usually occur during heavy clouds or rain storms. One dark night patroling we did have a crew member walk off the boat coming from the bow around the charthouse. Fortunately We heard him go into the drink and shined a light on him to see the ladder to climb out. He had on his life jacket.. Those black nights, it was impossible to patrol and we would just lay to and gang up around the cockpit and wait it out until daylight.
C. J. Willis |
Total Posts: 464 | Joined:
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Jan 18, 2011 - 4:46pm
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I would think those would have been the times of high tension among the Crew. Not seeing what is out there would certainly have my nerves on end. I hate to mention PT-109, but when I interviewed GERARD ZINSER, he had told me the exact thing you are saying C.J.. He had claimed it was so dark that you had trouble seeing your hand outstretched in front of you. In a hand written Letter I have from PT-169 Crewmember, who was also there that night, he claimed the same thing, of not being able to see the boat in front of you. That had to be a tough part of the job, just not seeing things...............
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