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Topic: Rendova Harbor |
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Drew Cook
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Posted on: Jul 27, 2016 - 7:36pm
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To the point of C.J.'s recollections -- he was there, of course -- and the photo posted by Jerry, I think the portable drydocks and maybe a maintenance area were in the cove on Bau Island. Maybe the base had been moved there by 1944, but I've read many times in numerous sources the "PT base" was on Lumbari (sometimes spelled "Lumberi").
Here's several descriptions from Robert J. Donovan's seminal "PT 109 - John F. Kennedy in World War II" of the base in the summer of 1943:
"The harbor was a wilderness until the Navy moved in and set up various installations. At the southeast end the Navy built its main base on Rendova proper. At the opposite end, toward Munda, was the PT base on Lumberi, a five-hundred-yard-long, kidney-shaped island with a dense crown of palms. Across a narrow channel from it lies Bau Island, which was used as a subsidiary PT headquarters."
"A narrow sandy beach curves around the eastern tip of Lumberi and there...a small jetty had been built for unloading cargo. Visible from the water was a conspicuous sign: TODD CITY...Todd City was the name by which Lumberi Island was best known to the sailors who operated out of the base."
Finally: "At Rendova, the PT boats, now numbering between fifteen and twenty, were moored in 'nests' of three to a buoy, with the buoys scattered about the harbor in the vicinity of Lumberi."
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CJ Willis
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Posted on: Jul 28, 2016 - 12:03pm
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Drew: Page 138 in "At Close Quarters" states that the Base was moved from Lumbari Island to Bau Island in January 1944. All I know is that it was on Bau Island in Feb. 1944. We tied up to buoys out in the bay.
We were at Lumbari for over night in Nov. 43. We could see bombs dropped on the airport at Munda across the bay that night but none were dropped on the P.T. Base..
C. J. Willis |
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Drew Cook
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Posted on: Jul 28, 2016 - 3:18pm
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I got my copy of "At Close Quarters" out, and found what C.J. mentioned about the move of the Rendova PT base from Lumbari to Bau, at the beginning of 1944, in the middle of page 138.
Thanks, C.J., and take care of yourself!
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Drew Cook
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Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 8:49am
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Here is an illustrated image of Rendova:
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Jeff D
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 Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 10:48am
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Nice Drew, and thanks for the stories C.J.. I now want to see a model with some shredding panties on the mast.  
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Nuge210
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Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 11:01am
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Thanks Drew !
C.J., do you have panties flying on your 243 model ?
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Nuge210
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Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 11:06am
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Oops,
Sorry CJ, I meant the 242 boat
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CJ Willis
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Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 12:09pm
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Steve: No I don't have panties on my 242 model. I don't think they would be near as popular here in the States as they were over there in the Islands at that time. They attracted lots of attention from all the boats when would go into the dock.
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Will Day
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Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 2:11pm
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I'LL BET THEY DID!
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TED WALTHER |
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Posted on: Jul 30, 2016 - 1:23pm
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C.J.
Your just a Dirty Boat Guy(DBG that's what we call ourselves today) just like me!!!
Seriously, are you kidding?
In 1991, our 65' MK lll PB sailed merrily into Pensacola with several panties flying on the mast opposite the national ensign! Needless to say it was not too popular with the Navy Port OPS Officer, so he jumped in his vehicle and met us when we tied up. Standing on the pier fuming and all red in the face, we were about 50 yards from the pier and he yelled "What the hell do you guys think your doing, flying those panties from the mast"? We yelled back "Trophies Sir"! When we moored, he stormed aboard, " Request permission to come aboard, who the hell is in charge"? We snapped to attention and said "Uhh, Master Chief Steffey Sir, he is below in his cabin". " the LTjg was really pissed now, OMG! we moored the boat with no senior supervision, little did he know, we were so trained this was SOP. "Well get his ass up here, NOW"! MC Steffey came up into the pilot house, in nothing but a pair of UDT shorts and flip flops, already clued in to the situation, by the crew in the pilothouse. He yelled, "What stinks on my boat"! "Don't know Master Chief"! some crewman said out loud. Master Chief looked around as if to "miss" the LTjg, "I smell a junior officer heading for trouble". Then he snapped to attention, "Oh, Good Morning Sir, can I help you"? WHO ARE YOU? "Master Chief Steffey, SBU 24 CMC".
Well is this your "underway" uniform? Yes Sir, but I was below putting on my khakis, Well please go below and get them on Master Chief! With that he went below, coming up shortly, wearing freshly pressed Khakis 6 rows of multiply awarded ribbons, with jump wings below and the SEAL Budweiser above. When the LTjg saw all of this, he magically lost his steam. He started "Master Chief the Admiral saw your boat come in from his office window, through his binoculars, and then blew up my phone, sending me down here to find out who is flying so many panties from a US NAVY vessel, coming into his port". "Well the boys were just being boys, Sir, they over stepped their bounds a little". The LTjg seemed to understand, but, discovered he was the middle man here.
"Well the Admiral is REALLY pissed, he is out for blood"!! Master Chief leaned into the LTjg, "Well, LT, if I was the Admiral, I would be pissed too, especially when I found out the third pair of panties on the flag are actually his daughters panties"! The LTjg went white as a sheet! "Your joking right Master Chief"? totally straight faced Master Chief said "I wish I was, Sir"
With that the LTjg looked destroyed, so Master Chief said, "Look Sir, let us refuel and we will be out of here". He stalled for us, and out to sea we went, all having a good laugh and an awesome life long sea story. I wonder if that guy ever made LT?
Panties are a Pirate/DBG thing, but we didn't do that again.....until on the way back home and we pulled into West Palm Beach!!!
 
Thanks again CJ!
Take care,
TED
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