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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
PT BOAT BASE CHAPELS AND CHURCHES
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Hello everyone-
I plan on building a scale model of one of the base chapels in the South Pacific on a PT Boat base in 1/32 scale as an addition to my Tulagi diorama.
I have a few questions that I would like to ask some of our PT veterans especially and try to pick their memories if I can.
After a few long searches on the internet I have found several images of chapels situated on PT bases throughout the Pacific. I was also given a beautiful shot of a chapel by a local friend who's Dad served in the South Pacific.
#1- Does anyone have knowledge of a base chapel on Tulagi? Does anyone have or know if there is a photograph of the structure/chapel?
#2- This is important to me as a scale modeler folks! Did any of these chapels have a dirt floor or o wooden planked flooring?
I plan to make this chapel the same way I made my Tulagi sick bay with a removable thatched roof so that the interior of the chapel can be viewed. This leads me to my next and final question!
#3 - Does anyone have an image of a south Pacific chapel, church or similar structue from the interior view showing position of the benches/pews, alter, pulpit and so on.
I'm counting on you guys out there! You have NEVER let me down! A verbal report would do also. Hey Earl, old buddy, any thoughts on this??
Any information on this subject would be blessing!
Thanks guys!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 8, 2008 - 2:05pm
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
HELLO FRANK THIS IS THE BEST I CAN IN REGARDS TO A CHAPEL AT SESAPI/TULAGI/
WHEN WE LEFT THE BOAT ON ENTERING SESAPI WE WENT DOWN THE METAL AIRPL;ANE TREDS TO A "SHACK" ON THE RIGHT HABND SIDE AT THE END OF THE TREDS.IT WAS A SHACK AS YOU CAN INMAGINE IT TO BE.THE ROOF WAS THATCHED.ON ENTERING IT WE SAW AMALL DESKS INSIDE.I GUESS THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT 8-10 OF THEM./ ON THE RIGHT AT THE FRONT THERE WAS A LAEGE STAND WITH A CHALKBOARD ATOP IT.IT ST5OOD ON THEY TYPE OF LEGS YOU SPREAD APART.THERE WAS WHITE CHALK IN THE SHELF AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOARD.I DO NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE INSIDE THE SHACK.I "THINK"THERE WAS A WOODEN FLOOR.WE WERE TAKEN THERE FOR INDOCTRINATION AND ALSO WERE ASKED TO MAKE OUT OUR LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENT AND DESIGNATE OUR BENIFICIARIES.I THINK IT WAS LT jg THAT SPOKE TO US.HE USED ONER OF THOSE LONG POINTERS TO POINT AT THE CHALKBOARD.FOR THE LIFE OF ME I DON,T KNOW WHY BIT HE HAD US SING IE DU SCHAME SNITZELBACK(AN OLD GERNMAB SONG).MAYBE IT WAS TO RELAX US?WEIRD.I THINK IT ALSO COULD HAVE BEEN USED A S AA SMALL CHAPEL.I DON,T KNOW OF ANY SPECIFIC CHAPEL THERE OTHER THAN THAT.AND I NEVER ATTENDED A SERVICE THERE.SORRY I COULDN,T HELP MUCH MORE THAN THIS.I DO NOT REMEMBER WE HAD ANY SERVICE AT ALL ON THE BOAT OR AT ANY OF THE BASES I WAS AT.I THINK THEY DID HAVE A CHAPEL AT NUMEA,NEW CALEDONIA AND MAYBE AT BOBON, SAMAR,PI. BE WELL AND KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORKS.THE GENERATIONS TO COME WON,T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT US AT ALL IF IT WERENM,T FOR SOMEONE LIKE YOU,. THANK YOU MY BEST EARL
earl richmond
Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Oct 8, 2008 - 5:49pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm
SORRY ABOUT THE SPELLING.MY EYES ARE GETTING WORSE NOW EARL
earl richmond
Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Oct 8, 2008 - 7:11pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm
Hi Earl.
I was sorry to read that your eyesight was not so good.
I would far rather read stuff from you with poor spelling than not have you write any thing.
Can you read this board okay? Would it be better if we wote in *UPPER CASE LETTERS LIKE THIS?
I really, and I mean I *REALLY* appreciate the input the PT boat veterans make here. I like to model military subjects but I like to display them with a life like they experienced in use.
Cheers from PeterTareBuilder
"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"
Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: Oct 8, 2008 - 9:06pm
Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm
Some photos from my grandfather's collection:
Bobon dwelling (PI):
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/176.jpg[/IMaGe]
Base 17 Chapel, Samar PI:
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/188.jpg[/IMaGe]
For the detailed modeler; the inside of the chapel:
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/189.jpg[/IMaGe]
And lastly, the place that the Lord's name was possibly used the most; the beer hall (Mindoro advance base):
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/145.jpg[/IMaGe]
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Oct 8, 2008 - 10:47pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hi Frank,
Heres one of the church on Base 6.
[image]http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll183/aust_yank/churchptbase6.jpg[/image]
Cheers Mate
Michael
Posted By: Michael | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 12:27am
Total Posts: 218 | Joined: Aug 6, 2007 - 7:25pm
WOW!!!!!!! After viewing the replies from Earl, Pete. Newsnerd and Michael all I can say is WOW!!!
One of the photos that newsnerd posted is one of the same shots that was given to me by a local PT boat historian here in Jacksonville. The photo that I have does not show the very long side detail of the walls like the one posted here. This is the one that I am going to tackle! I was worried that I'd never find the interior shot of a chapel, but you guys did it again!
I have a lot of work to do now that I have the documentation that I needed and received almost overnight!
Thanks guys! This board is the greatest!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 4:59am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Hey newsnerd that shot of the beer hall is a winner too! I just might tackle that as well!
Thanks again!
Frank Ryczek
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 5:02am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
[IMAGE]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Gary%20Szot/Base6-1.jpg[/IMAGE]
Posted By: Gary Szot | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 5:46am
Total Posts: 193 | Joined: Feb 12, 2007 - 1:00pm
Happy to help Frank! If you need a zoomable hi-rez copy of either, give me your email address and I'll send it along. Make sure there's room in your account!
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 6:45am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Here's some more...
Mindoro chapel:
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/177.jpg[/IMaGe]
Some other slice of life photos from Samar (Base 17)...
The "Bobon Bowl" - the movie theater:
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/193.jpg[/IMaGe]
And the enlisted men's beer hall...and it's packed! If you zoom in real close the sign reads "Any Men Breaking Beer Bottles Will Lose (two unreadable words)"
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/191.jpg[/IMaGe]
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 6:59am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Ahoy there newsnerd-
Hey buddy, just a quick question here! I intend to build the chapel at Samar now that I have an idea as to just how long the structure was. The image I had for years that I received from a friend of the Samar chapel was from almost head on and not at the angle of your Granddad's.
Would you just happen to know from your Grandfathers accounts or otherwise if the interior image is in fact the interior of the chapel at Samar Base? The more I look at it the more impressed I am with building it in scale. I love the chalange!
Any additional info on these two images would be most helpful to this project, my friend!
Thanks ever so much for posting them for me!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Friend/Modeler RON-10 PT-169 "ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 7:41am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
HI PETER TARE THANKS FOR THE CONCERN.YES, I CAN READ THE PRESENT BOARD OK.HAD A STROKE LAST YEAR THE PUT MY EYES OUT OF FOCUS AND THEN HAVE DRY MACULAR DEGENERATION.ON TOP OF THAT.JUST HAVE TO SLOW THE READING AND TYPING DOWN A LOT TO CONCENTRATE. JUST TURNED 83 AND GUESS AGE IS CATCHING UP ON ME. EARL
earl richmond
Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 8:37am
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm
Earl...we're just glad you're here and share with all of us! We appreciate hearing about things from a first-hand source.
Frank - I don't know for sure, however the two photos were next to each other in the album and had the shared caption of Base 17, Samar, PI. Also, the open sides of the building seem the same in the photos, as does the height of the ceiling. The photos appear to be from the same camera and are printed on the same paper...so the chances are high that they are from the same sequence.
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 8:56am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hey Newsy-
Yes, I tend to agree with you on this investgation, newsnerd. (Hey can we possibly get on a first name basis here?) After close examination of the interior shot of the assumed chapel, the side curved openings seem to be very close to that of the exterior wall.
Of course I have misplaced the photo that my buddy gave me, but once I get my hands on it again I will send you a copy of it. The neat thing about the picture is that it has a slight bluish tint to it.
I wish I had your nack for keeping things organized, newsy! I've got PT stuff all over the place and I need to organize it one day, SOON!
Many thanks for posting the other shots of base chapels on this posting. I can bet my boots that it sure brings back a lot of memories for some of our veterans and their famalies as well.
I tend to wonder if the base chaplins could pack the chapels like they did the beer halls? Very neat stuff!
Thanks for sharing, buddy!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 11:25am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
Frank: I don't recall a chapel at Tulagi. I am sure there was one there later on but I never attended.
At Rendova the chapel was a small quonset hut. It had wooden benches with backs - a lectern up front for the chaplain. It was pretty rough furniture - am sure this was all made by the base carpenters. The quonset had a wooden floor. I attended there several times in January and February 1944. Our boat was there while 1/2 of the crew went to New Zealand on R and R. We drew names and my name was one of the unlucky ones that stayed with the boat - scraped, sanded and repainted the bottom and mounted two twin 50's on deck in front of the charthouse. We were promised a trip later but it never worked out
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 12:08pm
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
Gary,my photo of church on Base 6,looks suspiciously like yours of Base 16.Must be wrong label on mine.Unless they are exactly the same(which i doubt).
Anyway thanks for clearing that up for my records.
Cheers
Michael
Posted By: Michael | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 12:54pm
Total Posts: 218 | Joined: Aug 6, 2007 - 7:25pm
Hey newsy-
I went on a rampage and I found the old photo of the Samar chapel from a different angle. I went leafing through some old printouts from the message board that I am saving as refference material and whoop, there it was!
Sorry guys, I don't have a scanner, but I'll send the picture to newsnerd and perhaps he can post it shortly with the other view of the Samar chapel for every one to see!
On my shot the side wall openings are almost invisable and blend into background. But it's still a terrific shot!
Newsnerd, I will be e-mailing you!
To everyone who responded to my original posting, a big thank you to all! I knew you guys would pool together on this posting and I really appriciate all your help, advise and encouragement.
But I do have another interesting question I want to throw into the ring! In the shot I have of the chapel on Samar there is what seems to be an telephone pole with wires strung. Just a thought here but was the chapel lit by base generators or by candle light. Yeh guys, I know it's a grass thatched structure and one slip of a candle and POOF!! Any discussion on this???
I would love to add votive candles by way of fiber optic lighting as well as the main alter candles. There is also the large hanging lightsourse shown in newsnerds image of the interior. It has to be electified, right? Candle flame would be a no-go so close to the thatched roof! What do you guys think about this? Please give me your thoughts!!!
Once again thanks to everyones reply!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON -10 PT -169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 3:20pm
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
This is a photo from Earl Richmond's collection that may illustrate the building Earl is mentioning as his Tulagi Chapel post. My father mentioned that all his personal items had to be stored in another Tulagi building. After he was wounded and returned stateside his personal items miraclously appeared where he was recuperating at the Great Lake Naval Training Center hospital.
[image]http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/Chapel-Tulagi.jpg[/image]
natsmith
Posted By: Nathaniel Smith | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 4:28pm
Total Posts: 211 | Joined: Jan 19, 2008 - 6:55am
Those "forward-area" chapels kind of remind me of the little churches my family and I went to on Sundays when we vacationed down South when I was a kid (we'd be six of about a dozen people attending mass in a tiny Catholic church -- not too many of those in the "Bible Belt" back in those days).
They didn't have thatched-grass roofs, though!
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 6:19pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Found some of Quonset Type at Base 4 Kana Kopa.
Sorry about the picture quality,but you can sort of get the idea.
[image]http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll183/aust_yank/Picture001.jpg[/image]
Michael
Posted By: Michael | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 6:34pm
Total Posts: 218 | Joined: Aug 6, 2007 - 7:25pm
[IMaGe]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Gary%20Szot/Chapel.jpg[/IMaGe]
Here's another shot of the chapel at Base 16
Puerto Isabela
Posted By: Gary Szot | Posted on: Oct 9, 2008 - 8:32pm
Total Posts: 193 | Joined: Feb 12, 2007 - 1:00pm
Hello Gary and Micheal-
Thanks guys for going the extra mile and posting the shots of various chapels on the bases in the South Pacific.
The chapel on base 16 has some really nice detail to it that would look fantastic as a model. I'm going to be converting the pictures to a rough size just ti see what diamentions the real structure would be then convert that size to 3/8 of an inch to one foot or 1/32 scale.
Michael the picture that had that you thought was Ron 6 is most likely Ron 16 as Gary had posted. All in all its amazing stuff.
Scale models are actually history in miniature! Thanks for everything fellas! You have been a big help to me.
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT -169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 10, 2008 - 6:27am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
Frank - I send you an email - I'd be happy to help.
This image came to me from a gentleman named John, who you might remember shared some photos of PT Bases being built by SeaBees a couple of months ago. Thanks John!
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/6thSpec_Const_Batt_chapelservices.jpg[/IMaGe]
No location known - but a representative example of a South Pacific chapel in late WWII.
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Oct 11, 2008 - 9:37am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Guys - The "CB" Chapel photo was on Samar! I checked with a few shipmates of my fathers.
JOHN
Posted By: Thurman | Posted on: Oct 11, 2008 - 11:10am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hello John-
Thanks for the heads up information on Jim's shot of the CB chapel on Samar.
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 11, 2008 - 4:12pm
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
OK Frank - got your photo in the mail! Here it is:
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/samarchapel.jpg[/IMaGe]
And my grandfathers (again):
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/188.jpg[/IMaGe]
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 - 4:22pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hello Jim-
Many thanks again for posting my shot of the chapel on Samar with the one your Grandfather took.
The image that your Grandfathers is much cleaner than mine, Jim, but they both offer different views of the same structure.
Thanks for the side by side photos, Jim.
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT - 169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 - 5:54pm
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
It's kinda funny to see a "shaggy" church. Did you want a high resolution copy emailed to you Frank so you can zoom in for detail? Just make sure there is room in your inbox...
- Jim
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Oct 23, 2008 - 1:09am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hi Ya Jim-
I think I'm good to go with you Granddad's shot of the Samar chapel and the one of mine as well.
The detail is superbe on your Grandfather's, as now I am able to see the arched sections on the side wall running from front to rear of the structure. I couldn't see that in my image.
With the seven arched sections with an average length of each section of say 8 feet I'm thinking that the chapel is around 56 feet in length OAL. That's around 2 feet long in 1/32 scale!
Thanks for the postings Jim! I'll tap your shoulder when the chapel model is finished!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Oct 23, 2008 - 11:27am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm