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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Alamo Scouts aboard PT-190
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=1093

This photo is a recent find from the personal photo album of Alamo Scout Lt. John McGowen, who spent a lot of time on PT boats in the waters around New Guinea and in the Philippines. This shot is of PT-190 PT-190 'Jack'O'Diamonds taken sometime between May-Aug 1944. Can anyone identify any of these men or know which missions the 190 boat conducted? Also, looking for any other PT crews who might have information on any missions they conducted with Alamo Scout teams.

Russ Blaise
Executive Director
Alamo Scouts Association
asa at alamoscouts dot org

Posted By: Russ Blaise | Posted on: Nov 25, 2008 - 7:03am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Thanks for posting, Russ.

A great shot of the 190's "Jack of Diamonds" card on the charthouse...

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Nov 25, 2008 - 1:52pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Russ: Ed Farley's book PT PATROL deals extensively with Ron 8 and 12 operations (Farley at one time was skipper of the 190).

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Nov 25, 2008 - 2:31pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Thanks guys... I found Ed Farley's book, "PT Patrol" online for $7.00. I probably should get it. Also, is Ed Farley or any of his crew still alive?

Russ Blaise
Executive Director
Alamo Scouts Association
asa at alamoscouts dot org

Posted By: Russ Blaise | Posted on: Nov 25, 2008 - 3:58pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Ed Farley was transferred to Ron 8 earlier in the year. During the time period May through August most of the original crew of the 190 was replaced with orders to return to the states. Farley would not have been the skipper, and you may be looking for two boat crews.

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Nov 25, 2008 - 6:26pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Russ,
Just received my new book, Silent Warriors. I will begin reading it today!

Ray

Posted By: Ray Wilbur | Posted on: Nov 28, 2008 - 7:12am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Ray,

Great that you are going to start reading, Silent Warriors. You'll get a good insight into the Alamo Scouts and how they operated. Enjoy the read...

Russ Blaise
Executive Director
Alamo Scouts Association
asa at alamoscouts dot org

Posted By: Russ Blaise | Posted on: Nov 28, 2008 - 7:56am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Great shot, Russ. Thanks for posting it. Interesting to note the position of 37mm gun. Seems most boats mounted a 20mm in that spot and carried their 37mm gun to the extreme bow.

ALEX

Posted By: Alex Johnson | Posted on: Dec 1, 2008 - 5:46am
Total Posts: 70 | Joined: Mar 2, 2007 - 12:07pm

The sailor in the far back. that is looking down is my uncle Joe H. Cope.

Posted By: Kenneth Morris | Posted on: Oct 5, 2009 - 4:25pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Kenneth,

Thanks for letting me know. Is by any chance your uncle still with us? If so is he up for an interview?

Russ Blaise
Executive Director
Alamo Scouts Association
asa at alamoscouts dot org

Posted By: Russ Blaise | Posted on: Oct 5, 2009 - 4:40pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Russ;
The crew you are looking for was skippered by LT.jg William N. Bannard USNR. on pg 249 of AT CLOSE QUARTERS it states that on June 12, 1944, PT 190 and PT 146 sank 3 barges on the north coast of Biak.
Hope this helps.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Oct 5, 2009 - 4:55pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thanks, Ted.

Actually I just found out a few months ago that PT-190 and PT-323 were used on the August 24th, 1944 mission that inserted my father's Alamo Scout team on Pegun Island. I received the deck logs from the USS El Paso and it listed the PT numbers.

Russ Blaise
Executive Director
Alamo Scouts Association
asa at alamoscouts dot org

Posted By: Russ Blaise | Posted on: Oct 5, 2009 - 5:32pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hello Russ,
Unfortunately my Uncle passed away in 2000. My family wishes to thank everyone for this site and especially for the photo, as this was unknown to us before. " Uncle Hughey" as he was known to us, never revealed much of his life aboard the PT boats. In fact, it was shortly before his death that he relayed the story of the actions of the PT 190 and 191 and the air attack at Arawa, and his part of jumping into in water to save the downed P-47 pilot. My family had no idea that this battle was famous, and was surprised to find the account of this battle in several books, and his name in those accounts, ( At Close Quarters. pages 217 to 219.) I hope with further research, I can find more information about his time aboard the PT boats, and any information would be greatly appreciated.

Posted By: Kenneth Morris | Posted on: Oct 6, 2009 - 11:25am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Kenneth: You can find a more detailed account of the December 27, 1943 battle in Hell on Keels, The Saga of MTB Squadron 12 . The book may still be available from PT Boats ship store which can be accessed from this site.

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Oct 6, 2009 - 6:41pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered