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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
PT 214 and PT 539
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My grandfather Bill Olson commanded both PT 214 and PT 539. I am looking for any information about these boats.
Posted By: gwolson | Posted on: Jan 16, 2009 - 12:25pm
Total Posts: 15 | Joined: Jan 16, 2009 - 12:22pm
Welcome to the boards! There are several people on here who might be able to help you and your search. Have you been to PistolPackinMama.net? I set the site up in tribute to my grandfather, who was in the same squadron as your grandfather. Go check out the site - it's mostly on Ron15 stuff. There are plenty of pictures and a map of places the 214 was.
A brief seach of my computer found these photos - I don't know where it's from though (somewhere either here on the boards or on the web). Based on the boat layout, it's between May of 1943 and May of 1944 in the Med:
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/pt214.jpg[/IMaGe]
This photo is from the Nugent family collection; Hal was one of the skipper's of PT 210 (his son Steve contributes here on the boards) This appears to be at Bizerte (North Africa) in the same time period:
[IMaGe]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/newsnerd99/Ron-15pt214.jpg[/IMaGe]
I might have more but this is all I could find on a quick sweep. Do you have any photos or information you can share? It'll help narrow a search for information. Dates of service, length of time on the 214, etc. would help (I don't think a single PT in Ron 15 had the same skipper all the way though their time in the Med.) Thanks!
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Jan 16, 2009 - 5:38pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Her are some RON 15 photos, I hope you enjoy.
Frank
Ron15 boats at Bizerte
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/PTBI-ron15boatsatBizerte.jpg[/image]
Ron 15 boats at Palermo
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/PTBI-ron15boatsatPalermo.jpg[/image]
Ron 15 boats at Sardinia
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/PTBI-ron15boatsatSardinia001.jpg[/image]
Ron 15 boats at Sardinia
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/PTBI-ron15boatsatSardinia002.jpg[/image]
Ron 15 boats in Med
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/PTBI-ron15boatsinMed.jpg[/image]
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 17, 2009 - 11:20am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Thanks for the information and pictures. I have already received copies of my grandfather's records from NARA and according to those files he reported to Squadron 15 on January 15, 1943 and detached on January 22, 1944. According to his fitness reports his primary duty was as Captain of PT 214 as well as the Welfare and Recreation officer of the squadron from Commissioning and fitting out of MTB Ron 15 through the offensive operations against Sicily and Italy. I am currently attempting to get copies of all official records and logs concerning MTB Ron 15 during this time period.
Posted By: gwolson | Posted on: Jan 17, 2009 - 2:23pm
Total Posts: 15 | Joined: Jan 16, 2009 - 12:22pm
You should be looking for the Ron 15 War Diary, the action reports filed between the dates that he was in the squadron and if your really lucky - the deck log from the 214.
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Jan 17, 2009 - 5:05pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Gwolson
Have you seen these photos. I will look and see what I have bu I think everything I have is all around the boat. I know I have 213,216,217, and others. Will check for you.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 19, 2009 - 6:08am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
gwolson,
I don't have a lot of info on your Grandfather, but I believe he went to the Med on the 204, as Captain. It wasn't until around June 1943, that he became Skipper of the 214. Somewhere in that May/June time frame, the six boats from Ron 16 ( 213 through 218 ) were joined up with Ron 15, and there were a number of changes made according to Navy policy of the day. ( My father went to the Med on the 218 as Captain, and when it was discovered that all original Ron 15 officers outranked him, was made XO of the 216 ).
Gene Clifford became Captain of the 204, probably the same time your Grandfather took over the 214.
If you have any info or pictures, we love it all.
Steve Nugent
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Jan 20, 2009 - 6:07pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am