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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
PT 372 ‘the Miss Fortune'
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My uncle, Milton C. Vucinich was on the PT 372 ‘the Miss Fortune.’ His rank was Lieutenant (JG). I do not know his role on the boat maybe one step below captain? The captain was Donald A. Fortune, rom Fresno California. Both of them got the bronze star I would like find out as much a possible about the boats and its role in wwII. Where can I start my research?
Posted By: Steve Angelich | Posted on: Feb 13, 2009 - 4:17pm
Total Posts: 2 | Joined: Feb 13, 2009 - 4:12pm
Steve
Your uncle served with Ron 27 and was the Executive Officer on PT 372 with Skipper Don Fortune. They operated out of Treasury Island and patrolled Bougainville. Later they would move out to Palau where your uncle had an interesting experience.
They were on a daylight patrol at Palau and were operating with three Marine Corsair Pilots. On the way out, the Japanese caught them between the Beach and a lerge reef. They were hit several times in several places, but the Marine gave them great strafing support to help them out. Your uncle was in contact by UHF Radio with the Marine leader and thanked them for the help. The Marine leader turned out to be your uncle's teammate on the Stanford 1941 Rose Bowl team. Afer Palau your uncle would become Skipper of PT 357 and took it into the Philippines and operated around Corregidor, Bataan and Manila. His boat was instrumental in picking up paratroopers who missed The Rock on D-Day. After being relieved of command, your uncle was sent back to Rhode Island.
Married to Vera and had one son Jeff and a daughter Kristine. Went into the Insurance Brokerage Business after the War. Loved Golf and travel. He did get the Bronze Star for Valor with four Battle Stars. Hope this helps your search. Will get you mote on the boat's when I have time.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 13, 2009 - 5:24pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
I believe my Dad Edwin Paulsen was a motor mac on the 372. I remember he told me about getting on the boat on the east coast and was with her through the Panama Canal and then the south pacific. But he never really said much about what happened after that. Frank do you happen to know the date of the occurance you mentioned? Thanks, Gary
Posted By: Gary Paulsen | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 6:46am
Total Posts: 249 | Joined: Feb 14, 2009 - 6:31am
Gary
That would have been sometime between October through December of 1944, which is how long the Ron was in that area of operations.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 9:22am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Frank
Thank you for your response. I've been reading the message board for a long time and this was the first time I've ever seen anyone mention Ron 27 or the 372. Will look forward to see what you come up with for us in the future. Thanks again, Gary
Posted By: Gary Paulsen | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 9:35am
Total Posts: 249 | Joined: Feb 14, 2009 - 6:31am
Steve, Just remembered a history report on Ron 27 on the petertare.org webste. Was written by Frederick M Binder and tells some ofo the history of the squadron.
Gary
Posted By: Gary Paulsen | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 9:47am
Total Posts: 249 | Joined: Feb 14, 2009 - 6:31am
The strafing support indecent you referenced is the only story Milton ever mentioned. It was personal story, known by very few. How did you come this information. Were you in his squadron?
Steve Angelich
Posted By: Steve Angelich | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 11:38am
Total Posts: 2 | Joined: Feb 13, 2009 - 4:12pm
No, Iam only 52 years of age. The story was written by him, along with his photo in the Knights of the Sea Book, put out in 1982. It is what I refer to as my Bible when it comes to trying to find information on someone. I was lucky in that he did a Bio for the Book during that time. Hope the information was helpful, I will check my files for more..............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 2:28pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Gary & Steve
In retaking of Corregidor elements of the US Sixth Army Paratroopers were being dropped February 16, 1945. Some had overshot the Rock and were in danger of drowning. Ron 27 boats stood by and rescued up to 17 men. I believe several boats were there including PT 375 and PR 376.
I spoke with the XO of PT 376 back in 2005, Ray Shafer. He and another man paddled ashore in a rubber raft to pick up some of the men. He did not mention any other boats being involved with the rescue. They were under Japanese sniper fire. I do not have information about PT 372 being in the area, although it very well could have been. It is also possible that Milt was on one of the other boats during this mission. I will do some more digging.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 3:15pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Gary
Your Dad was in fact a Motro Mac 2/c, but served on PT 374. He is listed as a crewmember on the Ron 27 Roster.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 3:29pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Steve
Please contact me at mosquitofleet@comcast.net I just found a picture of your uncle on PT 372....................
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 3:41pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Frank thanks for setting Dad's boat number right. My memory isn't what it used to be.
Posted By: Gary Paulsen | Posted on: Feb 15, 2009 - 1:51am
Total Posts: 249 | Joined: Feb 14, 2009 - 6:31am
Frank, In you information to Gary, you said that the Ron patrolled Bougainville from Treasury in December 1944. I was in Ron 9 when we first went to Sterling in the Treasury Islandss. We patrolled Bougainville from October 1943. Are you sure it was 1944. I see no need to patrol that area in the late 1944's.
Am I missing something Wasn't Bougainville secure months before then. If I'm mistasken, please clue me in on the need to patrol in December 1944.
Russ
Posted By: Russell Pullano | Posted on: Feb 15, 2009 - 10:16am
Total Posts: 131 | Joined: Oct 23, 2006 - 7:31am
Russ
I said they patrolled the Palau area in the Marianas from October to December, 1944. It was shortly after that the Ron was transferrred to the Southwest Pacific area in the Philippines. I think during that time they were assigned to the Third Fleet, while in Palau. I know they started out at Treasury and Green sometime around August of 43 (I think).......
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 15, 2009 - 11:29am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Here is a Photo Clip from the PT Boater 1986 edition:
Frank
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/pt-372.jpg[/image]
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 16, 2009 - 8:37am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
I spoke to my Dad (Sebastian Donald Listro) today at lunch about Lt Vucinich. He knew both Fortune and Vucinich. Dad was the QMC on PT359 (Ray Shafers boat), which was in Ron 27. He remembered your uncle well and said that he was very much respected and liked amongst the enlisted men.
Dad will be 87 in June and is in great shape and we meet for lunch every week. He's still driving and maintains his independence.
Dick Listro
Posted By: Dick Listro | Posted on: Feb 19, 2009 - 12:21pm
Total Posts: 28 | Joined: Dec 5, 2006 - 12:43pm
Hello,
I am looking for any information on my father or his boat/crew. He was on PT 376. I believe he was a gunner's mate. His name is Stanley Krupa. Any help would be appreciated
Posted By: Noankor | Posted on: May 27, 2009 - 8:42am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
You can ask PT BOATS INC, this board is on their website - they've got files on the crews ...................
Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: May 27, 2009 - 10:55am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
This picture is in my dad;s photo album but I guessed it wasn't taken in the Pacific based on the clothing. (Edit - I now see that the picture was already posted.)
On a page with pictures of the Corregidor paratrooper assult his notes say that the RON 27 boats 358, 359, 360, 361, 373, 374 and 377 participated in picking up paratroopers. There's a picture of about 10 paratroopers standing on the deck of the 361.
In discussions I believe that he said that Ray Shaffer was the intelligence officer (or something similar) for RON 27. He went on to be Governor of Pennsylvania and my Dad stays in touch with him. They live about 50 miles apart.
[image]http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o102/prjm3/img245-55.jpg[/image]
Randy McConnell (Randall J. McConnell III)
Posted By: PRJM3 | Posted on: May 28, 2009 - 5:37pm
Total Posts: 95 | Joined: May 25, 2009 - 2:47pm