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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
Preparations & Readiness of PT's
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I'm have some questions, not regarding PT's underway on missions this time, but instead, I am interested in knowing some of the 'behind the scenes preparations', that must have been ongoing 24/7.
After missions, was there a certain timetable for getting PT's ready to go out again? I know in the early days at Tulagi there was a lack of parts and of course that would be a big challenge.
Were there specific responsibilities for the crew to take care of before they were free to leave their boats? Was there a procedure followed each time? For instance, what had to be secured - and what had to leave the boat?
Did base personnel do most of this work, or did the crewmen also take part? (cleaning bilges, scraping, painting, other duties when in drydock, etc)?
When were torpedoes taken on and 20mm & 50mm guns loaded?
When was the PT filled with the 100 octane gas? How did they do it? I heard that it had to be strained in some way due to potential for contamination.
How early did the crew have to go over the charts to get as familiar as they could with where their mission would take them? Were the charts reliable? I always wonder, because many of the PT's especially early in Tulagi ran aground on reefs (possibly uncharted)?
Did any of you spend the nights on your boat? Could you pick up 'clear channel radio' stations at night on the PT's TCS radio?
I think that is enough for now. Looking forward to hearing your replies.
If anything else comes to mind, feel free to let us all know.
By the way, CJ - I heard that you live in Stillwater, OK - that is where my youngest son attends school at OSU.
Randy Finfrock
Posted By: Randy Finfrock | Posted on: Feb 13, 2009 - 9:47pm
Total Posts: 97 | Joined: Nov 27, 2006 - 6:21pm
Randy
I spoke with GM/1c Wallace McNesih who served on PT 374. He said "After a typical patrol, we would head in and tie up the boat. Normally, this would be just as daylight was approaching. The Skipper would secure the boat and both he and the XO would head over to the CO's Office to report any actions we may have encountered". Typically, the gunners mates would begin stripping the guns, taking them apart to fix any problems, greese all mechanisim's and replace any ammo that had gotten exposed to the salt water. The Motor Macs on the boat would work non stop to see to it that all thre engines were in perfect working order, although he was not sure what services they performed.
As far as he can remember, the Quartermaster simply shut down equipment in the charthouse and went to sleep, same for the Torpedomen, unless of course we fired any fish. If we did, we would head over to the Tender or Torpedo Dump and the boys would send over whatever we needed. Sometimes we would work almost all day getting the guns ready for the next patrol. Afer that, I tried to grab some shuteye, setting up a small stretcher on the dayroom cabin. If it started to rain, the water would go under me. If it got too bad, I would slip below in my bunk.
I can remember on some days, it was so hot, we set up a tarp over the bow to work on the guns. Nothing is worse then trying to work on metal that has been heated up by the blazing sun. I kept a small barell on the stern, next to my toolbox that everyone thought were rags, but it was fresh water that I and my best friend on the boat Pete would use to wash up. That salt water used to rinse yourself off after washing up was aweful on your skin, so the fresh water was a big help.
The Skipper, Mr. Boyd and our XO would head to the operations shack in the late afternoon for briefing on the nights mission. They would head back to the boat, where they simply gave us a quick rundown on what to expect. One night we were almost ambushed by the Japanese, who had set up a trap for other boats. I remember one boat was hit and on fire, with some guys on fire and jumping into the water. I will never forget that. It was a mission that should have never ben tried.
Before shoving off in the late afternoon, around 5:30-6:00 pm, we would double check everything, ammo, guns, with the Skipper firing up the engines to make sure they were well warmed and ready to go. I liked to carry extra ammo wherever I could stow it. The Skipper used to say we had the heaviest boat in the PT Navy, but I would say "Ya Skip, but we will never run out of ammo in a fight". That semed to make him happy. We always called him Mr. Boyd or Skipper, and he was a good boat handler too. He never took crazy chances with the boat, but never backed away from a fight.
Once out in the open water, Cookie would break out the sandwhiches and coffee for the boys, and we would begin our patrol. I remember how dark it was on the water one night, just off the coast. Pete Scavino, who was on the 40MM, said he thought he saw something in the water. Darn if he was not right. It was a rubber raft, with two Japanese trying to sneak away from Corrigidor. We had almost bumped right into them. Several of the boys had grabbed rifles and Tommy Guns. When the two Japs stood up, we noticed one tried to smack a grenade against his leg. I later found out that this was how their grenades became armed and then they would throw them. All guns opened up on these two killing them instanly. We went thru the raft and found they had American Ciggaretts and matches'. One of the Japs could not have been more then 18. I kept his wallet for many many years after. He had pictures of his family in it. I had always wanted to return it, but never did, finally throwing it out in 1999.
I guess thats about all I can tell you Frank for now. If you need more, just give me a call. Iam sure this old brain can try and dig some other memories out for you.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 4:51am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
The GM must have been on the wrong boat. I had little QM duties to perform while at our base. I quickly learned to clean and assemble the twin 50's and a twin 30. With the GM's assistance it took only about one time through the procedure to learn. After several times the GM trusted me to adjust the head space. When the twin 30 was installed we had a problem with one gun which would not fire properly. I was able to find the problem and with the GM's advice I fixed the problem. Our radioman also cleaned some of the guns. He was assigned to a deck mounted twin 50.
Regarding my activity while underway, after a couple of instances when I was needed topside, I never slept while we were underway. I was responsible for navigation and visual recognition signals. When the radar was in use I relieved the radioman at times. Otherwise I tried to be around the cockpit and never sleep. I did this without any direction from the skipper.
Another member of the crew who needed help, especially while in base was the cook. We ate all meals on the boat for about the first seven months I was onboard. I am sure that I helped in the galley along with others, but I do not remember much about it.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 7:38am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
as cook on the 108 here is some of what i can remember.when we broke off our patrol station,about 6 am,i was still usually still standing watch.there was not much use in trying to clean the galley while underway back to base.if the seas were calm i attempted to try to get everything together in the galley.when we got back to base/buoy.i started cleaning up the galley from the night before.the i started breakfast chow.cleaned up agaibn, after that.sometimes the guys would go to the base galley to eat as the food was fixed differently there.they has more of a variety of food there qnd more quantity.after cleaning up again after breakfast i would start preperations for the afternoon and the next patrol.we went out almost every might.i wa would ckeck with the skipper./and/or ex offficer as to who might be going out with us on the next patro.i had to know if we were having passengers and how many.i would then start making up my food list so i couldd go to base supply and get it and bring it back tio the boat.my menu was made up with this list for the evening chow and the sandwiches i made for later in the night.just before going out on patrols we were musterred tiopside,told where we were going and what,maybe,to mexpect.this was about 4 pm,.i would then go below,to the galley, and start preparing dinner meal.when it was ready i would let the paassengers know and they would come down and eat along with the first part of the crew that was offf watch.we started eating when just getting underway for the patrol.the rest of the crew was fed and then i cleaned up the galley bast as i could.i had to make sure all cooking equipment was stowed properly so that it was secured.i made up night sandwiches and put on coffee.the men wwere able to open the topside hatch to come down into the galley at night as there was a small red light at top of the laddder just under the hatch that was on at night.this light wwas used at night as it was not vissibly sseen from shore.while on station no one came down into the galley.after i secured the galley from night chow i was then required to stand watch in either the forward or aft rwin fifty turret. on battle station my first assignment,if i was not on watch,was loaded on the stern 20mm.if i was on watch in a 50 cal turret i was required to stay there and use it,which i did one time./if i was not on watch while returning to base i would try and get some rest atop the dayroom sometimes we would take our carbines or 30 cal rifles and try to shoot at flying fish for practice.a c ook was not just for cooking.he had other duties also which required a lot of effort and mind boggling decisions.i also had to clean the galley,do my own painting,repairing and clean the galley bilge.in other words the cook had a lot more to do than cook.i and my cook buddy on another boat were always looking for tryingg to get a little something extra for the crew and officers.once he and i borrowed some crates from a barge that was loaded from a ship m in the harbor.it was guarrded by two marines buit we got around that by getting them interested in using a home made fishuing line and catching some fish wwhile my buddey loaded the small crates uinto the dinghy we uised.when we got baack to tthe boat we opened the cratesa and found chocolate malted/ chocolatescookies .we splot iot up betweenm us and gave it to the crew.another time we were nearong an austrailian korvette. i asked the skipper if we could approach it and try and get some food from it.he agreed and for all the cigarettes we had aboard we got frozen chicken/ lamb and liver.we started cookingg as soon as we got back to our buoy the crew turns and what a meal we had.all the crew pitched in and helped clean up everything afterwards.they did most of the cooking and i got a break.
earl richmond
Posted By: earl | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 9:01am
Total Posts: 197 | Joined: Oct 18, 2006 - 12:13pm
Randy: Our routine was to always have the boat ready for action as soon as possible after we got in from patrol. Ready to go back out again if need be. We would usually get back to base about 9:00am after leaving patrol station at daybreak. We would drop the Skipper off at the dock for the intelligence meeting. The Exec would then take the boat to the fuel dock to be refueled. Our squadron commander required all boats to full of gas when at the base. While waiting at the fuel dock, we gunners would clean our guns and ammunition belts and refill the ammunition cans if we had used any ammunition. We kept the guns loaded and ready for action at all times. However we kept covers on them after cleaning while at the base. After refueling we would return to our bouy and tie up - get the tarps put up on the bow and the midsection. We usually ate at the base chow hall so we would catch the chow boat for lunch - come back and hit the sack and get some sleep because you never knew when you had to go out two nights in a row which was really tough. The days we did not have to go on patrol the Exec had us cleaning the deck, crews quarters, bilges etc. We did most of the painting when we went into dry dock which wasn't very often. When in dry dock we scraped, sanded and repainted the bottom. Repainted the deck. We only repainted the sides one time. The base force only did repair work on the boat. They did none of the cleaning. The base torpedoman did help with the weekly and monthly maintenance of the fish. Our crew lived on the boat. The 13 months I was aboard I never slept anywhere but on the boat. Of course our routine varied at different bases but we were at Green Island longer than any other base.
Yes, Randy I live in Stillwater which is home of Oklahoma State University however I am a Jayhawk myself graduating in 1950.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 9:27am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
Randy : You ask about re fueling with 100 octane. At Vella La Vella we refueled from 55 gallon steel drums which were pumped with a small gasoline engine pump. At Treasury we refueled from a YOG barge and Green Island from a fuel dock located at the end of the runway at the air base. The fuel hoses were run into a large funnel placed in the tank entrance on the boat. Inside the funnell there was a chamois skin strainer which would trap all the sediment and any water from entering the boat tanks. However there were still some water and crap got into the boat tanks and ever so often we would go out to sea a pump them out to get rid of it.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 10:17am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
I was one man, on one boat, in one squadron. You should get varied replies to your questions, I suspect. Concerning the timetable to get the boat ready: Our policy was to have our boat ready to go as soon as possible. Our first duties after returning from a mission was to refuel, rearm, file reports etc. If we knew that we had a few days off, things were not so urgent but our skipper was proud of getting our boat listed as "ready". Our crew did all the work, painting, engine 100hour checks, gun repair, hull work and most everything else except major maintenance requiring hull repair. We had to schedule base help and it was next to impossible to get on the list. Replacing torpedoes took time but was an urgent task. Base crew helped here. Routine maintenance such as checking alcohol fuel and routine checks of running mechanics, painting, etc was done by our torpedoemen. We rearmed as quickly as possible. Even in port it was essential that the guns were working.50cal ammo was reloaded into ammo cans (we often had to make our own belts). 20mm ammo cannisters were reloaded but nor wound up. 40mm ammo clips were replaced. Refueling had to get in line. We were supposed to always carry a full 3000 gal and top off before we went on patrol. However we knew that 12 tons of fuel slowed the boat drastically and so we fueled with enough gas to be sure we wouldn't run out. As a QM, charts were my business. They were very poor, incomplete and innaccurate. Coral heads and sandbars plagued us, especially on those missions that required close to shore action. I ran our boat aground twice and I was considered a good navigator. All our crew slept aboard, we had no other way. Because it was so hot, everybody slept on deck except me, I slept on the chart table. Since our bout with Jap torpedoe bombers, we had no deck cabin or Day-room. We could often, but not always, get a radio station. We listened to Tokio Rose, she had good music and her analisis of the previous night's fights were amusing.
Posted By: BobPic | Posted on: Feb 14, 2009 - 10:47am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
My earlier reply here was mostly to question a comment that on one boat the QM never helped with cleaning the guns. I am interested in hearing if anyone else helped the GM. I realize that we now have a very small number of of men to respond.
I will continue with more complete description of a QM's activities when getting underway. When the skipper came aboard he gave me the patrol zone, flashing light recognition signals, and signal pistol recognition colors--three colors. I posted the recognition signals on a blackboard on the starboard side of the cockpit. The blackboard was covered with a canvas for protection from water. I loaded the cartridge and while underway I changed the cartridge to new colors which if my memory is correct was every four hours. I removed the needed chart from storage and plotted the course for the first leg or two. After the engines were started I turned on the IFF and the fluxgate compass. Later when the gyro was up to speed I uncaged it. When arriving back at base, I turned the IFF off and caged and turned off the fluxgate compass.
On a subject which was not one of my duties, upon arrival back at our base, our guns were unloaded. After the guns were cleaned we may have placed the amo. belts under the cover plates ready to load on the twin 50s and twin 30 with no round in the chamber. An unfortunate event occurred at Dreger that would not have happened if a gun had been unloaded. A 50 cal. round in the gun was discharged. It penetrated the hull of a tender, Portunis or LST 201, and killed one of the crew on the tender.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Feb 15, 2009 - 9:03am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
QM, in answer to your question of whether any other QM helped clean guns, I can verify that I helped regularly. Our skipper wanted to make sure all hands could function at any station regardless of rating. Even in action we rotated with other crew. We had a first GQ assignment and another assignment for backup. We went to backup organization several times for practice and twice due to necessity. The Skipper and exec rotated with us so no one complained. I doubt that the squadron commander knew of this or would have approved. I wrote in the rough log once that we had gone to backup and the Skipper asked me to remove the sentence.
Posted By: BobPic | Posted on: Feb 15, 2009 - 9:25am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
I agree mostly with QM. I too was a quartermaster and I didn't go to sleep when we returned from patrol. As QM said, I dissembled my twin 50's and cleaned them. Those guns were my battle station and I was responsible for their maintanance.
When the skipper went to report any activity from the patrol we used to hurry to fuel up, jockeying into position to beat the other boats. If needed, we took on water. We also had a 55 gallon drum on the deck for bathing. We were allowed one bucket for bathing (that was our own rules). We put a little water in the steel liner of our helmets, enough to soap up a washcloth. With this we washed. Then with the rest of the water we would rinse. The saltwater soap and washing with salt water was, to me, like getting dirtier and clammy..
After that we tidyed up the boat and tried to get to sleep. We patrolled two nights and had one night off. We didn't have much time for leaving the boat.
As far as cleaning the bilges, we did that, and even our officers would clean the bilges under their statesroom. As far as scraping the barnacles off the boat when in drydock, the crew did that and painted the boat. To answer the question about help from the base force, we had none. We took care of our own boat. I guess the base force had enough problems of their own/ That's what I remember from a long long time ago.
Posted By: Russell Pullano | Posted on: Feb 15, 2009 - 10:50am
Total Posts: 131 | Joined: Oct 23, 2006 - 7:31am
To All Quartermasters
I again spoke with Mr. McNeish today as some of you felt the QM did not simply go to sleep after sutting down in the Charthouse. I want to apologize as I made a mistake in my earlier post. I was going by memory and Mr. McNeish set me straight. The Quartermaster on the boat did in fact help with other routine chores. He had one of the 20MM to clean and service. What Mr. McNeish said was that he was one of the first ones to sack out, finishing his chores long before the other Gunner Mates were completed with their tasks at hand.
Again, sorry for the mix up. I guess I heard him wrong the first time. Glad I cleared that up before you guys tossed me overboard............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 15, 2009 - 11:21am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
On our boat the guys that fired the guns at G.Q. were responsible for cleaning them. Our QM did not fire a gun. He and the RM were in the charthouse at G.Q. We had two RM's on the boat - one fired the starboard twin fifty turret. I fired the port twin fifty turret. One of the Motor Macs fired the 37 bow gun. Torpedoman the 20 mm. GM and Motormac the 37 mm stern gun.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Feb 15, 2009 - 11:48am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
Thanks to all for taking your time to give us such detailed explanations, which are so vivid to me that I can almost sense being there.
I was in the USCG on 30' & 32' patrol boats and I enjoyed the sound of the engines. I just can't imagine being on a 77' or 80' PT with 3 Packards winding up and then going full throttle!
CJ, QM, Earl, Bob & Russell, I was wondering when each of you served in PT's? Would you fill in the blanks on the following questions?
What squadron(s) you served in?
What PT boat(s) you were assigned to - or those you went on patrol in?
The time frame of your service with each Ron and PT?
The bases you served from or were attached to?
Thanks once again - looking forward to hearing from you all.
Randy Finfrock
P.S. Frank, I don't think we'd throw you overboard, and guess we won't keel-haul you either, since you were so hasty to correct your minor error. Thanks for all you do to contribute and bring everybody together in so many different ways!
Posted By: Randy Finfrock | Posted on: Feb 15, 2009 - 4:32pm
Total Posts: 97 | Joined: Nov 27, 2006 - 6:21pm
Randy, I notice that you have been on this board from November, 2006. If you haven't already done so, there is a vast of information in past posts which you can review if you look at the lower right corner of the page that lists the last posts. I know you or I can't rmember every PT veteran's boat, but if you haven't been current on your viewing, you have missed a trememdous amount of PT history.
Nevertheless, I will give you the informatio that you asked for.
I was a quartermaster on the 162 boat in Ron 9 in the Solomon Islands and New Guineau from late September 1943 until October 1944..I went from Tulagi ,to Lever Harbor,Kolobangara (spelled incorrectly) to Sterling Island in the Treasury Islands , to New Zealand for R&R ,then rejoined my squadron at Green Island (only for one day),then Finchaven (spelled wrong) ,in New Guineau ,then to Mios Woendi until October, 1944 then home. Then 2 days at Melville, then to the Fargo building in Boston...
In March 1945 left SanFrancisco for Ormoc in the Phillipines, asigned to the 195 boat in Ron 12 in May 1945. From there to Leyte Gulf, to Samar .The war ended, we took our boat out in the bay to be burned. I waited my turn to go home on Leyte (based on points I accumulated). Spent my last Christmas there then on a ship for San Diego , to Lido Beach in New York. Got discharged, got my Ruptured Duck in January 1946 and on a train for the most enjoyable ride home.
Wow, I didn't think I would be this gabby. I hope I answered your request
Russ
Posted By: Russell Pullano | Posted on: Feb 15, 2009 - 7:59pm
Total Posts: 131 | Joined: Oct 23, 2006 - 7:31am
Thanks, all of you guys, for sharing your personal histories with the rest of us....
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Feb 16, 2009 - 12:06pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm
I should resurect a diary of where I was, when ,but never got around to it. I arrived at Tulagi sometime in mid '43. They said Tulagi and Guadalcanal were secure, but we had nightly air raids. I was assigned to Ron 10, PT167, the "Who me?" We hit most of the bases up the New Guinea coast, Biak, the Halmaheras and finally the Philippines (Samar). Green Island was in there early on. The 167 was the only boat I was assigned to, but some of us volunteered to patrol with other boats when we were not patroling ourselves. I quickly became skilled at navigation and skippers who were short handed or who had new QMs would ask if I wanted a joy-ride. I went on some 20 patrols as "guest" QM. I recorded 62 patrols, 38 of which we saw some kind of action and 7 times I was sure I would never get out alive. It was a long war. My skipper wanted to be free to do things and did not like to "drive the boat". So my GQ post was at the helm and throttles. My guardian angel worked overtime and is still on my shoulder.
Posted By: BobPic | Posted on: Feb 16, 2009 - 12:56pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Bob,....When I am goint ot say say that I can't believe that the skipper had you steer the boat t GQ, I don't mean that I do not believe you. I just can't digest the fact that an officer shunned his responsibility to his men by not handling the controls when confronting the enemy.
It reminds me of the only skipper I had who was the biggest phony that ever put on his country's uniform. I never once saw him at the wheel. At GQ our exec took charge of the helm. As a matter of fact the skipper never steered the boat even when we went to fuel, I can truthfully say that I never saw him at the wheel.
When I was in Ron 9 on the 162 boat for 13 months, I had a total of 9 officers, including third officers. Eight of them were the greatest officers anyone could ask for. This was common on PT boats, but this guy...Ugh.
Russ
Posted By: Russell Pullano | Posted on: Feb 16, 2009 - 6:44pm
Total Posts: 131 | Joined: Oct 23, 2006 - 7:31am
i got to numea,.new caledonia around non-dec,1943,assignerd there to pt boat service.moved from there thru guadalcanal,green island,sterling,rendova,emirau,,hollandia ,tulagi,samar,ormoc.served mostly on the base forces as cook.rons 3-5-7-9-11-12.was assigned to pt 108,as cook, at emirau around 1st of june,1943 and was sent home around end of november,for leave of 30 days with papers in my pocket to be re assigned to ron 12 in phillipines.served there till end of november 1945.went home on point system and was discharged dec 25,1945.nice xmas present.we patrolled mostly the new ireland areas on the 8 boat.we had a good boat and a good crew.and good officers.at emirau we stayed tied up at a buoy when we were there.used our dinghy to go to the pier when we went to the base.i was set up twice for r&r at new zealand and other time at australia.both were cancelled at the last minute.my dad passed away while i was at treasury.base chaplaim told me about it but said they could not send me home for the funerasl as they needed me there.he gave me 1/2 day "off".duty.i know i have forgotten a lot.sorry.getting older now and things are starting to catch up with me.hope this helps a little. earl
earl richmond
Posted By: earl | Posted on: Feb 16, 2009 - 7:59pm
Total Posts: 197 | Joined: Oct 18, 2006 - 12:13pm
Randy: I joined Squadron 19 at Tulagi and was assigned to P.T. 242 (a Higgins Boat) . I never rode any other boat but 242. We were sent to Vella La Vella about November 1st, 1943. We operated out of Vella La Vella, patroling Choiseul and southern Bougainville until December 14th 1943 when the base was burned by a fuel dock fire. The base was then abandoned. We then moved to Treasury and operated with Ron 9 and Commander Kelly patroling mostly Bougainville. December 28th, 1943 we got into a fire fight with 3 barges off Bougainville, we sank two and possibly the third our boat was damaged and we were sent to Tulagi for repairs and new Mk13 fish. After repairs we wound up at Rendova where the rest of our Ron 19 had been sent for half of the crews to go on R & R in New Zealand. My name was not drawn to go so I stayed at Rndova with half the crew - scraped, sanded and painted the bottom. Also added two new twin 50's on the bow in front of the chart house. The gang got back from New Zealand the last of February, 1944. We were then sent to Green Island which had just been taken from the Japs. We operated out of Green Island patroling New Britain, New Ireland, Buka, and Northern Bougainville until late Novenber 1944 when our crew was relieved of duty and sent back to the U.S. We had been in the combat zone for 15 months and had made 85 nightly patrols of enemy held islands aboard 242. After 30days leave I reported to Melville then to the Fargo Bldg in Boston for two months. In March 1945 I was sent to Samar, Philippines Base 17. I was never assigned to another boat. I was at Samar when the bombs were dropped and the war ended. I was then sent to Subic Bay, Phillipines where I caught a troop ship to Portland, OR. A train to Norman, OK where I was discharged after serving nearly 3 years in the Navy. I am proud of my Navy and P.T. Boat service for my country. It took 3 years out of my young life but I was able to recover after I got back.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Feb 16, 2009 - 8:17pm
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
Russ .. I know it was unusual that the Skipper and Exec did not man the helm at GQ. Our Skipper (Ralph Gray) was not a boat person and felt handcuffed when at the wheel. He wasn't very good at it. At GQ, he watched the Radar, advised gunners, and flitted around as much as the situation would permit. Once when a superior officer guest questioned his judgement, he said " I have the conn, sir" and then he gave me some trivial order to prove it. Other than that , he was a very good officer, although much more friendly with the enlisted men than a "Joe Navy" commander.
Posted By: BobPic | Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 5:36am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
C.J.Willis,.... Evidently you and I were at Treasury at the same time. I, in Ron 9. Three days after you sank those barges, on New Years eve ,we encountered a Jap Lugger off Bouganville.
I remember that night,but other than hat I can't remember anything. . There were other squadrona at Treasury with us, but I couldn't tell you of anyone else. I wish I had kept a diary, which was against rules.
Russ
Posted By: Russell Pullano | Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 6:33am
Total Posts: 131 | Joined: Oct 23, 2006 - 7:31am
Thanks to you guys for sharing those personal stories, always so interesting.
Steve Nugent
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 7:06am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
BobPic: I believe that your skipper had it right and that the others were wrong. The skipper of an aircraft carrier does not handle the wheel but he is still responsible.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 8:39am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Russell: I guess we were at Treasury at the same time. I recall coming back to Treasury base after sinking the barges. Commander Kelly came down to the dock that morning and came on our boat to look at the damage. He told us crew mwmbers "Good shooting Boys!" which made us feel pretty good.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 9:25am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
QM....Of course the skipper of an aircraft carrier doesn't man the wheel during combat. Neither does the skipper of a battleship. You are not talking about quick turns, zig zagging, and dodging bullets .
Nor does a skipper watch the radar, which is in the chartroom, on a PT boat. He should be up there in the cockpit directing the action, laying smoke screens,etc. If he isn't uncomfortable and not confidentat the wheel, he would never be selected as an officer by Kelly in Ron 9.
Maybe that is just my opinion.
Russ
Posted By: Russell Pullano | Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 12:55pm
Total Posts: 131 | Joined: Oct 23, 2006 - 7:31am
Hi everybody - I've enjoyed very much reading all of the replies to my questions.
'QM', thank you for the information on your duties, both preparing for and while underway. It was very enlightening to me.
'EARL', you say that you've forgotten a lot, but I for one am amazed at all you have shared on this board. When you start typing, you seem like the energizer bunny to me. Seem like you can't settle for just one sentence!
And, that's good!
'CJ', I guess it was pretty nice to only be on the 242 boat during your PT service. You said you were at Samar when the bombs were dropped, then the war ended. Did you have a sense of feeling a little to close to Japan at that time?
'BOB', I thought it was pretty neat that you went out on many missions as a "Guest QM". Your posts that you are entering today seem to me to be as good as a diary. Maybe you can print your own posts and then fill in the blanks as you recall something if you so desire?
'RUSS", thanks for the reminder of the wealth of information in past posts. I was away from the board for quite a time due to family illnesses. It is nice to get back on. I appreciate your taking the time to post the details of your service. And, thanks for being "Gabby"!
PT Boats Inc is a wonderful organization and this message board is a great place to learn about PT service from those who were there. You guys were a select few as you served our country in WWII, and you remain to be a special group as PT veterans.
Thanks again for your service and for feeding us details, thoughts and feelings of what it was like. We need to pass this on to future generations. I not only want to tell my kids and grandkids that my Uncle's served in B17's & B-24's and my father-in-law in PT's - but to present them with some firsthand information and dialog that helps make it real to them and to understand how important it was for our country to come together at that time.
OK, I'm getting like Earl now... CU all on the board later
Randy Finfrock
Posted By: Randy Finfrock | Posted on: Feb 19, 2009 - 7:31pm
Total Posts: 97 | Joined: Nov 27, 2006 - 6:21pm
Although this post has been interesting to me, this is likely all I have to say. I am sorry my inept writing skills have left the wrong impression of the command skills of my Skipper. He charged each man with diong his job and was present to see that it was done right. He wanted to be everywhere during GQ and said he could not do that as the "chauffeur". If I could see him, I would follow his hand signals to Zig, otherwise I was on my own. After all, some famous Skippers Zigged when they should have Zagged. We had no one assigned to the chart room at GQ. We had a large opening in the dash and the Radar was lined up so I could see it from the helm well enough to spot blips. The Skipper (GQ or not) usually went below and analyzed the potential target and decided the best approach. He seemed to be with everyone in battle and when a man was killed or wounded, he took it personally. He was my friend until his death some 10 years ago and I am still thankful I served under his command.
Posted By: BobPic | Posted on: Feb 20, 2009 - 6:12am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Bob: My intention was to approve of your skippers method of operation. Although I have not heard of others going that route full time, I can see his point. I have heard of a few instances where under attack from the air, the skipper would stand near the man at the wheel watching the attacking aircraft and calling directions to the man at the wheel. The skipper could watch the aircraft full time while the man at the wheel could keep his eyes ahead.
I like your skippers system.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Feb 20, 2009 - 6:00pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
To Bob Pic:
Your last post was super! You made it perfectly clear and left no doubt whatsoever as to your loyalty to your skipper and to his memory. It is obvious that you appreciated and respected him.
Any good supervisor must make decisions based upon his assigned task and his resources. Put the people who are best at any given task, on that task. It makes for a very strong working group and leaves no room for egos. Egos can get men into troubles that they never foresaw.
I thank you for sharing your remembrances and for your service so many years ago. Be well.
Allan
Posted By: Allan | Posted on: Feb 21, 2009 - 6:17am
Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm
Bob;
After reading all the posts, I don't think anyone misinterperted your Skippers leadership style. It was just not the norm, it was different. I imagine one of the best things about being in the PT Squadrons, as with being in my generations Special Boat Squadrons, is a Skipper/Boat captain is given general command guidance, but as for Leadership styles is given alot of lateral leeway as compared to the big ship Navy. A Skipper/Boat Captain leadership style develops quite quickly and soon he knows himself and what will work and what won't. Mr. Gray's "hands on" approach is very effective, it may have differed radically from Mr. Berlin's style, or Mr. Bernking, or Mr. Sparks, but it worked for him, and the most important thing of all: when the S--- hit the fan, you guys knew what he was going to do and where he was going to be, what was expected of you and you guys had faith and immense trust in him and he had immense trust in you guys to bring "Who Me" Home.
take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 23, 2009 - 4:43am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am