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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: USS Indianopolis Survivors
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I had an interesting conversation with an old friend. He was on a small ship in the Leyte Gulf area at the time. One day they heard a loud roar. They saw several PT's proceeding at full speed. They later learned that the boats were going out to meet a ship that was transporting survivors from the Indianapolis. They picked up the survivors to provide faster transportation to a hospital. Does anyone have information regarding this event?

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Jun 29, 2009 - 7:04pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

There have been several books published in recent years describing the ordeal of the Indianapolis survivors in detail.

An account of PTs racing out to pick them up and rapidly ferrying them to hospitals on shore would probably be in one of those...

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jun 29, 2009 - 8:34pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

In the book "ABONDON SHIP" by Richard F. Newcomb, The USS BASSETT (APD-73) was the only ship to head towards the Philippines with INDY survivors. They landed at Guinuan on the island of Samar. No mention of PT boats. Said they pulled into the harbor and pontoon barges came along side and ferried the men in to shore.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jun 30, 2009 - 4:31am
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

I have never heard of any PT BOATS helping to resue any of the men from the USS INDY. Of course sometimes things happen in History to change your original thoughts, but to date I never have heard this.......

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jun 30, 2009 - 5:51am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

I talked with my friend again regarding the Indianapolis survivors. He was on a ship in Leyte Gulf at the time. He said that about five boats went out from Leyte Gulf at full speed to meet a ship which was transporting survivors. The boats transported some of the survivors to Tacloban. Their action saved time in getting the survivors to a hospital.

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Jul 10, 2009 - 11:57am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Guys;
Since Samar is close to Tacloban, who knows what boats this could involve, unless we found a vet. these boats could have been from RON 9, 10,11, 12, 21, 36, 38, 39, 40. Who knows???
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 10, 2009 - 8:01pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am