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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: Need to contact crewman RON11/RON18 PT178 and PT364
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Hello Gents,
I have been in contact with somebody who is trying to set up a visit to Portland from a foreign Head of State (The Sultan of Ternate) who was rescued by 2 US PT Boats and the Aussie "Z Force Special Unit" during WW2. He would like to get in touch with somebody from the crew of one of the 2 boats that performed the rescue. Here is the story direct out of "At Close Quarters" Chapter called "Containing and Harassing" on Page 374:

"The PT's worked closely with Australian, Dutch, and native scouts, putting them ashore and retrieving them from the Talaud Islands to the north and several of the small islands around Halmahera. Early in April scouts brought word that the Sultan of Ternate, who before the war had governed the entire area under the controlling influence of the Dutch, was being badly treated by the Japanese. On 8/9 April, PT's 364 and 178 carried a rescue team of Australian, Dutch, and native scouts to the island of Hiri just north of Ternate. The team removed the Sultan and his wives and on April 11 the same PT's picked up the entire party and returned to base. This is the only case in history in which PT's were used to transport a harem."

Does anybody know how to contact any crew on these 2 boats? I would like to contact them or their direct relatives (wife, son, daughter) to see if they would be willing to come to Portland and ride PT658 along with the Sultan and the one remaining living member of the Z Force commando team this coming June. The present day Sultan was only 10 years old at the time when he and his dad (also the Sultan) were rescued. This rescue was ordered by General MacArthur, who was on hand to greet the Sultan upon his arrival in Morotai. Any help in contacting these crewmen would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jan 14, 2011 - 3:57pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Hi Jerry,
I take it you have already are in contact with the last 'Z' Force member.

By the way having travled on the Krait I would think that a PT Boat would have been a much more eojoyable experience.

D.buck

Posted By: David Buck | Posted on: Jan 16, 2011 - 2:08am
Total Posts: 332 | Joined: May 4, 2008 - 2:59am

Hi David,
What is the "Krait"? Is it a name for a type of boat? Also, my contact Mike Hillis has been in touch with the last living member of the 13 Z Force Commandos who was on that mission. He lives in Australia and we are trying to get him to come to Portland as well, it depends if he feels well enough to travel. Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Feb 1, 2011 - 11:32am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Jerry;
MV KRAIT was the vessel the Z force used for insertion/extraction on
OPERATION JAYWICK.
for the ships history: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Krait[/url]
for the operations history: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Jaywick[/url]
for a decent overview of the units operations go to:
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_Special_Unit[/url]
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 1, 2011 - 1:38pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thanks Ted
I hope that answers your question Jerry, to add a little to the story she looked more like the Darwin Picture when I travelled on her and she rolled quite a bit as she has a round bottom to her hull, speed was only 12-14 knots and along the coast of N.S.W. ti can get a little rough.

D.buck

Posted By: David Buck | Posted on: Feb 1, 2011 - 4:50pm
Total Posts: 332 | Joined: May 4, 2008 - 2:59am