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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 specific information re rescue in SWPA 10/25/1943
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2212

I am a new member looking for information regarding a rescue that occurred on October 25, 1943 of a B-24 bomber crew that ditched in the Solomon Sea about 40 miles off the southeast coast of New Britain Island. Does anyone know what RON or RONs would have responded to this location and/or if a PT Boat report on this specific rescue exists and where it may be located for viewing? Thanks for anything you can provide to a new member.

Posted By: Yank | Posted on: May 30, 2011 - 6:10pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Yank;
RON 7, 8, and 12 were operating out of Morobe on Oct 25, 1943.
Hope this helps.
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: May 31, 2011 - 12:29pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thanks Ted, that certainly is a help! Are the reports of rescues on file somewhere and accessible? How do I go about finding the one on this specific date? Again, much thanks for any further help.

Posted By: Yank | Posted on: Jun 2, 2011 - 8:27am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

There also may be the possibility a MACR was done on the plane (?) If you go to armyairforces.com and go up tot he top of the page for:

"Research Help"

scroll down to the address to get a MACR

There are several private entities that get MACR's for you, and even see if there was/is a MACR on about that plane. It helps if you know the planes bureau/serial number too in your requests to any party.

Posted By: Shaneo2 | Posted on: Jun 2, 2011 - 10:25am
Total Posts: 147 | Joined: Apr 17, 2008 - 10:19pm

Thank you for the info on the MACR and I have already done that some time ago. The MACR does not state the PT boat that was involved in the rescue. This particular MACR is very sketchy since it was one of the ones done after the war and only lists the 2 KIAs but does not even list the others in the crew that were rescued by the PT boat(s).

If it helps locate the PT boat captain's report, I know the serial number of the B-24 plane, its pilot and co-pilot and importantly, the coordinates of the ditching in the Solomon Sea and the time of the day it went down plus the name of one surviving crew member. Is there a repository of these reports stored by RON or by date somewhere? ( I have seen several reports on other rescue missions and they are very detailed so that is why I am anxious to find this particular one. As information about this develops I will share the complete story with the group and give credit to those involved.)

If the reports are not digitized I am willing to go through them myself if that was a possibility.. I am sure I am not the first person to seek this sort of information on a particular incident so if anyone knows how I should go about finding the report I and a number of others interested in this rescue would be most appreciative! Thanks for your assistance....

Posted By: Yank | Posted on: Jun 2, 2011 - 2:33pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Yank;
Providing the rescuing boat was not soon lost after the rescue, The log books(most of them are there, but if a boat was lost, they probably are not.) are housed in the National Archives. RON 7 boats PT 133(7/15/44), PT 135(4/13/44), RON 8 PT 110(1/26/44), PT 121(3/27/44), RON 12 PT 145(1/4/44), PT 193(6/25/44), were all lost after your rescue date, so these boats logs might not be there if they remained with the boat.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jun 2, 2011 - 3:35pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

OK Ted that is again very helpful. Are you saying the logs that do exist from those RONs are all located in the National Archives in Waqshington, DC? What information then is in the PT Boat headquarters in Tennessee? A trip to DC is a lot closer for me than going to Tennessee.

Posted By: Yank | Posted on: Jun 2, 2011 - 8:01pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Yank;
PTHQ has just about everything else(10-15,000 photos, film footage, RON histories, blueprints,etc), call Alyce for anything specific.
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jun 3, 2011 - 5:46am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

You all have been a great help...Thank you!!! I'll post the information that I find and share the complete story with all.

Posted By: Yank | Posted on: Jun 3, 2011 - 5:27pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered