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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
PT 555
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Here is another photo of the 555 after being damaged by a mine. ( See the PT 202 & 218 post for a closer pic). It's a shame you can't make a one hundred percent positive id from these photos, but I can't think of another explanation right now.
'At Close Quarters' has a first person account of the mining. Lost five men including the 40 mm gun crew. I wonder if these pics are when she was towed in to port in France, or when she was towed out to be sunk by gunfire. Never know I guess......
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Steve%20Nugent/Mined555.jpg[/image]
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 - 11:42am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
Hi Nuge,
No 50's no radar tower drop off racks empty no personal equip to be seen looks as if she has been stripped of al usable equip this could indicate that this photo was taken as she is being taken out to be sunk.
Great photo .
D.buck
Posted By: David Buck | Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 - 3:39pm
Total Posts: 332 | Joined: May 4, 2008 - 2:59am
Steve;
This is a better shot than the previous one you posted, from the looks of this photo, I agree with David. She looks like she is ready to be sunk.
Notice weapons on Higgins in the foreground are still covered, I wonder if that is a towline coming off the stbd cleat or a makeshift anchor line, so she will remain stationary while they are shooting at her?
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Aug 29, 2011 - 7:22am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Hi TED & Steve,
I have just read the account by Lt. Walker of the mineing of the Pt 555 in AT CLOSE QUATERS two things stand out re. the effort to tow the boat to Carro.
There were four boats used which were according to Lt Walker two fishing boats a pilot boat and one other boat not identified but reported to have arrived at the saen with the second fishing boat, no other PT. boats were stated to be involved .
The other thing was that while all topside weight was jettisoned one set of twin 50" were retaied for at least some form of defence.
D.Buck
Posted By: David Buck | Posted on: Aug 30, 2011 - 7:22pm
Total Posts: 332 | Joined: May 4, 2008 - 2:59am
More info,
The War Diary of Ron 15 states that Ron 29s PT 555 was destroyed Sept. 8, 1944 after repeated attempts to tow her back to base. The 212 was the boat sent to try to save and tow the 555, and was the boat to fire upon her and sink her.
Now what I'm hoping is that Earl Richmond's friend at the Legion Post, will have photos of this in their family album. His ( Paul ) Uncle was on the 212 at this time.
Keep you posted.
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Sep 7, 2012 - 6:22pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
Steve;
I hope you can make contact with Earl's VFW buddy.
Good Luck!
Take care
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 7, 2012 - 9:25pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Hi guys,
I am interested in the sinking of PT-555.
What it has become?
I live near of CARRO and I dive on the coast.
Here, no one know of wreck war ship US in the waters of CARRO !
it really has been sunk ?
Regards.
Posted By: Chris66 | Posted on: Jun 17, 2015 - 3:09pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Chris;
Welcome! The PT 555 is located in the Golfe De Fos: http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14123
PT 555 hit the mine on 24 August 1944 43º19'N, 05º30'E (this was the LAT LONG Given, unfortunately on Google Earth this shows up at72B Chemin de Pluvence 13011 Marseille, France )off Cap Couronne, southern France(the east end of the Golfe. As seen in the photos attempts were made to tow her back to base, so this might not be her exact location.
Good Luck!
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jun 17, 2015 - 6:02pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Welcome Chris.
A much better photo of the 555 did come to light, but I just haven't posted
much lately. Promise to do it soon.
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Jun 19, 2015 - 11:03am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
Hi Ted and Steve,
The GPS coordinates that you give is just to situate the place very Approximate ...
From my research, the PT-555 was from the harbor of PORT-DE-BOUC when he was hit by a mine at 17h15.
Where was it precisely that moment?
Because deep water, there are the four torpedoes, the 40 mm gun and arming of the crew.
I think the PT-555 was still close to PORT-DE-BOUC, since these are the fishing boats PORT-DE-BOUC who came to rescue, not the fishing boats of the harbor CARRO ...
By 6:05 p.m., there was a second explosion ...
Two machine-guns 50 were thrown overboard, and other structures, to lighten the boat.
Around 8:00 in the morning, it was decided to tow the PT-555 in harbor of PORT-DE-BOUC, but there was so much too dangerous mines ...
Therefore, it was towed to the harbor of CARRO.
I deduce, therefore, that the sinking of the PT-555 happened in the area of PORT-DE-BOUC and not of CARRO ...
Five American sailors died.
Regarding the end of the PT-555, I read also that it was towed to be sunk off CARRO September 8, 1944 (photo by Steve) ...
Question ... Why bother to tow the PT-555 off to sink, while docked at the wharf to CARRO, and the Germans were gone?
It's funny, because as I said before, no one here knows of military ship wreck and GPS position that "wrecksite.eu" gives is regularly exploited by the nets of fishing boats!
A boat of 24 m, does not go unnoticed even at 45 m water background ...
Steve if you have more photos of the PT-555, it would be nice to show us and I thank you in advance.
Regards.
Posted By: Chris66 | Posted on: Jun 20, 2015 - 10:20am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
This photo came from the Thomas McCarthy collection, I believe. He was a crewman on the 212
which eventually sunk the 555 after attempting to tow her to Calvi.
Sorry it took so long to post, I almost forgot how.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Steve%20Nugent/Mined555fromBob.jpg[/image]
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Sep 2, 2015 - 5:36pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
Posted By: Chris66 | Posted on: Sep 3, 2015 - 2:18am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hi,
Large a thank you for this photograph.
It is very beautiful, one sees state of the boat perfectly.
Why do you speak about Calvi in Corsica?
It is an error of you?
If you still have other information, does not hesitate with poster or to join to me directly.
Thank you still.
Regards.[:-veryhappy-:]
Posted By: Chris66 | Posted on: Sep 3, 2015 - 2:18am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
The first attempt was to tow her back to Calvi, but it was a failure and the boat never got out of the La Ciotat area.
I didn't notice before, but in this photo the 555 is not that far off shore.
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Sep 3, 2015 - 3:39am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
[:-confused2-:] But where you know the information that the PT-555 was in La Ciotat ?
It is reported that on August 25 he was Carro !
And why would we want him back in Calvi ?
I can not find any information on that ![:-smilearound-:]
Chris
Posted By: Chris66 | Posted on: Sep 4, 2015 - 2:11am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Chris,
I was repeating what is stated in the Ron 15 War Diary, which isn't very specific at all as to the location. It says on 9/13 " the 212 was dispatched to LA CIOTAT area to undertake salvage operations". Also on 9/7, " 212 made an unsuccessful attempt to tow the damaged 555 to CALVI and was forced to return to LA CIOTAT due to weather". And on 9/12, that " the 212 being unable to tow the 555, salvaged all usable equipment and desroyed the PT in the CIOTAT area".
A report to the Secretary of the Navy, from Commander MTB Ron 29 on
10/10 says " 3 attempts were made to tow the boat back to a rear base at CALVI, CORSICA for complete stripping. All attempts were completely unsuccessful and the PT 555 was sunk off BAIE DE FOS by our own gunfire ".
Only the report by Lt. Bayard Walker, which is in 'At Close Quarters' mentions her being towed into the dock at CARRO. I would assume that she was sunk in the first deep water you would come to, leaving CARRO.
But that's just me !
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Sep 4, 2015 - 10:55am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
Steve;
Nice photo. This is another boat with limited photos, these are the only two I have seen. I wish there were more.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 6, 2015 - 4:26pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Victor Sippin
Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy PT 555 RON 29
United States Navy
Entered the Service From: Connecticut
Service #: 8072200
Date of Birth: February 22, 1923
Date of Death: August 25, 1945
Wars or Conflicts:
World War II
Memorialized:
Tablets of the Missing
Rhone American Cemetery, Draguignan, France
Also some more info at: [url]http://sippin-winspurlegionpost176.org/Post_176_History.html[/url]
disregard LCDR D. Fairbanks mention.
other PT 555 crewmembers lost that day:
Ralph W. Bangert, Radarman Third Class, United States Naval Reserve, PT 555 RON 29
Entered the Service From: Ohio
Service #: 8579723
Date of Birth: September 18, 1914
Date of Death: August 25, 1945
Wars or Conflicts:
World War II
Memorialized:
Tablets of the Missing
Rhone American Cemetery, Draguignan, France
Thomas F. Devaney, Ship's Cook Third Class,United States Naval Reserve, PT 555 RON 29
Entered the Service From: New Jersey
Service #: 7094353
Date of Birth: May 13, 1923
Date of Death: August 25, 1945
Wars or Conflicts:
World War II
Memorialized:
Tablets of the Missing
Rhone American Cemetery, Draguignan, France ,
John J. Dunleavy Gunner's Mate Second Class,
United States Naval Reserve, PT 555 RON 29
Entered the Service From: Pennsylvania
Service #: 2444880
Date of Birth: June 10, 1918
Date of Death: August 25, 1945
Wars or Conflicts:
World War II
Memorialized:
Tablets of the Missing
Rhone American Cemetery, Draguignan, France
Harold R. Guest. Torpedoman's Mate Second Class,
United States Naval Reserve, PT 555 RON 29
Entered the Service From: New Jersey
Service #: 7069098
Date of Birth: December 30, 1915
Date of Death: August 25, 1945
Wars or Conflicts:
World War II
Memorialized:
Tablets of the Missing
Rhone American Cemetery, Draguignan, France
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 7, 2015 - 7:13am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Chris,
Can you tell anything from the last posted photo regarding where that could be off Carro ?
I hope you find her when your diving. Now that would be cool !
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Sep 18, 2015 - 12:36pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
hi,
So when I saw the last picture, I say that the picture was not made in Carro, let alone in Port de Bouc.
Unfortunately, I have new information that confirms that the photo, so the place was cast or the PT555 is far from the coast ...
Indeed, the PT555 was well Carro until September 1, and was then towed to go to Port de Bouc, where he remained until September 8 when the tow PT212 came to take him to Calvi .
But after an hour towing cable broke and they decided to sink it with the PT212 or where they were at that moment!
From my knowledge of the area, and it based on the photo, it was sunk in depths of 70-90 m.
This is certainly why the wreck is unknown divers here.
Pity.
My Searches stop here.
Glad I could join you.
But if you have other photos ...
Christophe
Posted By: Chris66 | Posted on: Sep 21, 2015 - 10:56am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Chris;
Wow! I just did the distance on Google Earth, that's over 200 miles from Port De Bouc to Calvi. That would have taken over 25 hours at 8 knots!
90 meters(295 feet) sure puts it out of reach, too bad, I would have liked to have seen how the Mediterranean Sea treated the boats wood.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 21, 2015 - 1:48pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am