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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: PT658 hosts Skipper of PT143 RON8 Bill Skade for 90th birthday
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Howdy shipmates!
I just got back today from the PT658 and we had a big event today. We got to host a real PT Boat skipper; LTjg Bill Skade for his surprise 90th birthday party and trip on board PT658. His daughter, Patty Rogers, arranged it for her Mom and Dad to come up and the entire Skade clan (14 in all) came aboard and rode the PT658. Bill was unaware he would be asked to get underway with us, and we made him drive the PT658 for about 30 minutes. He was speechless. Patty allowed me to scan her Dads photo album from the war, and he was the XO of the PT625 when RON43 was commissioned in New Orleans in Dec44. It just so happens that PT658 is one of the last of the PT625 class of Higgins PT Boats, so we were especially thrilled to have him tour the boat and get his stamp of approval. Here are only a few of the photos I was able to scan and take today. I know how much you guys like to see pictures, so here you are. It was a beautiful 83 degrees today in Portland so we had a perfect day to celebrate. Enjoy! Jerry PT658 Portland OR

Bill in Jeep 1945

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143atwheelofjeep.jpg[/image]

Bill in Jeep 2011

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00077.jpg[/image]

Bills clan at PT658 pier

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00051.jpg[/image]

PT658 ready to roll

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00013.jpg[/image]

PT658 crew having coffee in fwd crews before the trip

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00029.jpg[/image]

PT625 in Lake Ponchartrain New Orleans 1945

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON43PT625NewOrleanszoom.jpg[/image]

Bill Skade as XO at helm of PT625 at sea 1945

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON43PT625underwayathelm.jpg[/image]

PT625 plank owner crew in New Orleans 1945

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON43PT625crewNewOrleans.jpg[/image]

RON43 commissioning Dec44 New Orleans LT Dick Morse

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON43OfficersCommisioningNewOrleansDickMorseonright.jpg[/image]

RON43 commissioning on board PT625 Dec 44 New Orleans Bill in rear on left

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON43OffcommNewOrleansPT625deck.jpg[/image]

RON43 Commissioning on PT625 with Bill on left and AJ Higgins center with Hat, LT Dick Morse on right

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON43OffCommLtoRJackoRLJacksonAJHigginsDickMorseXOMillerNewOrleans.jpg[/image]

LTjg Skade with parrot in Panama 1944

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON14CostaRicaUnitedFruitplantationwithparrot.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143injungleBorneodress.jpg[/image]

PT143 crew photo RON8 Ring Dang Do (what a beauty!)

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143crewRingDangDoearly1945.jpg[/image]

PT143 crew photo Bill Skade CO Lower left

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143crewphotoPeteAugustlowerrightXO.jpg[/image]

PT130 another boat in RON8

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT120atsea.jpg[/image]

PT143 XO and CO Bill Skade on right

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143withXO.jpg[/image]

PT143 gun action stern 40mm and aft 50cal off Borneo

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143sterngunsfiring40mmnamedBetty.jpg[/image]

Refueling PT143. I wonder what that is a spill containment?

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143refueling.jpg[/image]

RON8 nested on tender AGP20 Pontus

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8tenderAGP20Pontus.jpg[/image]

PT143 in drydock inspect screws and rudders

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143workindrydock3showsscrews.jpg[/image]

RON8 nested by tender

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT189129inBorneo.jpg[/image]

PT143 at speed

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143underwayatspeed3.jpg[/image]

Skipper Bill Skade PT143 at the helm

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143atthehelm.jpg[/image]

Bill Skade at helm PT143 RON8 at sea

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143atsea.jpg[/image]

50 cal gunner PT143

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT14350calgunnercloseup.jpg[/image]

PT66 Cheetah in Samar slightly different view than previously posted

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT66Cheetahwithenghatchremovedrestsonbow.jpg[/image]

Pushing PT658 away from dock Sept24 2011

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00056.jpg[/image]

Bill Skades grandsons on 40mm Bofors while underway on PT658

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00067-1.jpg[/image]

One of Bills grand daughters on the 50cal turret while her grandpa Bill drives the boat

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00070.jpg[/image]

Bills impromptu 90th Birthday Party cupcakes on PT658 after the trip

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00072-1.jpg[/image]

Bill donated his Foul Weather Gear and Dress Blue uniform for display on PT658. Here he is modeling foul weather hat.

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00074.jpg[/image]

PT658 tied up at barge in shipyard for open house

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00089-1.jpg[/image]

PS Frank, I have a few pics you may be interested in seeing.

Take care. Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Sep 24, 2011 - 9:52pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

What a Beautiful time this must have been. You can clearly see the joy in this man's face. The photos you scanned are wonderful Jerry, and just what i am looking for for my third book. I would be thrilled if you could send me a CD........................

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Sep 25, 2011 - 2:50am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

That's a great day Jerry! Looks like you guys had a perfect day. The photos are great and in excellent condition. Thanks for sharing them with us. I love the then and now jeep picture.

Just when you thought you had seen everything that could be done with a PT you see something else. This is the first time I've seen the signal light mounted to the radar mast. Great stuff!

Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 25, 2011 - 6:06am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Jerry,
You folks certainly do it right on board the 658 boat.
Best to you all.
Jim Melanson

Jim Melanson

Posted By: Jim Melanson | Posted on: Sep 25, 2011 - 7:56am
Total Posts: 17 | Joined: Dec 20, 2006 - 8:16am

Jerry . . . fantastic, thanks for posting those great shots.
BJO

Posted By: Black Ops | Posted on: Sep 25, 2011 - 10:44am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Well done Jerry, it looks like everyone had a great time.

Thank you for posting the album images, that's a pretty racy drawing on the 143 boat! I wonder if it's of an actress back then?

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Sep 25, 2011 - 5:53pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Outstand, Jerry. Bravo Zulu!

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Sep 25, 2011 - 6:57pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

What a great experience Jerry for you, your crew and the family! Thanks for posting all the pics as well - very cool. I sent you an email about one...

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Sep 26, 2011 - 5:52am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Jerry;
You guys are fantastic! I bet standing behind him at the wheel, you could literally see the years evaporate away, and he was a 23 year old Skipper standing in front of you again! You guys are doing the right thing and you guys are the best.Continue to set the standard!
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 26, 2011 - 6:25am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

WOW...Great job guys. What an outstanding day it must have been for Bob and his family. Thanks for the pix.

steve

Posted By: sparky51 | Posted on: Sep 26, 2011 - 8:12am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Very cool indeed.

Posted By: Gary Szot | Posted on: Sep 26, 2011 - 5:22pm
Total Posts: 193 | Joined: Feb 12, 2007 - 1:00pm

Hi everybody,
Here is a newspaper article from the Tuesday 9-27-11 Eugene, OR Register-Guard about the trip. Jerry

Back on PT patrol
A World War II veteran gets a surprise and an honor as part of his 90th birthday celebration

By Bob Welch
Register-Guard columnist

Published: (Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 05:01AM) Today

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillonPT658.jpg[/image]

Bill Skade stands aboard the restored PT 658 in Portland on Saturday. It is one of only 11 PT boats that survived WWII.

You’re a 23-year-old PT boat skipper when World War II ends.

In September 1945, on Samar, Philippines, you watch the farewell inferno: dozens of the wooden “patrol torpedo” boats, including yours, dragged together on the beach like so many logs on a fire and, after being stripped of any useful equipment, doused with diesel and set aflame.

This is a boat you lived on, fought on, watched men die on. Gone. You feel like a cowboy having to put down his horse.

You return home to Eugene, where your wife, Gloria, has clipped the articles from the local paper, The Register-Guard, about Lt. William H. Skade leading missions into “the mine-infested Marudu Bay ...”

You and Gloria move to the house where you still live on Emerald Street, south of the University of Oregon.

Son Hank is born in 1948, daughters Dorothy in 1950 and Patricia in 1956. Thirty-seven years with Allstate Insurance. Retirement in 1987 at age 66.

You do a little fishing here and there, own a few boats. But nothing like that 78-foot wooden boat you piloted during the war, a craft with three 11/2-ton Packard V-12 engines whose vibrations, if you close your eyes, you can still almost feel.

Not that you mention those years to anyone. You’re like a lot of folks in your generation: just did what you needed to do, and got on with things when the war ended.

Still, when you find, in the attic, the tattered flag that once flew from the bridge of PT 143, you were honored that the kids had it framed. You hang it in your den, the edges frayed as much by time as by the way it once whipped above you in boat speeds of up to 40 knots.

Meanwhile, you haven’t heard what some of your generational PT peers are up to 90 miles north, in Portland. How they’ve come across one of only 11 PT boats that survived the war, and trucked it from California to Oregon to restore it.

Never mind that, since the war, it had survived a fire and sunk twice. “You never tell a bunch of old PT boaters that it can’t be done,” one of them tells The Oregonian.

In 2004, 13 years of volunteer blood, sweat and tears after the project begins, the mainly 80-something guys and a few others proudly motor PT 658 up the Willamette River in a dedication ceremony.

It is the only authentically restored, operational U.S. Navy PT boat in the world. But of the 16 men who originally began working to restore it, eight don’t live long enough to enjoy the day.

A thousand of your aging fellow World War II veterans are dying each day. A few months ago, Gloria reminds you that you’ll soon be 90 yourself, which is a long way from that fresh-faced kid who’d heard the Navy wanted “athletic types” for PT boats so wore two extra sweaters beneath your coat for your interview.

In the same breath, Gloria mentions something about the PT boat in Portland. She and the “kids” — now 62, 61 and 55 — want you to see it Sept. 24 as part of your birthday celebration.

Oh, the grandchildren are coming, too, 13 family members in all, three generations, from Oklahoma, California and Seattle.

On Saturday morning, your heart quickens when you see PT 658, moored at Portland’s Swan Island Pier; it’s just like the Higgins boat you trained on in New Orleans in 1943.

The crew hands out life preservers. The whole family is seated on the boat. You’re given an honorary medal.

Then up stands Jerry Gilmartin, a 50-year-old retired Navy man who’s the PT project’s curator. He still can’t believe that, though only 36 boats of this class were made, there’s an actual captain of one in his midst.

He welcomes the family, all decked out in their matching Bill Skade “90 Years and Going Strong” T-shirts, then tells you the bad news.

“The captain,” he says, “has called in sick.”

He looks at you. Everyone but you knows what he’s going to say next.

“Lt. Skade,” he says, “how would you feel about running the boat today?”

You’re a bit confused here. “What, you’re actually going to get under way?”

Gilmartin nods yes. Your daughter, Patricia, worries that you’ll decline. Please, dad, say you will.

“It’s been a long time,” you say — 66 years to be exact — “but sure.”

You’re on the water for almost an hour, which, your children say, is about how long your smile lasted.

When you were at the helm, sometime before back-on-the-dock birthday cupcakes and before you donate your well-pressed captain’s uniform to the nonprofit group that restored the boat, your son Hank asks the question.

“How does it feel, Dad?”

Your hands are wrapped around the mahogany wheel.

“Just like old times,” you say, then return your gaze to mine-infested Marudu Bay.

For more information: savetheptboatinc.com. Bob Welch is at 541-338-2354 or bob.welch@registerguard.com.

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Sep 27, 2011 - 7:18pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Jerry, thanks for posting the very nice newspaper article. A real tribute to Mr. Skade. I would liked to have been there on the boat trip to give him a well deserved "hand salute".

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Sep 28, 2011 - 3:15pm
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

Kudos and belated 90th "Happy Birthday" wishes to Mr. Skade!

One thing caught my eye as somewhat curious in one of the WWII photos...

In the photo titled "Skipper Bill Skade PT 143 at the helm," the port cockpit splash shield, or bulkhead, seems unusually low -- only waist high. Its barely even there, compared to the fairly standard shoulder-high height of this part of the boat usually seen on the cockpits of other Elco 80-footers.

Does Mr. Skade remember why this was so? You really can't tell anything different from the other photos of PT 143.. Wonder why that shot shows the port side of the cockpit "missing?"

You know what's interesting, if you look at the "contamination" photo of the 143 boat you can see the shield that surrounds the cockpit. Of the boats I've seen where they've cut down the cockpit on the port side you never see the shield behind the helm. So, maybe one was taken after the other or it could be another boat. Definitely a question for Mr. Skade.

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 28, 2011 - 6:49pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Dave...the "contamination" photo of the 143...?

Which photo are you referring to?

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Sep 29, 2011 - 5:49pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

I think he must be standing on something Drew, maybe a folding seat. The wheel would be too low otherwise.

It looks like an interesting use of a deck vent on the chart house roof of the 189 boat in the photo titled "RON8 nested by tender". It also looks like a slightly different radar mast than the other boats. The vertical legs look wider.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Sep 30, 2011 - 2:44am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Yes, If you look behind the guys pumping out whatever it is they're pumping you can clearly see the shield or panel which wraps around the back of the helm. When I think of the cockpit sides shaved down I always think of the PT-134 photo in Johnson's book on page 145. In that photo the shield directly behind the helm is gone and it wouldn't make any sense for it to be there because it would be sticking up on its own.

Anyway, just an observation. Like I said the photos could be taken at different times or it could be different boats. But without numbers or something very distinctive it's difficult to know anything without talking to the owner of the photos.

Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 30, 2011 - 5:41am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Hi guys,
I think David is referring to the photo showing the "Refueling". Where did you get contamination? That is "containment" They are filling the fuel tank with gasoline.. Do you see the hose and the nozzle? I dont think they would be "pumping out" gasoline from the gas tanks. The little can on the deck is maybe for catching the excess fuel or maybe the fumes created during refueling. What do you guys think? I have never seen something like that used before. Anyway, I think he is standing on something by the helm in the other photo. They did not cut down the spray shield on the PT143. I asked Bill and he did not remember modifiying the boat like that at any time. I am amazed by the questions these old photos generate. Take care. Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Sep 30, 2011 - 11:07am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

It seems a bit odd that they are re-fueling from such a distance from the cap. As these were located on the deck, I wonder where they found such a long nozzle to do the job. I have never seen re-fueling being done with a cover or barrell around the fuel port. You would think that this would increase the chances of trapping vapors in a concentrated area, thus providing the chances of an explosion. Could this device have layers of chamois to filter out impurfections in the gas?

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Sep 30, 2011 - 12:00pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Jerry: I believe what you see that the fueling nozzle is in is a large funnel which we used when refueling from barrels or where water in the 100 octane was prevalent. Vertically inside that big funnel was a strainer which we clamped chamois skins around to strain the water out of the fuel. We used them all time at Vella La Vella where we were refueling from barrels that were floated into the shore from delivering LCT's.

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Sep 30, 2011 - 12:12pm
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

Jeff and Jerry,

I see what you mean about Mr. Skade possibly standing on something in the photo I mentioned, and his being a little higher than the wheel, but...

To my eye, he doesn't seem to be THAT much higher than the wheel, and the port splash shield still seems very low -- much lower and not even close to meeting, or being even with, the windshield line ...

It still doesn't look "right" to me...oh, well -- I guess it's just a matter of perspective...?

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Sep 30, 2011 - 2:19pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am