The PT Boat Forum
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi

ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102

ť Topic: Record Search
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2393

Don't know if it has been mentioned, but Ancestry.com has a free trial period going on right now (Dec 2nd - Dec 7th) for seaching military records.
www.ancestry.com/pearlharbor

Unfortunately I was not able to identify the specific boats my father (torpedoeman Walter W. Bauer Jr.) may have been assigned to, but I was able to determine a time line for his PT service. Ron 17 (4/10/43 to 8/17/43); Ron 14 (8/17/43 to 7/16/44) and Ron 23 (2/24/45 to 11/16/45). Still some "gaps" but a lot more information than I had previously. In some cases I was even able to find the vessels he was on while traveling from assignment to assignment and the dates of his promotions as he moved up through the ranks from tmc3 to tmc1.

Those out there looking for info on their fathers may want to give it a try...

Posted By: Wayne Bauer | Posted on: Dec 3, 2011 - 11:39pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Wayne

Thanks, I was able to come up with a blurb about my Uncle. It does not offer much under the free part of the site, but it is something. In order to dig deeper, you must sign up and pay for the service...........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 4, 2011 - 5:25am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank

My experience with Ancestry.com last time they had a free offer was that I had to sign up, but not pay. You can get a free trial membership. They ask for your credit card number, then charge you if you don't cancel. Read the fine print because they want you to cancel two days before the end of the trial membership. I did it and set an alarm in my cell phone for the day I had to cancel! I recommend it because they had some interesting stuff. One little tidbit I found was that my father came home from England on the Queen Mary. Not a terribly important fact, but interesting to know.

Keith

Posted By: kgretter | Posted on: Dec 4, 2011 - 12:16pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Keith

Thanks for the heads up..................

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 4, 2011 - 12:34pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Wayne, Keith and Frank

I too have had limited success with Ancestry's free trial offerings for WW2 Records. However, I have had a lot of success lately with the National Archives particularly as more and more of their documents become public record. Typically, when requesting records online from the Archives they only send the DD214 or Separation Papers. However, if you make a note in the comments box that you request the OMPF, official Military Personnel File, you will receive EVERYTHING they have including medical records, pay, travel papers, etc. A lot of bureaucratic papers but helps further tell the story of the war.

If you need assistance with your research needs, I would be more than happy to help you track down the records you desire.

Tim Reidy
Reidy Historical Consulting
www.reidyhistoricalconsulting.com

Posted By: timreidy | Posted on: Dec 23, 2011 - 8:22am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered