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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: Green Island Tragedy
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3182

As I am putting together the time my father in-law was on the 156.
I came across a question I would like to present to the board.
The Green Island Tragedy: April 28-29,1944
That 24 PT crew members were either killed or missing and 25 wounded in a tragic case of mistaken identity.

I was wondering about this, In my research of my father in-laws time line. Ron 9 left Treasury for Green Island on May 1,1944.
Do you think that was a result of the tragedy or was that move planned well in advance of the tragedy?

Just wondering.

Julie

Posted By: MN Gal | Posted on: May 12, 2013 - 5:05am
Total Posts: 126 | Joined: Jan 4, 2012 - 7:57am

Julie
Not sure if you have seen this sight.
[url]http://www.seabees93.net/GI%20Green%20Island%206th%20ED.htm[/url]
It mentions a friendly fire incident on Apr 27 that sank PT's 346 and 347 from Ron 25 with a loss of 19. Is this what you are referring to?
Gary

Posted By: Gary Paulsen | Posted on: May 12, 2013 - 7:22am
Total Posts: 249 | Joined: Feb 14, 2009 - 6:31am

Julie;
It was planned, targets in this area were becoming few and far between, so it was decided that all PT's in Solomons area be shifted to New Guinea waters to be more profitably employed and eventually assist in repatriating the Philippines. All command and control was shifted to Supreme Allied Commander, Southwest Pacific, who was General Douglas MacArthur. The PT's fell under direct command of Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid, Commander Seventh Fleet. Once the landings in the Philippines occurred, all PT's still remaining in the Northern Solomons (RON 5, 11, 20, and 23) were transferred to Commander Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Seventh Fleet in Dec 1944.
Tulagi, which was still a staging and repair base and RON 31 passed through with USS Acontius in October 1944, RON 37 with Silenus in November 1944, RON 32 in December 1944, they worked their way up the chain to Treasury for combat training , making patrols off Bougainville and Choiseul, but Commodore Moran discontinued patrols and they all headed west to relive other Squadrons. February 15, 1945 RON 32 and 37 departed with Silenus, with final destination being Okinawa.
Take care,
TED
P.S. This stage of the PT story is a little confusing to me also, as VADM Kinkaid COMSEVENTHFLT, wanted to have PT's remain in Solomons for as long as necessary, but COMMTBSEVENTHFLT was a Commander(O-5), Commander Selman S. Bowling. and VADM Kinkaid could not give a Commodore(O-7) a subordinate command, so Commodore Moran was named Commander Allied Naval Forces Northern Solomons Area and Commander Task Group 70.8, this gave Moran control of everything from PT's to a Squadron of Destroyers. Later he was also made COMMTBRONSPACFLT. in actuality, he had about 3 titles at once. To make matters even more distorted they also had a thing called Operational and Administrative command and control. I am sure, the average swab jockey on a PT Boat really didn't know or really care who was in overall command, all they knew was their Skipper and Squadron Commander.

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: May 12, 2013 - 7:36am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Gary, Yes, that was the one I was talking about. I don't think those numbers on the dead and missing are right though. I have since read other articles about that incident. Thank you for that link too.

Ted, thank you for all your information.
I am happy to know the answer to that question. That the move had nothing to do with the tragedy.

thank you.
Julie

Posted By: MN Gal | Posted on: May 14, 2013 - 6:08am
Total Posts: 126 | Joined: Jan 4, 2012 - 7:57am