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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
PT-118 crewmen: July/August 1943
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3496
Hello ALL,
Anyone out there a crewmen from the PT-118 during July/August 1943.
I'm trying to corroborate the 118's locations and dates as it goes between Tulagi/Russells/Rendova and who was on board at various times.
Thanks,
Bridge
Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: Feb 17, 2014 - 3:08pm
Total Posts: 318 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm
Bridge;
LTjg Billups P. "Bill" Percy was skipper and ENS.Ted Robinson was Exec, James K, Maragos SC 1/C, Peter S. Aiken GM1/C, Johnnie W. Crabtree MMoM1/C and Edward M. Schneidewind MMoM 1/C were on board when she ran aground off the North East point of Vella La Vella , Sept 7 1943.
From Aug 1-7 1943, LTjg Percy, and crew took 118 from the Russells back to Tulagi for Hull/Strut/Prop repair in the floating drydock. Then on 7 Aug, PT 118 went back up to Rendova. Robinson went up from Russells to Rendova on 1 August aboard PT 164! He was halfway to the beach on an LCVP when a Val swooped in and bombed 164 and 117, which were moored together about a 100 yards off the beach. That night Robinson was acting as radar officer on Hank Brantingham's PT 159 in Blackett Strait.
Earlier in her short career PT 118 was the "Ready Boat" the night March 5, 1943, moored to the mud and coral jetty next to the marine railway at Tulagi, when at 0200 "Washing Machine Charlie" flew over. Instead of getting underway immediately, the original Skipper ENS. Parker W. Staples ran to the operations hut to request permission to get underway, as he was running back, Washing Machine Charlie dropped a bomb killing ENS Staples, William B. Carpenter GM3/C and William W. Taylor SK3/C, several men were wounded and the 118 was riddled with shrapnel and everything else. Robinson had crew cast off and got the boat underway, he took 118 up the river and came alongside USS Niagara to get medical attention for wounded crewmembers.
I will go through paperwork to see if I can dig up remaining crew from July-August and also on SEPT 7 1943. Are you looking for anyone in particular?
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 17, 2014 - 7:47pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Ted,
Thanks for what you've found so far. What is the source of Robinson's trip to Rendova on the 164 on August 1?
Bridge
Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: Feb 18, 2014 - 5:08am
Total Posts: 318 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm
Bidge;
His book " Water in my veins" Page 230. Merriam Press, IBSN 978-1475086348
take care,
TED
P.S. He took the builders plate off the boat and kept it at his home. I believe it is now either in Germantown (PTHQ) or Fall River.
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 18, 2014 - 6:37am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Ted,
I also have the 'Veins' book so hence the quandary when you check out this listing and dates from the first page of the PT-118 log book (provided by U.S. National Archives). It is obviously a new Log Book started by the new crew taking over the PT-118 on August 12. (you can see the very edge of the text on the left side of this image indicative of text found inside the cover page of the first page of a PT's log book). According to this, August 12th is when Robinson came on board the 118. I was hoping to find one of the names in the upper list of crewmen/officers who can tell me what's going on as Robinson says in his book that he, Skipper Percy were on the PT-118 throughout July and August 1943.
Bridge
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Bridge%20Carney/PT-118logbook-crewentries.jpg[/image]
Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: Feb 18, 2014 - 11:31am
Total Posts: 318 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm
Bridge;
Hmmm???? sending you an e-mail.
take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 18, 2014 - 3:58pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Ted,
I think you have it but just in case my email is:
Bridge@PT-157.com
Bridge
Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: Feb 18, 2014 - 6:28pm
Total Posts: 318 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm
Bridge,
Sent you a photo of a slice of the 118 at Tulagi in an email. It used to be up on Gene Kirkland's "PT King" website.
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Feb 19, 2014 - 2:27pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Drew;
Post it here if you would?
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 19, 2014 - 6:08pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
All;
I know there was a war on but, one would think, that with all the groundings in the same area, a photo must have been taken, if for no other reason documentation or training purposes PT 118, 153, 158, 172 all in the same area within 2 months, in all cases, attempts to recover each boat were extensive.
Just a thought.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 20, 2014 - 6:53am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Ted,
I'll have to send Gene's 118 photo to Dick, so he can post it...
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Feb 20, 2014 - 7:02am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Photo from Gene Kirkland's "PT King" website, "PT-118 crewmen"
Drew
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Drew%20Cook/PTtorpedomenpressurizingtorpedotubesTulagi1942.jpg[/image]
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Feb 20, 2014 - 8:14am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Thanks to Gene's website, and thanks to Dick for posting this.
Its really a photo of torpedomen checking the pressure on a tube on a boat next to the 118, but shows an interesting paint job on the 118 -- a darker-painted topside demarcation line over a lighter-painted lower portion.
Wonder what colors they were -- dark(er) gray over light(er) gray?
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Feb 20, 2014 - 9:22am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Could just be light and shadow, I suppose...
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Feb 20, 2014 - 9:41pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm
Don't think its light or shadow, Will...there's a definite, painted line along the top edges of the charthouse and the bulkhead aft of the gun turret...
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Feb 21, 2014 - 6:18am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Drew;
The top of the cabin and dayroom are probably the same color as the deck.
Take care
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 21, 2014 - 7:39pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Agreed, Ted.
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Feb 23, 2014 - 1:59pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am