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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
Please help
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My Grandfather served on a PT boat, but unfortunately passed when I was 7. At 30 I want to know his story. My family says he never talked about the war and the only thing he mentioned was his boat sunk.
His discharge papers say he was part of Squadron 16 and I have Navy muster rolls also showing squadron 16 then getting transferred to LST 705 to LST992.
Is there a place where I can find lists of crew members? I am hopefully I can find his boat and maybe a shipmate still alive. I am thinking PT 300, but have no idea. His name is Michael Drago if it helps. Thanks, Mike
Posted By: mdrago | Posted on: Mar 4, 2014 - 7:33pm
Total Posts: 1 | Joined: Oct 1, 2021 - 10:18am
Hi Mike, (attn: Colleen!)
I can review my copy of the RON16 War Diary from Chief Al Piotter to see if he has your Grand-dad's name listed in the crew listing. I have it scanned to a PDF file which I could email to you if I find his name in there. I will look and get back to you in the next few days. Also, By the way, one of our PT Boat Forum members, Colleen , may have info on any crew members from the PT300 that are still around. Perhaps Colleen can help you as well? Jerry
Here is the crew list for PT297. It lists him as a COX (coxswain) who is usually a Boatswains Mate who is qualified to pilot small boats.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/PT297MikeDrago.jpg[/image]
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Mar 5, 2014 - 12:13am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Thank you so much for your help. I guess his friend telling me his boat was sunk was off a bit. Is there a way to get in touch with surviving members of his crew? Do you have any idea why his name was written in rather than being typed with the rest?
Also, I hear the book "At Close Quarters" gives accounts of boats and actions they took. Is that the best area to look and find the story of 297?
Thank you so much for getting me in the right direction. I also saw in your signature you were a crew member of a boat. Thank you for your service.
Mike
Posted By: mdrago | Posted on: Mar 5, 2014 - 4:16pm
Total Posts: 1 | Joined: Oct 1, 2021 - 10:18am
Hey Mike!
Thanks, but its not what you think. I am indeed a crew member of the only operating WW2 PT Boat in modern times, the PT 658 which is located in Portland Oregon, we are a non profit group that has restored the Higgins 78 foot PT back to her original as built condition. Please check out our website at www.savetheptboatinc.com. Also, if you send me your email address (mine is my name with a period between the first and last name @comcast dot net)I wrote it that way to foil autobot spammers. Send me an email and I will respond with sending you the RON16 Squadron Diary with a file size of 10 meg. It is scanned to a pdf file, so it is able to be emailed. You can read exactly what PT297 did from the time of commissioning until the end of the war. I read through it this morning while scanning for your grand pops name and only found the one listed there. I think the handwritten one means the original typed copy was reviewed by Squadron members after the war, and somebody recalled his name and wrote it on the page. This was essentially a "draft" copy that was later retyped. I don't have a copy of the retyped version.
I will be watching for your email. Take care. Jerry Gilmartin
Recent photo of PT658 in downtown Portland Williamette River, that's me on the aft 40mm cannon loaders platform
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658/DSC_0377.jpg[/image]
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Mar 5, 2014 - 6:46pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Jerry Gilmartin, Just saw the post with the crew members from PT 297. We think my dad served on this boat, but his name was not on that list. How long did a crew member serve with each ship? Is there a list from another time periods?
Richard
Posted By: Richard Kelly | Posted on: May 15, 2014 - 9:10am
Total Posts: 2 | Joined: May 15, 2014 - 8:31am
Hi Richard,
What was your Dads full name? What was his rank or rate or job that he did? (ie Officer, Boat Captain, Motor Mack, Radioman, Gunners Mate, Torpedo man, etc) What was the time period you think he was on the boats? I can search through my stuff, also a lot of board members here may be able to help if you ask them.To answer your other question, Yes the crew members were commonly rotated to different boats depending upon the manning situation in each Squadron at that time. One particular sailor may have seen service on only 1 or as many as 3 or 4 different PT Boats. Hope this helps. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 15, 2014 - 7:50pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
In my records I have a Michael John Drago, serving with Ron 16 on July 31, 1944. I also have him on three LST ships. August 1, 1946 has him with LST-992, July 23, 1946 with LST-705, and September 1, 1946 with LST-834. He was a Cox (T) 762-49-52 (serial number) and made his way home on the USS Wachapreague AGP-8 on November 16, 1945 from Guiuan Samar to San Francisco.. This is ll I have, hope it is the same man.
Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: May 16, 2014 - 5:32am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am
Hi Frank,
Do you have anything on Richard Floyd Kelly? He was possibly on the PT297 in RON16. Richards son was asking. Thanks Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 16, 2014 - 12:53pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Hello Jerry
I have a Richard Floyd Kelly in my files, which show he was attached to PT SERVICE, according to Motor Torpedo Boats 7th Fleet. His serial number was 956-73-59, and he was a Radio Man S2c. He would finish as a S1c, and was sent to the Philippine Sea Frontier in Nov. 1945 for assignment. My records do not indicate which Ron he was with, although the records without a doubt show him as a PT CREWMEN. Hope this helps some.
Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: May 16, 2014 - 9:13pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am
Hi Richard and Frank,
I looked in the RON16 diary and found a 'Robert B Kelly' Radioman 2/c on PT299 but he has a large corresponding article in the "Knights of the Sea" book and is definitely not Richard. So it is not a typo for him. Same goes for the famous LCDR Robert Bolling Kelly of PT34 and RON9 Squadron Commander fame. I also looked in the index list at the back of KOTS and was unable to find "Richard Kelly" listed anywhere. Perhaps Charlie Jones may be able to track him down?
Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 18, 2014 - 10:36pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Don't believe he was ever assigned to a PT Boat Squadron. Here's what I found:
Richard Floyd Kelly, Seaman 2/c (RM striker) arrives at MTBSTC Jan 27, 1945 from R/S Boston.
Left MTBSTC on March 28, 1945 to Navy Training and Distribution Center, Shoemaker FFT to duty assign by Western Sea Frontier.
Richard Floyd Kelly, Seaman 2/c (RM striker)(PT) arrives at COMMTB7th Fleet on May 20, 1945. From Receiving Station 3149 (Samar Island, Philippines).
I believe that COM MTB7th Fleet merged with COM MTB Philippine Sea Frontier in August 1945 as that is who is carrying him on muster.
COM MTB Philippine Sea Frontier transferred him to Receiving Ship, Manila on Oct 11, 1945.
Charlie
Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: May 19, 2014 - 5:40am
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm
Hey Jerry,
Every time I see your March 5, 2014 shot of PT-658 in the downtown Portland Williamette River, it has the same effect on me; just laugh-out-loud funny. It's just not exactly the environment it was designed for...
ROSS FISHER [:-laughing-:]
ross@dupagels.lib.il.us
Posted By: ROSS FISHER | Posted on: May 20, 2014 - 5:18pm
Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Jul 23, 2008 - 10:03am
It's just some curious natives Ross. I've seen a few other photos of them coming up to PTs.
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: May 20, 2014 - 7:45pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
Hi Ross and Jeff,
Yes that was pretty cool when it happened! They had closed the river to all boat traffic for 3 hours so the special event "The Big Float" could take place with 1000's of tubers and swimmers crossing the river in July of 2012. We were returning back to the base from the Milwaukee Oregon Festival with several WW2 PT Boat vets aboard, when we were stopped by the River Patrol and had to pull in and wait for the duration at the OMSI Museum dock. Then, after about 10 minutes of waiting, the Sherriffs Patrol came and got us after the Big Float organizers made a special exception just for the historic PT658 to pass among the swimmers. Just in front of us was a green Sherriffs patrol boat leading the way. All of the crowd was waving and clapping and it was kind of surreal. I thought to myself this is what it may have felt like pulling into the Philippines after the Battle of Surigao Straights!
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 20, 2014 - 9:19pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Hi Jerry,
Great photo and a little surreal but to have been on the Boat at the time something not to be forgotten.
And just think 70 odd years after WW11 there's a PT Boat still making history, can't get any better than that!!
On a lighter note it appears that you are manning three of the gun stations not expecting to repel boarders are you?
Dave.
D.buck
Posted By: David Buck | Posted on: May 21, 2014 - 1:04am
Total Posts: 332 | Joined: May 4, 2008 - 2:59am
Thats pretty funny! No we would have helped them climb aboard if they would have tried! BTW we are mounting a 60mm Mortar onto the bow deck tommorrow. Still must get more guns! Take care. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 21, 2014 - 3:50am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Can't have to many that's for sure, also good to see her on the water were she belongs.
Will be waiting on the Pics.
Ta for now.
D.buck
Posted By: David Buck | Posted on: May 21, 2014 - 6:17am
Total Posts: 332 | Joined: May 4, 2008 - 2:59am