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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: PT-550
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3638



Growing up I had the honor of living next door to Mr. Ferri. He was a hell of a nice guy and it wasn't until I got 'older' did I find his war stories interesting. I had always known that he served on a torpedo boat because my father would always mention it every so often when PT-109 came to subject..

As a senior in High School I was assigned a history project to interview a WWII veteran. There were a series of standard questions I needed to ask, as well as ones I made myself (so please excuse the few random questions).

It wasn't until a few years ago (Mr. Ferri had since passed in 2008) that I found the cassette tapes and decided to digitize them for the computer. I also asked a family member if I could borrow any pictures that he could find of the boat. I took scans of those photo's and cd's of the recordings and brought them with me to Battleship Cove in Fall River, Mass.

While exploring the exhibit there with my parents, I happen to run into Donald Shannon, the curator of the whole museum. I don't think I have ever met anyone so nice before. We explained that we had driven there to personally deliver the photographs and recording for donation to the museum. He was so humble to be receiving the pictures that he personally took us on a tour and spent a few hours just talking about the boats to us! It was at that point I realized that these boats are truly special.

Today I happen to be just reading around the internet when I stumbled across this website. I can tell that this is a close tight passionate community. Information is scarce and whatever information that still exists is priceless. Please, feel free to use these pictures and audio for your own use. Whether it be for museum or personal enjoyment, let us keep them alive!

Regards,
Chris M.
Tenafly, NJ


[url]https://soundcloud.com/chrismar-3/pt-550-ernest-ferri-part-1[/url]

[url]https://soundcloud.com/chrismar-3/pt-550-ernest-ferri-part-2[/url]


[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/chodder/PTBOAT/1.png[/image]
[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/chodder/PTBOAT/2.png[/image]
[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/chodder/PTBOAT/3.png[/image]
[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/chodder/PTBOAT/4.png[/image]
[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/chodder/PTBOAT/5.png[/image]
[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/chodder/PTBOAT/6.png[/image]
[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/chodder/PTBOAT/DSC05144.jpg[/image]
[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/chodder/PTBOAT/DSC05146.jpg[/image]


Posted By: chrism | Posted on: Aug 20, 2014 - 1:18pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Chris,

Thanks to you -- and Mr. Ferri -- for posting those photos.

Of particular interest to me in those photos is the one of the boat tied up along the shoreline in the bushes, the way many PTs were in the Pacific, to camouflage them from the air, and also the ones that show the large numeral "5" on the bow of the boat -- never seen anything like that, in all the many PT boat photos I've seen before.

-- Drew



Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Aug 20, 2014 - 1:46pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am



Chis;
Welcome aboard!! Thank you for sharing and for being so caring in honoring the memory of Mr. Ferri as you did. While a lot of material finds its way to the PT Boat Museum, many of other PT veterans photos are just being lost as they go on their final patrols. Photos, mementoes, and memorabilia, stored in old trunks, footlockers, or boxes, in attics, garages, or basements, are just getting discarded.
Take care,
TED
P.S. I agree with Drew, While I have seen single numbers painted on the SO-A radome, I have never seen a large number like this painted on the bow, interesting.



Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Aug 21, 2014 - 6:44am
Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am



Ted, in your post you talk about how our PT VETS are making their final patrols, and this is something that breaks my heart. For instance in 1998 I had 15 PT BOAT VETERANS that donated their time to one of my Exhibits. Today there are only 2 left, one just turning 93, and the other 87. Another good point that you bring up, is the artifacts and other items being discarded. I can't tell you how many items I have saved by purchasing them for my Mosquito Fleet Exhibit. I have to get it in my head that not everyone on the planet loves and has a passion for the boats and men as I do. Some could care less, and I have seen items about to be thrown out because the children of these special men don't care. We need to save these items for future generations, By the way, welcome to the Board and thank you for posting the photos and the intervew.



Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Aug 21, 2014 - 10:10am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am



Chris M.
Thanks so much for posting these pictures! My Dad is in the upper left square in the last picture posted. I had never seen this picture before and we stumbled upon it during a visit to the PT Museum in Fall River. It was an extraordinary discovery. Glad to see some more information on PT 550 - there isn't a whole lot of information out there. Many Thanks. Tweets55

Posted By: Tweets55 | Posted on: Aug 3, 2015 - 7:43pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Welcome Chris,
Thanks for posting the photos and the audio. I'm going to sit down and give it a good listen. Thanks for keeping those memories and making them available for others to enjoy.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Aug 3, 2015 - 9:44pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm



Chris - Thanks for helping to keep the torch burning...

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Aug 4, 2015 - 9:57am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm



Interesting. I need to check-out those audio clips. My father, Bill Clements, was BM2C on the 548 boat of Ron 28. It's fascinating to think that he may have been milling around somewhere in the background when the 550 boat/crew pictures were take. I have Dad's 548 boat/crew pictures that I'll try to post (previously sent copies of them to PT Boats Inc. on a DVD).

Dan C.

Posted By: Dan C | Posted on: Aug 4, 2015 - 10:42am
Total Posts: 14 | Joined: Feb 8, 2011 - 10:36am



Dan
Please do we would love to see you Dad's PT 548 photos.
Take care,
TED



Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Aug 4, 2015 - 11:04am
Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am