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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: PT 242 nightly patrols
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On our approx. 85 nightly patrols of Jap held island in the Solomon Islands we encountered and saw some strange things unrelated to fighting the Japs.
I recall once maybe twice, our skipper calling us to General Quarters as we were paying honor to Venus as it came up over the ocean horizon. I looked just like a light on a ship. We were relieved as it came on up in the sky.
Most nights your eyes adjust to darkness and you are able to see pretty well even on moonless nights. I recall maybe only two nights that it was so dark that you could actually not see your hand before you eyes. It was rainy nights. Those nights we just laid to for fear of collision with other boats in our section. The crew huddled around the cockpit area waiting for daylight.
Another night I recall Saint Elmos Fire dancing around the radar mast, radio antenna and the cockpit. Now that is a real phenomenon to see. I will never forget it.
One night off Bougainville, I remember patrolling half the night with a whale. It was a bright moonlight night. We were patrolling about a mile off shore. As we idled along he would swim with us about 100 yds off our boat. He would go under water for a time then resurface blowing water. It was such a serene setting that it was a shame we were fighting a war.

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Oct 2, 2017 - 11:53am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

CJ, thank you for the stories and insight!

Former crew member of the Big Blue Sightseer ex-PT 486

Posted By: mcgovern61 | Posted on: Oct 2, 2017 - 5:26pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

C.J.
Those are some experiences alright. I always loved the phosphorous lighting up in the wake. I know you guys didn't like it, but it is amazing to look at.
You are right about your vision adjusting to the darkness. Underway, or in Jungle or woods, I have never had a problem on moonless nights(without Night Vision Goggles,NVG's). In fact, I like it. Once you get away from the glare of populated areas, you would be amazed at how much you can see. The most amazing thing is the sky, when I am in my yard, here in Virginia Beach, I can see many stars, but go a few miles offshore and there are millions of stars in the sky. It is the same way while doing Land Navigation courses at places like FT. A.P. Hill, or FT. Pickett. We used to be dropped off an hour after dark, maybe 1800-1900, we had 5-6 way-points to navigate to using pace count and hand compass. usually we would finish between 0300-0500, regardless of weather. on moonless nights I could walk through fine. On nights with moon or even full moon, I could run through the course, and read the map. Then we would get about 4 hours sleep, eat, change clothes if we had to, and go out and do it all again in daytime. We would come back in the afternoon, and do it all again at night. this went on for a week or two, with Land Nav courses getting longer and more difficult. The next class was always escape and evasion. This was all part of pre-deployment training.
While underway, I never saw a whale off our side, we did always travel with 4-6 Dolphins, no matter where we were off the coast, East Coast, Central and South America(Atlantic,Caribbean, Pacific) North Sea, Mediterranean, Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, we had Dolphins with us always. Racing us for hours and hours, it is so beautiful to sit on the bow and watch these wonderful creatures play their game.
Take care
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Oct 2, 2017 - 6:56pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thanks for sharing. My father, Ed Luedeka skippered the 241 boat from late 1944 to 1945. He made a short 8mm film showing the 242 boat that has been transferred to DVD. If you haven't already been given a copy (he was active in PT Boats, Inc and attended reunions) let me know if you'd like a disk. Also, just took a ride on PT305 in New Orleans through the WWII Museum restoration project. I totally understandt Dad's love for these boats. He told my mother those were the best two years of his life (she said she felt like divorcing him!).

Posted By: rluedeka | Posted on: Dec 3, 2017 - 9:08am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hello rluedeka!
Welcome to the Forum. I would like a copy of the DVD movie you mention in your post. What do i need to do in order to obtain one? I also feel like you should consider coming out to Portland OR and visiting the PT658. It is a 78ft Higgins as well and I think you would greatly enjoy seeing it. CJ Willis of the PT242 came out a few years ago and rode the boat and he really enjoyed the boat as well as his son Randy. Please let me know how to get the DVD.
Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Dec 3, 2017 - 10:15am
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Thanks for sharing. My father, Ed Luedeka skippered the 241 boat from late 1944 to 1945. He made a short 8mm film showing the 242 boat that has been transferred to DVD. If you haven't already been given a copy (he was active in PT Boats, Inc and attended reunions) let me know if you'd like a disk. Also, just took a ride on PT305 in New Orleans through the WWII Museum restoration project. I totally understandt Dad's love for these boats. He told my mother those were the best two years of his life (she said she felt like divorcing him!).

Hi, how can I get a copy?

Posted By: deewelch | Posted on: Dec 6, 2017 - 4:20pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered