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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: Training other than at Melville?
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Hello precious PT-boaters...
Dad apparently never trained at Melville...he was at Farragut, then the Naval Training School in Madison, Wis in 1943. (I have his Farragut class picture, and a 1943 letter on NTS letterhead from Madison.)

Would that be due to his radio training? Also, I thought he told me once that he joined base 16 and was a plank owner there, then transferred as a radio/radar opr in Ron 11, then joined the 175 crew in the Bismarck Archipelago (Emirau) in the spring of 1944. I'm confused about
1) not training at Melville, and
2) the plank owner reference
Thanks for any assistance. Jonnie

I'm my father's daughter, honoring all WWII Veterans.
Love you Dad!

Posted By: Jonnie 2ndGen Ron11 PT175 | Posted on: Jan 4, 2008 - 3:34pm
Total Posts: 1 | Joined: Aug 24, 2020 - 3:46pm

I believe that the PT personnel who were original squadron members went through the Melville Training Station. Many of the replacement personnel also went through Melville. However many replacement personnel never saw Melville. Some went through training as GM, QM, TM, RM at various training centers throughout the country--San Diego, Great Lakes, Farragut and Bainbridge--and then were assigned to squadrons overseas. Also, some squadrons in the SW Pacific were getting replacements direct from boot camps. They learned on-the-job.

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Jan 4, 2008 - 6:01pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

HELLO JONIE I ALSO DID NOT GO THRU MELVILLE.I WENT TO BOOT CAMO AT GREAT LAKES THEN TO DETROIT TRAINING SCHOOL FOR COOK AND BAKER TRAINING.WHILE THERE THEY ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO VOLUNTEER FOR PT BOATS.I REJECTED THE IDEA AT THE TIME.LATER I WAS SENT OVERSEAS TO NUMEA,NEW CALEDONIA FOR ASSIGNMENT.THEY DRAFTED ME INTO THE PT BOAT SERVICE THERE.I WAS ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS BASE FORCES AND FINALLY TO PT 108,RON 5. I WAS IN VARIOUS BASES PRIOR TO RON 5 IN DIFFERENT RONS.I CAN SAY THAT IT WASM A VERY EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE BOATS.I HAVE NEVER REGRETTED IT.
AS TO ":PLANK OWNER" THE ONLY REFERENCE I HAVE TO THAT IS MAYBE BEING A PLANK OWNER IN THE PT BOATS,INC.
I MAY HAVE CROSSED YOUR FATHERS PATH IN RON 11.NOT SURE.BEIBNG A COOK YOU MET EVERYONE THERE THRU THE CHOW LINES.
ITS NICE THAT YOU REMEMBER YOUR DAD'S SERVICE. IN THE "BOATS"
BLESS YOU EARL

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Jan 4, 2008 - 7:38pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm

A "plank owner" was an member of the squadron when the squadron was commissioned.

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Jan 5, 2008 - 6:59pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered