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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: INFO ON PAUL STONEBACK, XO ON PT492, RON 33
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Paul Stoneback was my father, who was a member of PT Boats, Inc. He retired from the US Naval Reserve at the rank of Commander in the 1970's, and passed away in 1984. Like many veterans, he was very proud of, but also very humble about his PT service. He saw a good amount of action, but rarely spoke about it. I would appreciate any information regarding the battle experience of PT 492, The Impatient Virgin, and RON 33, as well as any personal remembrances of my Dad from surviving crew members and any veterans whose path he crossed. He had great respect for all with whom he served, and always treasured the PT Boat bond you all share. I want to thank any of you in advance who take the time to contact me. My email address is: ricstone@earthlink.net.

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Feb 28, 2008 - 4:22pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Ric: E-mailing you some pictures, including one that shows your father. Check out the book AT CLOSE QUARTERS for history on the ron and the boat.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:42am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Ric,
Here is a link to some Ron 33 photos i collected in my research to model the 495 boat. nothing specific about the 492 but you may them interesting as they show some of the boats and men you father served with.

[url]http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1840703[/url]

This is a link to photos of my PT495 model as i feel she looked in Oct of '44. I'm not sure what time period you are looking for but this reflects how many of the Ron 33 boats looked at the time I tried to "capture" the 495 boat.

[url]http://modelshipwrights.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1578[/url]

I have the action logs for the 495 at home and will go through them this weekend to see if there any mention of the 492.

Ed

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:53am
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am

Will, The pics are spectacular! I responded to your email with a couple of stories my Dad passed on to me regarding the return of MacArthur to the Philippines. My Dad is actually in two of your photos. In the first crew shot, he is waaay in the back to the right, beside the searchlight. Many, many thanks! -Ric

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 4:43pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Ed, Thank you so much for the RON 33 shots. They are fascinating. My father told me that at one point during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, his boat, PT 492, threw a towline to a disabled PT. As they were towing it to safety, the disabled boat received a direct hit, turning it virtually to matchsticks. I wonder if it was the 493? I am also fascinated by your model. I believe PT 492 was most likely identical to this in October, 1944. My Dad told me they were installing rocket launchers on deck in preparation for the Invasion of Japan in 1945, when they received word that the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Could you send me the dimensions of your model? The detail is absolutely exquisite! Do you or any of the other builders do custom boats? Someday I would love to get a model of PT 492 made, although the expense would probably be prohibitive. I can only imagine the number of hours that go into making a model with that much detail. Your art, dedication, and love of history are very apparent in this piece. Thank you for sharing it with me. And of course, if you should come across anything else pertinent to the 492, please let me know. Best, Ric

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 5:27pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Thanks Ric. I appreciate your kind words. The model is 1/35 scale or about 29" long. It is based on the plastic Italeri PT 596 kit. I'll look through the action logs this weekend.
Ed

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 6:22pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am

RIC

ON DECEMBER 11/12 SKIPPER LT. MELVIN W. HAINES IN PT 492, ALONG WITH PT 490 ATTACKED A DESTROYER WHICH WAS LAYING TO NEAR PALOMPLON ON THE WEST COAST OF LEYTE. BOTH BOATS WORKED THERE WAY IN TO ABOUT 1000 YARDS WITH PT 490 LAUNCHING 4 TORPEDOES AND THE 492 LAUCHING TWO.

NO LESS THAN THREE TORPEDOES HIT THE JAPANESE DESTROYER UZUNKI, WHICH SANK IN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES. THIS DESTROYER WAS 330 FOOT LONG AND DISPLACED ABOUT 1,315 TONS.

PT 492 ALSO TOOK PART IN THE SURRENDER OF OVER 500 JAPANESE TROOPS WHEN THEY CARRIED ARMY PERSONEL AND JAPANESE SURRENDER COMMISSION PERSONEL TO ISOLATED ENEMY OUTPOST'S ON THE ISLANDS OF SAMAR, MASBATE, AND ROMBLON.

I WILL CHECK MY RECORDS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BOAT WHEN I HAVE TIME.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:09pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

RIC

PT 493 SKIPPERED BY LT. RICHARD W. BROWN PICKED UP RADAR BLIPS NEAR THE PANAON ISLAND. THE BOATS SET OUT TO INTERCEPT THEM. THEY RAN INTO A RAIN SQUALL AND CLOSED TO ABOUT 700 YARDS OF THREE JAPANESE DESTROYERS AND ONE CRUISER. THE BOATS LAUCHED TORPEDOES AND WERE TAKEN UNDER FIRE BY THE DESTROYERS. PT 493 TRIED TO LAUNCH A TORPEDO BUT IT HUNG UP IN THE RACK. FIRE FROM THE JAP SHIPS WAS SO INTENSE, PT 493 TOOK OFF, LAYING SMOKE. ONE 4.7 INCH SHELL HIT THE 493 GOING THRU THE HULL JUST ABOVE THE WATER LINE. ANOTHER SHELL TORE THRU THE ENGINE ROOM CAUSING SOME DAMAGE TO THE ENGINES.

A THIRD SHELL HIT THE CHARTHOUSE, KILLING 2 MEN, WOUNDING THE BOAT CAPTAIN, SECOND OFFICER AND THREE MEN. ENS. ROBERT CARTER, ALTHOUGH WOUNDED GOT TO HIS FEET AND MADE HIS WAS TO THE PANANON SHORE, BEACHING THE BOAT. THE DEAD AND WOUNDED WERE TAKEN ASHORE. I DO KNOW THAT PT 491 TOOK THE CREW OF PT 493 ONBOARD WITH THEM. I HAVE NO RECORD OF PT 492 BEING WITH THAT GROUP THAT NIGHT. PT 493 FLOATED AT HIGH TIDE, BUT SUNK IN DEEP WATER.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:24pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank, Thanks for the great info! I have a picture, that PT Boats, Inc. also has on file, of my Dad posing in the cockpit of PT 492 in full battle gear. This was taken directly after the Uzunki sinking. According to the newspaper account of the time, the Uzunki was the last major Japanese ship sunk off the Philippines. Your post was the first time I heard of the surrender mission. Thanks again. Anything else you might find is greatly appreciated! -Ric

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:30pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Frank, Thanks for the story of the demise of the 493. I doubt it was the boat at the end of the towline from PT 492 I discussed before. But my father lost some friends that day. -Ric

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:36pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

The 493 was with the 490 and 491 that night.Oct 24/25 '44 during the battle of Surigao Strait. 490 fired 4 torpedoes at 300 yards and the 491 fired 2 at 2000 yards at 4 ships.
The 493 was struck in the lazarette and headed for the beach in sinking condition. Two crew were killed. The boat beached at 0300 at Maoyo Point.
0440, 491 searches for 493 but contacts Jap CA and fires 2 torpedoes with no observed hits. 491 retires evading enemy fire.
0630, PT490 sights PT493 bow onto a ledge along the beach and tranfers crew, casualties and equipment. PT 489, PT492 and PT495 arrive at 0700.
To aviod PT 493 falling into enemy hands, PT495 put a line over to 493's bullnose and took a strain. PT493 slid off the ledge and sank completely by the stern. PT493 sank in 83 fathoms of water.

[There are a couple of photos of the 493 sinking and one with the 495's line on her bullnose in my RON 33 photo album.]

I found this passage in an action report:
9/10 Nov 1944

1645, PT's 497 (OTC) and 492 underway for patrol from Capitancillo Island to Cabgan Island, Camotes group. 2355 sighted radar targets, two off Poro Island and 2 off Apali Point, all on easterly course, seven miles from boats. Three enemy DD's sighted off north end of Ponson Island at 0140. Boats closed to 2000 yards and fired 8 torpedoes at last DD in column. One hit was observed and ship disappeared from radar screen and is believed to have sunk.
Ammumnition expended:
8 torpedoes
2000 rds .50 cal.
360 rds 20mm.
80 rds 37mm.
120 rds 40mm.

{and}

11/12 Nov 1944 492 and 497 patrolled Ormoc Bay. Lay off Maasin at 2052 to land passengers. .....Sighted small ship at 0150 and each boat fired 2 torpedoes without result.

13/14 Nov 1944
1550, PT492 (OTC) and 489....land scouts and supplies at Poro village. Returned to base at 1145.

24/25 Nov 1944
1330, PT's 492 (OTC) and 497 patrol Ormac Bay. 2215, boats one mile from offshore in Ormoc Bay, one 5 inch shell fired from beach landed close aboard PT492 without damage. Enemy aircraft mad srafing run on boats at 2352. Boats returned fire without result. No damage to boats. Returned to base 0945.

[Hope you enjoyed these reports. They are all i have about the 492. My research was about the 493 and 495 boats and only covered the late Oct to late Nov '44 time period.

Ed

(I would enjoy seeing the photos and if you like I will add them to my Ron 33 Album page if you e-mail me copies. The e-mail like, above, for me is good.)

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 9:00pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am

Hi Ed, Great reports! Thanks. Send me your email address, and I will send you a few pics for your page. I need to get some original photos from my brother ans scan them, now that I finally bought a scanner! Again, my email is ricstone@earthlink.net. -Ric

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Feb 29, 2008 - 9:15pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I just have to say I alway enjoy reading here about Ron 33. Ron 33 was a very distinguished squadron. Not sure how many people know this but there were only two medal of honor recepients from PT service. John Bulkeley and Author Preston (PT 489, Ron 33). You can read about him here: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/apreston.htm

Ray

Posted By: Ray Wilbur | Posted on: Mar 1, 2008 - 10:20am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Ray, Thanks for your post. Yes, my father knew Arthur Preston pretty well. According to my Dad, Preston was not an easy man to get along with. Ha! -Ric

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Mar 1, 2008 - 10:44am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Ric, my Dad was on the 495. He helped Ed with some thought for his model. It's a beauty!

Ray

Posted By: Ray Wilbur | Posted on: Mar 1, 2008 - 10:56am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Ray, You're right. Ed's model is truly magnificent. It's a great tribute to your Dad and to all who served on the boats.

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Mar 1, 2008 - 12:00pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Ric,
The absolute best part of building the 495 was getting a chance to talk with Ray's father (also named Ray). This is the first time in my life I've ever had a personal connection with a model. Ray, both of them, are fine gentlemen and I owe them a lot.

The second best part of it was finding this board and reading the stories and getting the true-skinny from fantastic vets who were there and walked-the-walk. It is an honor to be in their company.

Ed

I sent you an e-mail.

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Mar 1, 2008 - 4:39pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am

Ed, Yes the PT Boat veterans were and are a special bunch. It was considered elite duty at the time, much like the submarine service. After my Dad went through OCS, he bribed the assignment officer with an expensive bottle of whiskey just to be sent to PT School. I had the great honor to sit at my father's knee growing up, prodding him to regale me with stories of his PT experiences. I only wish I had sat him down in front of a video camera and asked him every question I could think of before his final patrol. He passed away just over 24 years ago, but left behind quite a legacy of integrity, honesty, humility, industry, and irreverent humor. Thankfully, I still have my memories of him and of his WWII stories, which were always colorful to say the least. Although he loved to spin a comic tale, not all his experiences were humorous. For a few years after the war, he suffered night sweats and bad dreams. A loud noise at night would cause him to leap from his bed shouting for battle stations, scaring my mother half to death. A full moon would make him naturally nervous, because that's when the kamikaze planes would most often attack. Eventually these after effects dissipated. As proud as he was of his PT Boat service, he always felt he did his duty, nothing more. My father was a member of what Tom Brokaw rightfully called the Greatest Generation. And I applaud this message board for honoring those who are still with us, and those who are not. Thank you.

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Mar 1, 2008 - 5:51pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Ed, et al -
To expand on your recorded report of 9/10 nov 1944 concerning the 492 and 497 boat, I've dug out my log of that day and for the first time
in 63 1/2 years I'm putting into print the events of that night.
Please forgive the grammar and syntax. I was a very young 18 at the
time and not aspiring to be a writer.

"Went on patrol at 3 in the afternoon. There were 7 boats all together. We broke up in groups of 2's and proceeded toward Ormoc Bay. Some Jap ships were reported to be landing reinforcements there. Our orders were to stop them. By the time we reached Ormoc our radar had crapped out. We let the 492 lead us. Inside the bay the our skipper spotted 3 Jap cans. We crept in to 2500 yards away. The 492 fired all 4 of her fish and missed. Our skipper gave the order 'stand by torpedos'. We slipped in closer till we were only 1500 yards away. Then the order 'Fire!'. My heart was beating like a triphammer. 2 minutes later there was a terrific explosion and a blinding flash of orange light. Red hot pieces of metal flew all over the bay. Everyone started cheering 'we hit her!' Then a searchlight from one of the 2 remaining cans turned on the 492. She was lit up plain as day. A couple of seconds later the other can put her searchlight on us. We both opened our engines wide and started speeding the hell out of there. The 2 cans started firing salvos of 5 inchers at us. Shells were falling all around us thick and heavy. I was expecting one to hit us any minute. We turned on our smoke bottle. For exactly 18 minutes the cans kept chasing us and gaining. Then we cut between 2 small islands and the cans stopped chasing and firing at us. The must have thought we were leading them into a trap. We headed back to the base safe and sound with a Jap destroyer to our credit"

To the best of my knowledge neither the 92 or the 97 received credit for sinking that destroyer. Supposidly the Japanese never reported it sunk.
Our skipper Joe Beckman was awared the Silver Star.

Gus RM 3/C PT497

Posted By: area51 | Posted on: Mar 2, 2008 - 1:21pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Gus, Thanks for the report. I loved it.
Ed

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Mar 2, 2008 - 3:16pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am

Gus,

Thanks for digging out the report of that night. Reading a first-hand account posted by the guy who wrote it 63 years ago is such a treat for me. I really appreciate your effort.

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Mar 2, 2008 - 3:20pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hello everybody. I was reading this thread and it is just a coincidence that we came across a great photo of PT490 when it was used to carry Gen MacArthur. One of our founding members of PT658 Save the PT Boat, Al McCready, was asked by the boats CO to come along and pilot the boat while the General was on board. Here is a photo from that day, we have another picture taked from the front that shows Al driving and Gen Mac in the background.
Here are the pictures. Jerry

PT490 Little Butch Gen MacArthur standing aft of conn on Port side
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT490wMac.jpg[/image]

Here is the front view showing Al driving the boat:
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/AlandDougPT490.jpg[/image]

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Mar 2, 2008 - 8:20pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Ver nice shots jerry. The heck with MacArthur, the boat looks awesome as she is gliding across the ocean. I bet piloting the boat that day was a bit nerve racking, having the general right behind you.....

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 2, 2008 - 10:07pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Thanks for the photos, Jerry, they're great. The only thing we're missing is a shot of Ol' Mac hurling chow over the side! [:-whoo2-:]

Ric Stoneback

Posted By: Ric | Posted on: Mar 3, 2008 - 3:06pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Great photos. I hope you don't mind but I added them to my Ron 33 photo album page. I already had a couple of PT490 with Mac but not these.
[url]http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1840703[/url]
Ed

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Mar 3, 2008 - 3:43pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am