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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: Calvertville
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I pride myself as a researcher but I have not been able to locate Calvertville's exact location on a map.

I have read descriptions of its location. I have read descriptions on this Message Board from people who have been there. I have read Earl Richmond's words:
Going into Tulagi ... at the end of the channel ... we bore right around the end of it .. we turned right and went a short way further down the channel.

Can someone save me from my ignorance?

The map below has A B C D E F printed in red. Choose the correct answer or do I need more letters? Thank you very much.

[image] http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/Calvertville.jpg [/image]

natsmith

Posted By: Nathaniel Smith | Posted on: Jun 14, 2008 - 4:38pm
Total Posts: 211 | Joined: Jan 19, 2008 - 6:55am



Nat;
From everything I have read, Calvertville was A, at Sesapi.
Happy Fathers Day to you and your Dad.
Take care,
TED



Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jun 15, 2008 - 6:33am
Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am



IT WAS SESAPI,TULAGI HARBOR /A YOU CAN FOLLOW THE CHANNEL UP AROUND THE POINT AND TURN TO THE BASE.



earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Jun 15, 2008 - 11:12am
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm



Ask the man who's been there. Thanks, Earl!

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jun 15, 2008 - 3:13pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm



This is what I love about all of you and this message board. You are great. I just love being able to post a question and have those that know and those that were there respond. In doing my research ... I have found the books to be wrong so many times. Pat Rogers has straightened me out many times and now Earl. Good job.

Earl ... recently I have been going over your old posts to research what the Ship Cook did for the PT boat. I love the recipe section. I remember my dad telling me that his cook, E.W. Habenicht (Cookie), could make SPAM taste like ham, beef, chicken (he had a few other menu items I can't remember). Pat Rogers remembers him well and has sent me pictures of him. While Pat remembers the cook staying at base ... my dad remembers the cook providing food all night on patrols ... and them manning the battle stations during an attack.

Happy Fathers Day one and all.

[image] http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/Artie-Pat-Cookie.jpg[/image] [image] http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/SPAM1943.jpg [/image]
left to right: Art Schwerdt, Pat Rogers, Cookie E.W. Habenicht (plus a frequent meal)

natsmith

Posted By: Nathaniel Smith | Posted on: Jun 15, 2008 - 4:42pm
Total Posts: 211 | Joined: Jan 19, 2008 - 6:55am



NATHANIEL AND WILL THANK YOU SO MUCH.IF EVERYONE STOPPED ASKING QUESTIONS WE WOULDN,T BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR BRAINS ACTIVE GIVING YOU THE ANSWERS.KEEP THE QUESTIONS COMING.THAT CAN OF SPAM DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE ONES WE HAD.YOU COULD FRY IT,BAKE IT,BOIL IT,MIX IT BURN IT AND EVEN MAKE SOUP OUT OF IT BUT IT WAS STILL SPAM.TRY A SPAM BURGER.YOU MIGHT LIKE IT.SPAM PARMESSAN IS GOOD TOO.I GUESS, IF YOU HAD ENOUGH ALKY,IT COULD EVEN TASTE LIKE STEAK.CNA EVEN MIX IT WITH FISH FOR A FISH BURGER.ONE THING THOUGH,IT TOOK ALL OF US TO RUN THE BOATS.IF WE DID NOT DO THE JOB TOGETHER IT WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED OUT.SO ALL THE OTHERS DESERVE EQUAL CREDITS.WE WERE A CLOSE KNIT BUNCH OF GUYS.GLAD YOU LIKED THE RECIPES.WE TRIED EVEN THOUGH ,SOMETIMES,WE GOT A BAD REP.TAKE CARE,BE WELL AND ENJOY YOUR SNACKS. EARL

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Jun 15, 2008 - 7:10pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm



Don't want to sound like I'm contradicting someone who was there, but from what I've read, I thought CALVERTVILLE was actually on Florida Island.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-25.html

Charlie

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jun 16, 2008 - 11:58am
Total Posts: 598 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm



A very interesting but long read. I copied the relevent portion and posted it here


Tulagi
Concurrent with the building up of the large base on Guadalcanal, Tulagi,across Iron Bottom Sound and part of the Florida Island group, was developed as a small naval base. It provided a well-protected harbor where large ships could anchor, and facilities were established for the reserve storage of fuel and diesel oil, and for the support of seaplanes, landing craft, and motor torpedo boats.
Tulagi, with a circumference of about 3 miles, was the seat of government for the British Protectorate of the Solomons.

In October 1942, a detachment of 59 men of the 6th Battalion was sent from Guadalcanal to Tulagi to built a PT-boat base at Sesapi. The strength of the detachment was later increased to 133 officers and men. First, an emergency outlet channel for Tulagi harbor was dredged and blasted to avoid having PT boats bottled up by enemy warships. Two PT-boat floating drydocks were assembled from pontoons; a 50-man camp was set up; and power and telephone systems to serve the island and harbor area were installed. The detachment also furnished a number of carpenter details to assist with the maintenance and repair of PT boats.

By August 1943, the facilities at the Sesapi base had been augmented to provide more shop facilities and storage areas, to permit major PT-boat overhaul. A repair and service unit was set up able to support 40 PT boats in combat operations. The Seabees also built three small wharves for PT boats. Much of this later work was done by the 27th Battalion.

In addition, PT-boat facilities were constructed on the island of Macambo, the base housing at Calvertville on Florida Island. An existing concrete wharf at Macambo, in need of repair but still serviceable, was used, but it was necessary to build torpedo overhaul and storage facilities.

In July 1943, PT Squadrons 1, 3, and 8 were using the Sesapi and Macambo bases. Two 1,000-barrel tanks for aviation gasoline were erected at Sesapi, and eight 1,000-barrel tanks at Macambo, with loading line to the dock.





Posted By: Gary Szot | Posted on: Jun 16, 2008 - 12:22pm
Total Posts: 193 | Joined: Feb 12, 2007 - 1:00pm



This is the quote Charlie referenced. I have seen it before but defer to those that have been there.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-25.html
'In addition, PT-boat facilities were constructed on the island of Macambo, the base housing at Calvertville on Florida Island. An existing concrete wharf at Macambo, in need of repair but still serviceable, was used, but it was necessary to build torpedo overhaul and storage facilities. In July 1943, PT Squadrons 1, 3, and 8 were using the Sesapi and Macambo bases. Two 1,000-barrel tanks for aviation gasoline were erected at Sesapi, and eight 1,000-barrel tanks at Macambo, with loading line to the dock.'

This site has the following sentence.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4442/is_200802/ai_n21278676/pg_2
'Within a few days of arriving at Calvertville on Florida Island (PT Base), Kennedy was assigned to take over the 109.'

In addition ....
This site has the following sentence.
http://books.google.com/books?id=ChyilRml0hcC&pg=PA117
&lpg=PA117&dq=calvertville+%22florida+island%22&source=web
&ots=bJiaBXsz2k&sig=UndgSIRcNyjzdJovbRKZMn_hsyM&hl=en
&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result
'Base facilities were built at Calvertville across Tulagi Harbour on Florida Island. Havavo Seaplane Base (CLOVER) was constructed at the base of the Halavo ...'

This is what drives us researchers crazy ... or this is what makes researching fun.
[image]http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/Calvertville2.jpg [/image]

natsmith

Posted By: Nathaniel Smith | Posted on: Jun 16, 2008 - 12:34pm
Total Posts: 211 | Joined: Jan 19, 2008 - 6:55am



hey guys very confusing,i admit.it seems that tulagi was part of the florida island group and sesapi and calverttville were part of tulagi.don,t know if this makes sense or not.
all i can remember is that as we went up the channel to the left of the island to the end,and at the right side before you made the turn there was a sign on the right that said"calvertville".THEN you made the right turn and proceeded further down to the base on the left.i also seem to remember there was something referring to a submqarine base there just before you made ther turn.the buckley sign was either at the point or just before the base on the left.i think that you could also go seaward,ftom the base,thru a channel to the left of the piers and base??there was also the sign as you disembarked from the boat at the water end of the pier. maybe i am getting a little goofy by now so i hope i am right. if not, please correct me. earl
THIS IS STARTING TO GET INTERESTING

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Jun 16, 2008 - 1:14pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm



It is possible Earl is right and all the other historians miss-copied Samuel Eliot Morison. If you ignore the period and the end of the first sentence it reads 'Calvertville on Florida Island'

History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Samuel Eliot Morison, page 102
http://books.google.com/books?id=3A5tmLpVlEoC
&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=calvertville+%22florida+island%22
&source=web&ots=b24hAZDyVX&sig=b_xWhY4itch3gWmBVgmOyo2JpWA
&hl=en
&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5
&ct=result

'Up-harbor, where there used to be a native village called Sesape, a swarm of motor torpedo boats is moored and new barracks for their crews have been built across the harbor at 'Calvertville.' On Florida Island, behind Gavutu and Tanambogo, which were captured only last August, Seabees are completing a seaplane base.'

natsmith

Posted By: Nathaniel Smith | Posted on: Jun 16, 2008 - 1:40pm
Total Posts: 211 | Joined: Jan 19, 2008 - 6:55am



THE AREA I WAS IN HAD NO BARRACKS.IT WAS AN OLD NATIVE VILLAGE THAT WAS TAKEN OVER AS A "BASE" I THINK c>j> CAN REMEMBER THIS AREA.WE HAD ONLY METAL AIRPLANE TREADS TO KEEP US FROM WALKING IN THE MUD.THE QUARTERS WERE HUTS M,OSTLY BUILT UP ON "STILTS".WE WERE RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF THE JUNGLE THAT WAS SEMI-CIRCLED AROUND US.I THINK THERE WAS ONLY ONE PIER,NOT SURE,TO DISEMBARK FROM THE BOATS ON.AT THE END OF THE TRACK,FROM THE PIER TO THE BACK,ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WAS THE HUT WE HAD TO SIGN OUR WILLS AND MAKE SURE OUR INSURANCE BENIFITS PAPERS WERE COMPLETED.THERE WERE ALSO SOME TENTS THERE.I THINK ,SOMEWHERE, I HAVE A PHOTO OF A NATIVE GIRL,WOUND UP ON BETTLE NUT,DANCING LIKE CRAZY.ONLY HAD A GRASS SKIRT ON.I THINK SHE WAS IN FRONT OF A REPAIR SHOP THAT WAS ON THE LEFT OF THE TREADS.THAT WAS AT THE END IOF THE PIER???THE ANIMALS,ETC WENT CRAZY AT NIGHT TIME AND THE BUGS WERE TERRIBLE. WE ATE OUT OF OUR MESS KITS AND WATER WAS IN LISTER BAGS.


earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Jun 16, 2008 - 2:36pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm



How about somebody posting a good copy of that overhead aerial-view photo of the "PT base at Tulagi" we've seen published ad infinitum over the years...

Maybe Dick W. can blow it up enough to see the "Calvertville" sign over the Marsden Matting walkway (if it's in that famous photo)...



Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jun 16, 2008 - 6:26pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am



I found this image on the internet:
http://kennedy.e-monsite.com/rubrique,heros-de-guerre-1,1031645.html
[image] http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/PT-base-Tulagi-small.jpg[/image]
Will this help?

natsmith

Posted By: Nathaniel Smith | Posted on: Jun 16, 2008 - 6:40pm
Total Posts: 211 | Joined: Jan 19, 2008 - 6:55am



i must be getting dotty.seems you had to pass calvertville to get to sesapi.they were opposite each other. some references to kennedy place him at both places.
checked the site you gave. very good.if someone goes to boston maybe they can go to the kennedy library and clear this up.seems to be "dragging on" some earl

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Jun 16, 2008 - 7:47pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm



I spent some time at Tulagi and Calvertville also and I don't claim to be any map expert.
I always thought that as you went into the area, you stayed to the left because there was a series of "sh**" toilets extended out into the water on stilts to the right. When I received an advancement in grade, a few individuals on board my boat, PT154, decided that they would veer to the right and throw me overboard close to that vicinity. Thiis was their way of celebrating my promotion. Fortunately, I was versed in the breast stroke in getting to shore as I swam to the left. I don't recall any other crew member being treated in this manner..



Posted By: Pat Rogers | Posted on: Jun 17, 2008 - 12:59pm
Total Posts: 72 | Joined: Oct 10, 2006 - 3:21am



Nat, that indeed is the photo I was talking about.

Still needs a good, clear Dick Washichek enlargement...



Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jun 17, 2008 - 1:32pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am



Maybe Calvertville is the more residential part of the PT boat base at Sesapi. This would also explain why Earl said you had to pass Calvertville before getting to Sesapi. I think Pat's message implies they were near each other.

Pat I hope a certain CO did not condone your grade advancement 'baptism'.

'PT-109 joined MTB Squadron FIVE and shifted to Panama, replacing the first eight PT boats that sailed on transports for the south Pacific in early September. Six of the Elco boats, PTs 109 through 114, were then transferred to MTB Squadron TWO on 26 October 1942 and prepared for deployment to the Solomon Islands. The boats were loaded on cargo ships and sailed west, arriving at Sesapi, Tulagi harbor, Nggela Islands, at the end of November. There, the Elco boats joined the earlier boats--which had established the MTB base at Sesapi in October--to form Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla ONE, under Commander Allen P. Calvert.'
http://history.navy.mil/danfs/p/PT-109.htm

I found this picture on the internet and I inserted a field-of-view map to explain my best guess as to what you are looking at. There does not appear to be a base across the water on Florida Island
[image]http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/Tulagi-Harbor.jpg[/image]

natsmith

Posted By: Nathaniel Smith | Posted on: Jun 17, 2008 - 4:45pm
Total Posts: 211 | Joined: Jan 19, 2008 - 6:55am



nathaniel could you send me your e mail address?pt108earl@aol.com

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Jun 17, 2008 - 8:18pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm



Nat,

Apparently, my memories about cooks going on patrols is completely different from other people. As I recall, in Ron 9 and in the bases on which we served, the cooks generally established a mess hall and congregated to do the cooking and serve the meals in a mess hall or tent area. This was the case on Russell and Munda (you call it Rendova). I don't recall Taboga but I believe we ate on the base there also.

I don't believe your father was talking about Habenicht when he was talking about spam tasting like real food. I am not sure of when the incident occurred but I think it was on our trip from Noumea to Tulagi in Feb 1943. We were finally moving into the battle zone and several Ron 9 boats were travelling on their own power. I recall that it was a beautiful ride as the ocean was so calm, the boats were new and we could really travel. I also learned that the flying fishes could just about keep up with the PT boats. I would watch them as they came out of the water and fly through the air. We did make a stopover at Espiritu Santos and that was one of the prettiest islands that I got to see. I believe it is now called Vanadu.

"Cookie" Habenicht was preparing the meals on the trip. Something occurred that disturbed him in respect to the officers. Cookie was from the Carolinas and he liked to spice up some of his meals. One of the officers objected so the next meal for the officers was even hotter. The crew was fortunately spared. It wasn't long after that that Habenicht was no longer a crew member of PT154. I am going by my memory.

I recall that we came ashore for meals when we were stationed at Russell and Munda. At Munda, the PT base was on a small island at one end of the harbor and the big base, where the LST's docked, was at the other end. We had an air raid in June or July in which a cook by the name of Todd was killed on the PT boat island so that the island got to be called Todd Island. (I recall seeing pictures on this message board where lcations were named after Schwerdt, Beckett and McLaughlin.)

On Treasury Island we had a new cook (can't recall the name) and that is the one that I think your father was talking about. Here each boat more or less established its own little base and there was a cook assigned to each boat crew. PT154 had a guy who was a regular cook at Ford Restaurant in San Francisco and he was an excellent cook. That was one of the enjoyable features about Treasury Island . I never went to the Ford Restaurant in S.F. but other people considered it very highly. To the best of my memory, the cook was not on board when we were hit off of Bougainville on Nov. 13-14, 1943.

If I knew how to attach pictures to this message board, I could send some pictures of our "dining" area on Treasury Island.

Smooth sailing,
Pat Rogers












Posted By: Pat Rogers | Posted on: Jun 20, 2008 - 12:32pm
Total Posts: 72 | Joined: Oct 10, 2006 - 3:21am



PAT I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE PHOTO YOU HAVE. BEFORE I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 108 BOAT AS COOK I WAS A BASE COOK ON RENDOVA, TREASURY AND TEMPORAIRILLY ON EMIRAU..A LOT OF THE BOAT CREWS WOULD COME TO THE BASE GALLEYS WHEN THEY WERE NOT ON PATROLS. GAVE THEM A WELL EARNED BREAK FROM THE LIMITED MEALS THEY HAD ON THE BOATS. AND THEY COULD RELAX A LITTLE BIT MORE EATING . EARL

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Jun 20, 2008 - 1:05pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm



Earl Richmond has loaned me some photos. He specifically suggested that I post the Calvertville pictures. Earl has a few xeroxes of a magazine article and I did the best I could to copy them.

To answer my original question, I believe Calvertville to be located just to the north of Sesapi on Tulagi Island. Calvertville was the residental section of the PT Boat base on Tulagi near the utility section called Sesapi. My guess residential was pretty rustic. Both the descriptions provided by Earl and Pat about the place leave all hope of comfort behind. On one picture, Earl shows where his tent was located.

[image] http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/Calvertville-entrance.jpg [/image]

[image] http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/Calvertville-tents.jpg[/image]

[image] http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/Calvertville-sepia.jpg[/image]

[image] http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/Earl's-tent.jpg[/image]



natsmith

Posted By: Nathaniel Smith | Posted on: Aug 3, 2008 - 12:23pm
Total Posts: 211 | Joined: Jan 19, 2008 - 6:55am



I found a map on-line from a book, World War II Pacific Island Guide by Gordon L. Rottman. It places Calvertville across the harbor from Sesapi on Florida Island. I showed the map to Earl today and I he gives it his blessing. His exact words: The map is exactly right and that we WERE across from each other.

If the research was easy it would not be so much fun. Thanks all.

Nat

[image] http://www.valinet.com/~natsmith/PT/Calvertville72.jpg [/image]

natsmith

Posted By: Nathaniel Smith | Posted on: Nov 14, 2008 - 5:31pm
Total Posts: 211 | Joined: Jan 19, 2008 - 6:55am



So...Calvertville was actually on Florida Island, not Tulagi....

Does anyone know which islands were knicknamed the "Sing-Song" islands that the PTs passed on their way out and back on patrols? Were they Tanombogo and Govalu?


Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 - 8:06am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am