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Topic: PT 48 Skippers and Execs |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Aug 8, 2013 - 5:59pm
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I originally started this to help out Ken Prescott while he was writing his book , well it also went along with my own PT 48 history that I was writing. So it was naturally one hand helping the other.
Now with the passing of John Iles, and Jack Searles also this year, as far as I can tell, Ken Prescott is the last surviving Skipper of PT 48.
PT 48 SKIPPERS
ENS ROBERT R. GREEN |
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TED WALTHER
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Posted on: Aug 9, 2013 - 7:44am
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Damn it!!! Help Dick!!!!
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Dick
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Posted on: Aug 9, 2013 - 3:55pm
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Here it is Ted
PT 48 SKIPPERS
ENS. Robert R. Green / 10-15 Sept 1941
(Perfomed All Acceptance Trails For All 77’ Pt Boats, Shipsup Elco)
ENS. Bruce Van Buskirk / 15 Sept-29 Oct 1941
ENS. John M. Searles, Exec / 15 Sept-8 Nov 1941
ENS. A.B. Chace / 29 Oct 1941-8 Nov 1941
ENS. John M. Searles, Exec / 15 Sept-8 Nov 1941
ENS. John M. Searles / 8 Nov 1941-16 Jan 1942
CQM. (Pa) E. H. Barnum Cob/Exec / 13 Dec 1941
ENS. R.T. Leary / 16 Jan-2 Mar 1942
CQM. (Pa) E. H. Barnum Cob/Exec / 13 Dec 1941
CMM. (Pa) L. E. Beed / 2 Jan 1942
ENS. R.T. Leary / 30 Apr-24 Jun 1942
CQM. (Pa) E. H. Barnum Cob/Exec / 13 Dec-13 Apr 1942
CMM. (Pa) L. E. Beed Cob/Exec / 2 Jan -12 Apr 1942
CBM. Charlie Tufts Cob/Exec / 2 May -24 Jun 1942
LT. Jg. Robert C. Wark / 24 Jun –29 Oct 1942
LT. Jg. Thomas E. Kendall, Exec / 24 Jun-29 Oct 1942
LT. Jg. Thomas E. Kendall / 29 Oct 1942- 18 Feb 1943
LT. Jg. Charles M. Melhorn,Exec / 13 Nov- 12 Dec 1942
LT. Jg. James E. Mountcastle, Exec / 12 Dec 1943- 15 Jan 1943
Boat Out Of Commission For Repairs 18 Feb- 17 May 1943
ENS. John Iles / 17 May-5 July 1943
ENS. A.C. Ham Exec / 17 May-15 July 1943
Boat Out Of Commission For Repairs 5 July 1943- 6 October 1943
LT. Jg. George Wright / 15july-13sept 1943
LT. Jg. P. Wallace, Exec / 15 July-25 July 1943
CMM. R. Dunkin, Cob/Exec / 15 July-13 Sept 1943
LT. Marvin G. Petit / 13 Sept- 1 Nov 1943
ENS. S. Carter,Exec / 13 Sept- 5 Oct 1943
ENS. John T. Badorf, Exec / 2 Oct 1943-3 March 1943
LT. jg. Kenneth W. Prescott / 14 Nov-1 March 1944
ENS. John, T. Badorf, Exec / 2 Oct 1943-1 March 1944
ENS. John, T. Badorf / 1march 1944-?
ENS. Raymond O. Sopher, Exec / 1 March 1944-?
ENS. Raymond O. Sopher / ?- 1 Aug 1944?
Available Log Books Actually End On 3 March 1944
So From 1 March 1944-8 Aug 1944. John Badorf Did Relieve Ken Prescott And Ray Sopher Was Badorf’s Exec, Accoding To Ray Sopher’s Daughter, Marti, Ray Relieved Badorf.
All Succeeding Commanding Officers Are Currently Unverified. Pt 48 Along With Pt 40, Pt 47, Pt 38, Pt 39, And Pt 59, Were Shipped Back To Melville(Mtbtu) In August 1944. Pt 48 Was Designated A Small Craft On 10/20/44 And Given Hull Number C-102582. Oic/Skippers After This Are Also Unknown At This Time. Ens John T. Badorf, Usnr, Was A Delta-Rho And Graduated Franklin And Marshall Class Of 1942.
Ted Walther
8 June 2013(* Last Updated)
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TED WALTHER
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Posted on: May 17, 2014 - 10:56pm
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ALL:
It is with a sad heart I write this. I just found out that CAPT. Kenneth W. Prescott USNR (Ret.)RON 3(2) PT 61 and PT 48, USS Jamestown(APG 3) Gunnery Officer and XO, made his last patrol just a few days after I posted the previous post. Ken made his last patrol on August 20, 2013. So with Ken, now all Skippers of PT 48 are all on their last patrol.
Ken was one of the most gracious and caring gentlemen I have ever had the honor to know. He became a very close friend and we never met. His interests were many, Politics, Military History, Art, Music and Dancing, but the one closest to his heart was PT BOATS! How I wish I had the $$$ ability to restore PT 48 and have had the opportunity to take him out on her one more time, and give him the wheel. I will always cherish our letters that he sent me while I was stationed in Panama, and later when I was deployed to Spain and finally the Persian Gulf, Later when I was back home we would share many phone calls. When my two youngest children were born(1996 and 2001), a handmade baby blanket arrived shortly after each birth, made by his wife Emma-Stina. When the day came when Ken could not talk on the phone anymore, I kept in touch with Emma-Stina off and on, but I could tell things were getting too much for her. She last replied to me that Ken was happy, I had sent him a stack of about 7 CD's I recorded of Glen Miller, Dorsey, early Sinatra, Goodman, Basie, Artie Shaw and the Gramercy Five, and more, She said he loved them. He was a member of our greatest generation, a generation that today we should emulate and learn from more. Decades before some Navy wordsmith dreamed it up, until the end Ken was the embodiment of todays Navy Creed: HONOR COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.
As you ride off into the warm rays of the sun at the wheel of PT 61, with Johnny Iles at the wheel of PT 48, following as trail boat know this, I will miss you for the rest of my days, my friend.
TED
Then 22yr old ENS. Ken Prescott, USNR PT 61 RON 3(2) standing on the dock, Searlesville, Banika Island, Russell Islands May 1943
Ken at the wheel of PT 61Searlesville, Banika Island, Russell Islands May 1943
Breakfast! Ken eating fish and toast PT 61Searlesville, Banika Island, Russell Islands May 1943
PT 61 Crew Searlesville, Banika Island, Russell Islands May 1943
PT 61 Crew Searlesville, Banika Island, Russell Islands May 1943, in color.
ENS. Ken Prescott Clowning for the camera, PT 61 Searlesville, Banika Island, Russell Islands May 1943
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Will Day
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Posted on: May 18, 2014 - 6:24am
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Well said....
Will |
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TED WALTHER
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Posted on: May 18, 2014 - 6:42am
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Will;
I am adding photos to my previous post, stand by.
TED
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TED WALTHER |
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Posted on: May 18, 2014 - 7:23am
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All;
I just had to add, a few of Ken's wonderful Kodachrome photos from Searlesville. to my previous post.
Enjoy.
Take care,
TED
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Roy Forbes
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Posted on: May 18, 2014 - 2:39pm
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Thank you Ted for the wonderful story and great photos.
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Jerry Gilmartin |
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Posted on: May 18, 2014 - 10:21pm
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Hi Ted,
Please pass my condolences to the Prescott family. I was on the other hand glad and surprised to see the photo you posted of an actual PT Boat crew in possession of a BAR. This is the first time I have ever seen one. We obtained one for display on PT658 partly in response to the PT617 National Register Listing Document that lists a BAR as one of the weapons found on board the PT Boats. Further investigation of the Elco and Higgins allowance lists for small arms only lists 2 Thompson SMGs, three 1903 Springfield bolt action rifles and 10 45 auto pistols. Never any mention of a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle). I wonder if you have heard and could relay any stories about how the crew of the PT61 or any other PT crew came about possessing a real BAR for use on the boat? I will bet there are a few good stories in there somewhere! Thanks again and please post more of the same if you have them! Jerry PT658 Portland OR
Photo of PT658 small arms rack in Wardroom showing BAR 3rd from left
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
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Will Day
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Posted on: May 18, 2014 - 10:45pm
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I know firing a BAR is mentioned in the Ron 37 history.
Will |
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