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Topic: RON 10 ZEBRA STRIPES TO SOLID COLOR |
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 7:50am
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Hello everybody-
I know that this question has been kicked about on this board once before. But I'm going to aks it once again.
Did any of the RON-10 boats which were orginally zebra striped retain their stripes until the end of the war or were they all repainted in the field?
In Frank Johnson's book there is a shot of the 169 boat in black and white in what I would say is solid green.
The reason for my question is that I have seen many photos of RON-10 boats in orginal zebra stripe camofladge and later in solid green!
Any RON-10 vets out there?
Thanks for any help on theese questions, folks!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-!0 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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TGConnelly
MASTER
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 Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 8:56am
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They were repainted in the field at some point Frank. That scheme did not work in the Solomons and it was too high maintainence to keep up.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 10:15am
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Plain and Simple, it is UGLY. I do not know what the heck they were thinking when they came up with that paint scheme. I know it met with limited success, but can you imagine having to repaint this boat, not to mention being the butt of many off colored jokes from other crews. It would have taken the crew a month to repaint the boat.
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 10:32am
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Garth & Frank-
Thanks for the super quick responce fellas!
That zebra stripe camo that was used on the RON-10 boats first saw action during the First World War. The Germans were the first to use it on their aircraft. Every time the aircraft banked or changed course the intersecting lines changed the image and outlook of the plane on the ground and also in the air.
I have read that an English battalion was almost taken out entirely by a zebra striped Fokker Tri-plane. A private told his commander that there is a strange aircraft above. The commander said not to worry it's just a flock of bird. Well, that flock of birds came roaring out of the clouds with guns blazing and scraffed half of the battlion.
Could it be that Elco thought the same would work on the RON-10 ELCO's.??? Yeah, I have to agree with both of you guys, they did stick out like a sore thumb from the other boats and I heard they were jinxed from the onset.
They may be UGLY FRank A. but there are still some of us out there who love the zebra's. Count me as being one of those!
Thanks for sharing guys!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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CJ Willis
New Member
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Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 11:44am
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The zebra boat I recall seeing was the 167 at Rendova the next day after it was hit through the bow by a Jap flying torpedo. We were at Rendova in early November 1943 and tied up at the dock where they were tied. We were more amazed at the torpedo damage than we were of the paint job.
C. J. Willis |
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BobPic
New Member
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Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 12:55pm
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As a crew mwmber on the 167, I can say that all ron 10 boats were painted with zebra stripes until after the Japs did a number on the 167. Skipper Berlin realized that the stripes made the boat glow in the moonlight (he was reminded often enough by other boat crews).. He, with the base commander's approval decided to have the crew repaint the boat with whatever green paint they could find. The other boats followed and eventually all boats were good ol green.
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Will Day
New Member
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Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 1:32pm
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Bob's phrase "whatever paint they could find" should be born in mind by evey modeler trying to find the "real color" of boats Out In The Area....
Will |
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TGConnelly
MASTER
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Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 3:10pm
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Will,
I agree 100% with you on that. BUT I'm criticized for saying that.
Garth
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G R Powell
New Member
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Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 4:30pm
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C.J.,
I am very interested in hearing any details you can remember of seeing the 167 at Rendova after it was holed by the torpedo. You said you were docked there next to her -- do you remember what island you were docked on? Bau Island? Lumbari Island? What were they doing to the 167 at the time? Did you talk with any of the crew about what happened?
The photo below was apparently taken right after the incident. My copy is not very clear unfortunately. Does that look like the 167 as you saw her? Does it look like Rendova?
This photo shows the hole in the bow. It also shows the missing day cabin structure, which resulted from the first time that the 167 was torpedoed -- while she was riding a cradle on the Stanvac Manila.
G R Powell |
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 5:30pm
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Hey Bob,
I dont know if you were aware of this, but a shipmate of yours on the PT167 had an article and video done about him and his experiences on board PT 167. It is available for you to watch and read on the Clevelland Plain Dealers website. He is a former motor mac George Holasek. Click on this link to see it for yourself. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/01/george_holasek_85_recalls_time.html He also tells a story about the only casualty on the boat right near the end of the war.
Jerry
PT 658 restoration crew, Portland, OR
Jerry Gilmartin |
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