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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
HUDSON RIVER
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I was just curious how much if any activity was made by PT BOATS on the HUDSON RIVER. Somewhere (and I might have it myself) I saw a photo of three boats on the Hudson.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 3:55am
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Frank;
The only activity that I know of is when the 7 boats(PT 486,487,545, 557,558, and 559) went to Chicago for a war bond tour in 1945. Check out Milt's photos at www.williammaloney.com.
however, I have now heard( no actual photos or paperwork yet to confirm this) of a second trip up there by RON 42 boats which included PT 615 now in Kingston, NY. We will see about this. Do you havge any photos of RON 42 boats(615 esp.)?
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 5:08am
Total Posts: 3090 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
During the 1945 football season the Melville team, coached by Mike Holovak, made the trip from Melville to West Point by PT boat.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 5:44am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Ted
I know I have a picture somewhere of three boats coming down the Hudson River. I need to dig it out. Thanks for the information Ted and QM. I wonder if more boats operated there...............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 6:19am
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
QM and Frank;
Hmmm I wonder if the boat was RON 42's PT 615, since kingston is only 40 or so miles by water from West Point?
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 8:23am
Total Posts: 3090 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Ted: I have some miscellaneous shots of the 613, 618, 619 & 620 boats, if you are interested.
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 9:01am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Wen have 615's log from 1945.
had some details of 615's trip to Detroit from the Brooklyn Navy yard. It shows an overnight stay in Kingston due to weather conditions (on the return trip)
Posted By: twhyte | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 12:36pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Wonder where the boat tied up in Kingston. Would be nice to see those reports............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 12:59pm
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
PT-615 1 42 9-17-1945 MTB Squadron 42 commissioned at New York Navy Yard. PT-613, 614, 615 & 616 were present at berth 17.
PT-615 1 42 -- In Navy Yard.
PT-615 1 42 10-4-1945 Underway for testing etc.
PT-615 1 42 -- Newtown Creek, Cold Spring LI etc
PT-615 1 42 10-20-1945 To West Point with 613, 614, 616, 617, 619, 620 & 621.
PT-615 1 42 10-21-1945 To Port of Albany Wharf with 614-618 .
PT-615 1 42 10-22-1945 To Amsterdam via Erie Canal
PT-615 1 42 10-23-1945 To Herkimer
PT-615 1 42 10-24-1945 En route to Syracuse PT-615 stern was damaged by PT-616.
PT-615 1 42 10-25-1945 Repaired at dock. To Syracuse Yacht Club, Liverpool, NY
PT-615 1 42 10-29-1945 Days of "Lake Tours" with bond purchasers.
PT-615 1 42 11-1-1945 Back towards Hudson via Canal
PT-615 1 42 11-3-1945 En route from Albany south with 616, 617 & 618 . ..." At 1540 due to bad weather and poor visibility laid over in Kingston, NY"…
Kingston Wharf, Kingston, NY.
PT-615 1 42 11-4-1945 BNY
PT-615 1 42 11-27-1945 To Cape May NJ
PT-615 1 42 11-28-1945 To Norfolk, returned to Cape May "due to high winds".
PT-615 1 42 11-29-1945 To Norfolk
PT-615 1 42 12-2-1945 Navy tug departs with 616 to get 620 , aground 45 miles south of NOB, Intra-Coastal waterway
PT-615 1 42 12-3-1945 To Cape May NJ
PT-615 1 42 12-7-1945 To BNY
PT-615 1 42 -- Various crew members discharged
PT-615 1 42 1-28-1946 Decommissioned
Posted By: twhyte | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 1:09pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
QM and Frank;
See I guessed correctly. Looking at Tom's post, PT 615 with 7 other RON 42 boats went to West Point on October 20, 1945, on thier way up to Chicago(i guess) for another bond tour function. I suppose this is when the Melville Football team was dropped off.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 7:01pm
Total Posts: 3090 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Tim
Thanks for the information. Does the Kingston Wharf exsist today, and if so can we get a picture of the area as it looks today. Ted you were right after all.......
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 8:13pm
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
I remember my Dad telling about being on patrol up past Manhatten on the morning after an airplane crashed into the Empire State Building. That would be in June of '45???
Posted By: birchy00 | Posted on: Jan 22, 2009 - 10:00pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Yes you are correct. I believe it was in July 1945. The Pilot named Smith (I think) was on his way to pick up his commanding Officer in Newark, but because of Fog found himself in trouble. He had dropped down to get a better look but dropped right into Manhatten. He actually miissed several other Sky Scrappers before hitting the Empire Sate Building. He was flying a B-25 Bomber. Many people were burned to death, some working right at their desks.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 23, 2009 - 4:09am
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
[url]http://www.withthecommand.com/2002-Jan/NY-empireplane.html[/url]
Pretty good account of the B-25 Crash into the Empire State Building
Posted By: twhyte | Posted on: Jan 23, 2009 - 6:06am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
TOM;
HERE IS A BIO FOR SMITH ON THE 750TH BS 457 BG WEBSITE:
Apr 25th, 1944 - Lt Col William F. Smith, Jr. assumed command of the squadron and was commander until Dec 2nd 1944 when he was elevated to Deputy Group Commander. Col Smith was with the original complement of officers as a 1st Lieutenant when the unit was formed and a Lt Col at the end of the war. He had a jaunty and devil-may-care attitude and was very popular with the men who flew with him. He witnessed all 236 missions of the 457th but fate caught up with him in 1945 after returning from England. He and several others were flying a B-25 bomber from Boston to his new assignment in the midwest. The weather was extremely bad and as he attempted to make an emergency landing at LaGuardia Field, New York, his plane hit the 76 floor of the Empire State building killing him and 17 others in the building.
THERE IS ALSO A GOOD PHOTO OF HIM ON THIS SITE:
www.457thbombgroup.org
ANOTHER CLOSE UP/PORTRAIT PHOTO IS AT:
www.brightok.net
TAKE CARE,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 23, 2009 - 8:11am
Total Posts: 3090 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Regarding the Melville football team in 1945: I was able to find the date of the game at West Point. It was October 20, 1945 [ this was one rare instance where Hal gave me an answer in a computer search]. My memory was that the team traveled from Melville to West Point and back by PT boat. It may have been a coincidence that other boats were at West Point that day, or they could have made only one leg of the trip by PT--New York City to West Point.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Jan 23, 2009 - 2:55pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
QM;
That jives with the dates fro RON 41 and PT 615. Thanks for the tip, Were you at Melville then? Were you on the football team or the boats?
take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 23, 2009 - 4:35pm
Total Posts: 3090 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
I was on neither the football team or the boats at Melville. I was on the base awaiting reassignment while hoping for a discharge instead. I must have been shipped out to Boston the week following October 20. I have no record of the date, but I do have a record of a temporary assignment in Washington D. C. from Boston which was dated October 31, 1945.
I have no knowledge of the boats used to transport the football team but my guess is that Ron 4 boats were used for the round trip.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Jan 23, 2009 - 5:17pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Frank,
The boats probably layed up out on Kingston Point. There is not much of anything out there now. The trolley runs out there, but there are only picnic grounds on that spot now.
It was a transfer point between the old Hudson River Day Liners and the Ulster and Delaware Railroad
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_and_Delaware_Railroad[url]
But it also could have been inside the Rondout creek. I will have to ask the locals if any spot inside on the Creek was referred to Kingston "Wharf"
Posted By: twhyte | Posted on: Jan 25, 2009 - 5:38am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Gonna try this one again
Frank,
The boats probably layed up out on Kingston Point. There is not much of anything out there now. The trolley runs out there, but there are only picnic grounds on that spot now.
It was a transfer point between the old Hudson River Day Liners and the Ulster and Delaware Railroad
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_and_Delaware_Railroad[/url]
Posted By: twhyte | Posted on: Jan 25, 2009 - 5:41am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Thanks for the information. I did find the photo I was looking for showing the 6 boats of Ron 42 heading up the Hudson River. I will post it soon............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 25, 2009 - 9:52am
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Nice shot of RON 42 boats
Frank
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/Ron_42_Boats_on_the_Hudson_River-02.jpg[/image]
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 25, 2009 - 11:35am
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Wow, great shot. Right off the shoreline in the Riverdale section of the Bronx
Posted By: twhyte | Posted on: Jan 25, 2009 - 4:43pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
A few more photos of the boats in the locks. I think these are the Ron 42 boats. One of the boats (557) shots I think was taken in the Med.
Frank
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/04PT557MiltOnBow-02.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/07PT557FromTheMediterranean-02.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/04InTheLocks-02.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/01InTheLocks-02.jpg[/image]
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 26, 2009 - 12:26am
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Let me correct myself. The first shot of the 557 was taken in the Hudson River, and the second shot of the 557 (Ron 29) was taken in the Med......
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 26, 2009 - 1:48am
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
what a sight that must have been to the people watching earl
earl richmond
Posted By: earl | Posted on: Jan 26, 2009 - 1:59am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
I know Earl, I wish I was one of them. Back in 1994, I had contacted a Mrs. Marion Remington thru a tip I had recieved about her being there at Navy Day 1945 in Detroit. She had passed away, but her daughter Linda was there with her family that day (she was 12 or 13 at the time). She said her brothers could not wait to get on the boats and began running to the docks (Mom had to stop them). She told me how small they looked, but remarked at all the guns they had and the handsome sailors. From what she told me, many people turned out to view the little PT Boats, and it seemed that many kids were in the crowd.
She remarked how her brothers asked a million questions, with her older brother Peter (now 16) hoping to join up and become a Sailor on one of these boats. Linda was not totally as interested in the boats as her brothers were, but she did remember that one of the boats started up to show the people how they sounded. It must have been a great day for those boys jumping on the PT Boats, and by the way Linda told me that an article had been in the paper about the Navy Day with the boats, although I have never really tried to track down the original article.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 26, 2009 - 4:40am
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
JUST FOR THE RECORD, ON OCTOBER 20, 1945, ARMY BEAT "MELVILLE PT BOATS" BY A SCORE OF 55-13. ARMY FINISHED THE SEASON UNDEFEATED AT 9-0.
(WARS COME AND GO, BUT THIS ARMY-NAVY THING IS FOREVER.)
ross@dupagels.lib.il.us
Posted By: ROSS FISHER | Posted on: Jan 26, 2009 - 8:04am
Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Jul 23, 2008 - 10:03am
Can you post the halftime score. I believe it was fairly even. Were those old sailors in shape for a full game?
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Jan 26, 2009 - 6:11pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
FRANK;
BOTH PHOTOS OF PT 557 WERE TAKEN IN THE U.S. THE FIRST WAS TAKEN AFTER RETURNING TO THE U.S. FROM THE MED IN LATE NOVEMBER 1944 AND THE SECOND IS ALSO ON THE WAR BOND TRIP TO CHICAGO IN 1945.
MY QUESTION, IF THESE BOATS ARE PAINTED NAVY GREEN NG-5, THIS APPEARS TO BE A REALLY DARKER VERSION. DAYLIGHT IN ALL PHOTOS LOOKS GOOD. I HOPE SOMEBODY CAN FIND A COLOR SHOT OF ANY OF THESE BOATS EITHER ON THE TRIP OR AT MELVILLE.
TAKE CARE,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 27, 2009 - 8:24pm
Total Posts: 3090 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
TED -
Here are some Video Capturers I made tonight - Not the best quality but it was the best I could do.
I'll post the an edited 10 minute video of the Hudson River War Bond Drive tomorrow on YouTube . . . .
Dick . . .
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Webmaster/Hudson-1.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Webmaster/Hudson-2.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Webmaster/Hudson-3.jpg[/image]
Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Jan 28, 2009 - 1:10am
Total Posts: 1488 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm
Dick;
Your the best! Where did you ever find this?
Talk to you later,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 28, 2009 - 5:19am
Total Posts: 3090 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Dick, I'm with Ted...those captures are great. Can't wait to see some more, and the complete video.
A point of observation...those are VERY dark grey paint jobs on those boats...
That's about the shade of grey I've always thought the dark-looking PTs in the b&w photos of the early boats in the Pacific were.
Anyone know what that actual "Measure" code would be?
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jan 28, 2009 - 8:26am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Guys . . .
The video will be up in short while - its taking a long time to upload - maybe by 10 am PST, I'll have it posted.
All the best,
Dick . . .
Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Jan 28, 2009 - 8:29am
Total Posts: 1488 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm
Hi Guys
Because I´ll try to make an acurate model of the PT at the Surigao strait Battle , I studied this pictures a lot of times especially the # 4 with a full view of the bridge and I feel very confused:
All of the Boats look like ELCO 80' Class, Series PT- 486 but with the late war armament configuration (two rockets launchers, two circular base at 37mmm and 20 mm) , bridge arrangement as early models : pre 565 PT Boats throttle at the right of the wheel but some “square boxes” at the right of the wheel like post 565 PT Boats (throttle at the left of the wheel)
Could you tell me if the PT Boats were “upgraded” at the end of the war ? so the 557 looks diferent than war period ?
Posted By: Gustavo Martinez | Posted on: Jan 28, 2009 - 11:15am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Gustavo;
FYI: The early 80' ELCO's (PT 103-196) had the throttle quadrant to the left of the wheel, which usually ment the man at the wheel had to regulate the speed of the boat. In the later series boats the quadrant was moved to the right hand side of the wheel, allowing one man to steer the boat while the other guy worked the throttles. I am at work right now and can't tell you which series boat the quadrant was moved on(314-367 this includes the kit boats assembled by Harbor Boat Co., 372-383, 486-563) but my guess is 314.
go to John Drain's website for drawings he made of a late war Elco, but the cockpit drawing is of PT 103-196 calss.
http://www.pt-boat.com/helm/helm.html
I'll let you know later,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 28, 2009 - 1:10pm
Total Posts: 3090 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Great captures, how do you do that.
Thanks,
SH
Posted By: Hadly | Posted on: Jan 28, 2009 - 3:25pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Ted
Thank's for your prompt answer, yes I made a mistake (the picture is clear the throtte is at the left )
About the change to the right I saw in another forum an post from Al Ross he said this changed occured from 565
Thanks again !
Posted By: Gustavo Martinez | Posted on: Jan 28, 2009 - 5:51pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Gustavo;
Yes reading through my stuff last night, the throttle was changed starting with boats made in late 1944-1945, so PT 565 RON 38 would fall into that date.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 29, 2009 - 6:37am
Total Posts: 3090 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
A few more shots of the boats from Ron 42 on its way to Detroit via the Hudson River - 1945
Frank
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/14GroupShotOutsideLock17LittleFalls.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/10FamilyVisit-01-01.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/09FamilyVisit-01-01.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/08FamilyVisit-01-01.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/07ItLooksCold-01-01.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/05HeadingUpRiver-01-01.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/01PT557-01-01.jpg[/image]
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 3, 2009 - 4:29pm
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Frank;
Nice shots especially of 559 which I have not seen before, but I think you meant RON 4 boats, not RON 42.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 3, 2009 - 6:57pm
Total Posts: 3090 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
We (the Linck family) lived at West Point from 1947 to 1980, and Dad was a PT Boater. I'll ask him for you.
Walt
Posted By: George Linck Son | Posted on: Mar 13, 2009 - 2:06am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
I know this is from a while back, but very cool photos, especially PT-486.
ThePTboater
Posted By: ThePTboater | Posted on: Dec 29, 2016 - 9:13pm
Total Posts: 136 | Joined: Jan 17, 2016 - 1:28pm