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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
Rendova Harbor
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Kind of a cool map of AA defenses at Rendova, found in Archives II a while back. Thought you might be interested.
Now where was the PT Base ?
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Steve%20Nugent/Rendova%20Harbor%20AA%20Defenses.jpg[/image]
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Jul 25, 2016 - 10:46am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
Steve,
From what I've been able to learn over the years, the PTs were moored around Lumbari Island, which is just off the USMC map you posted, to the west (left).
I've also seen aerial photos of a couple of portable drydocks with PTs in them in the small southern coves on Bau Island.
There may have been scattered PT moorings around inside the harbor, too. Someone else on the Forum may be able to provide more information.
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jul 25, 2016 - 1:50pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Thanks Drew, I thought at some point the base was on Bau.
But I'm not that familiar with those days.
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Jul 25, 2016 - 3:18pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
Thanks, guys....
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jul 25, 2016 - 10:23pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hi Steve and Drew and Will,
I think I downloaded this from the PT Boat Forum a few years ago, I think one of our members (maybe Shaneo? maybe Ted?) posted this, It looks like the PT Boats were on Bau island. Hope this helps. Jerry
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/Rendova%20Bau%20Island%20Rendova%20note%20head%20on%20far%20left.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/Rendova%20Gas%20Island%20on%20Left%20Bau%20on%20right.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/Rendova%20Gas%20Island%20on%20Left%20Bau%20on%20right%20caption.jpg[/image]
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jul 26, 2016 - 1:24am
Total Posts: 1498 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
I spent the whole month of Feb. 1944 at Rendova while half our crew went on R&R to New Zealand. My name was not drawn out of the hat so we stayed with the boat. Mounted two twin fifty guns on the bow in front of the charthouse - put the boat in drydock and cleaned and painted the bottom. The PT base at that time was in one of the coves on the south side of Bau Island..There were two or three drydocks and 3-4 quonset huts back in the jungle.. In one hut they had church service every Sunday. That was the only base I was at in the Solomons that we were able to go to Sunday services.
We were also at Rendova for one night about Nov 1st 1943 on our way up to Vella La Vella. At that time the PT base was on a smaller island. (I don't know the name of it.) It was the original base at Rendova. The bow remains of a bombed boat were on the beach. (I think PT164) Just a reminder of what could happen to us as we were on our way up the line then.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Jul 26, 2016 - 10:58am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Good stuff, C.J. Thanks for sharing....Did the other half of the crew ever get any R&R?
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jul 26, 2016 - 3:16pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Will: The other half of us crew members were promised R&R after 3-4 more months of combat patrol duty but it never happened. When they got back from N.Z. Green Island had just been taken from the Japs. Our squadron moved up there and we patrolled out of there for 8 more months then the whole crew was relieved in Nov. 1944 to come back to the U.S. for 30 days leave. I never got to see N.Z. Just bad luck of the draw I guess. The guys that went had a great time. They were down there over two weeks. One guy brought back a pair of girl's panties which we hung just under the flag until they whipped out. .
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Jul 26, 2016 - 4:39pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
I love your stores C.J. I can just imagine those panties flapping in the breeze.
Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Jul 26, 2016 - 6:16pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am
Great stuff C.J. and Jerry, thanks for your stories and photos. I can never get enough.....
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Jul 27, 2016 - 2:36pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
To the point of C.J.'s recollections -- he was there, of course -- and the photo posted by Jerry, I think the portable drydocks and maybe a maintenance area were in the cove on Bau Island. Maybe the base had been moved there by 1944, but I've read many times in numerous sources the "PT base" was on Lumbari (sometimes spelled "Lumberi").
Here's several descriptions from Robert J. Donovan's seminal "PT 109 - John F. Kennedy in World War II" of the base in the summer of 1943:
"The harbor was a wilderness until the Navy moved in and set up various installations. At the southeast end the Navy built its main base on Rendova proper. At the opposite end, toward Munda, was the PT base on Lumberi, a five-hundred-yard-long, kidney-shaped island with a dense crown of palms. Across a narrow channel from it lies Bau Island, which was used as a subsidiary PT headquarters."
"A narrow sandy beach curves around the eastern tip of Lumberi and there...a small jetty had been built for unloading cargo. Visible from the water was a conspicuous sign: TODD CITY...Todd City was the name by which Lumberi Island was best known to the sailors who operated out of the base."
Finally: "At Rendova, the PT boats, now numbering between fifteen and twenty, were moored in 'nests' of three to a buoy, with the buoys scattered about the harbor in the vicinity of Lumberi."
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jul 27, 2016 - 7:36pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Drew: Page 138 in "At Close Quarters" states that the Base was moved from Lumbari Island to Bau Island in January 1944. All I know is that it was on Bau Island in Feb. 1944. We tied up to buoys out in the bay.
We were at Lumbari for over night in Nov. 43. We could see bombs dropped on the airport at Munda across the bay that night but none were dropped on the P.T. Base..
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Jul 28, 2016 - 12:03pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
I got my copy of "At Close Quarters" out, and found what C.J. mentioned about the move of the Rendova PT base from Lumbari to Bau, at the beginning of 1944, in the middle of page 138.
Thanks, C.J., and take care of yourself!
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jul 28, 2016 - 3:18pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Here is an illustrated image of Rendova:
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 8:49am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Nice Drew, and thanks for the stories C.J.. I now want to see a model with some shredding panties on the mast. [:-whoo2-:] [:-veryhappy-:]
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 10:48am
Total Posts: 2203 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
Thanks Drew !
C.J., do you have panties flying on your 243 model ?
[:-happy2-:]
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 11:01am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
Oops,
Sorry CJ, I meant the 242 boat
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 11:06am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
Steve: No I don't have panties on my 242 model. I don't think they would be near as popular here in the States as they were over there in the Islands at that time. They attracted lots of attention from all the boats when would go into the dock.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 12:09pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
I'LL BET THEY DID!
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jul 29, 2016 - 2:11pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
C.J.
Your just a Dirty Boat Guy(DBG that's what we call ourselves today) just like me!!!
Seriously, are you kidding?
In 1991, our 65' MK lll PB sailed merrily into Pensacola with several panties flying on the mast opposite the national ensign! Needless to say it was not too popular with the Navy Port OPS Officer, so he jumped in his vehicle and met us when we tied up. Standing on the pier fuming and all red in the face, we were about 50 yards from the pier and he yelled "What the hell do you guys think your doing, flying those panties from the mast"? We yelled back "Trophies Sir"! When we moored, he stormed aboard, " Request permission to come aboard, who the hell is in charge"? We snapped to attention and said "Uhh, Master Chief Steffey Sir, he is below in his cabin". " the LTjg was really pissed now, OMG! we moored the boat with no senior supervision, little did he know, we were so trained this was SOP. "Well get his ass up here, NOW"! MC Steffey came up into the pilot house, in nothing but a pair of UDT shorts and flip flops, already clued in to the situation, by the crew in the pilothouse. He yelled, "What stinks on my boat"! "Don't know Master Chief"! some crewman said out loud. Master Chief looked around as if to "miss" the LTjg, "I smell a junior officer heading for trouble". Then he snapped to attention, "Oh, Good Morning Sir, can I help you"? WHO ARE YOU? "Master Chief Steffey, SBU 24 CMC".
Well is this your "underway" uniform? Yes Sir, but I was below putting on my khakis, Well please go below and get them on Master Chief! With that he went below, coming up shortly, wearing freshly pressed Khakis 6 rows of multiply awarded ribbons, with jump wings below and the SEAL Budweiser above. When the LTjg saw all of this, he magically lost his steam. He started "Master Chief the Admiral saw your boat come in from his office window, through his binoculars, and then blew up my phone, sending me down here to find out who is flying so many panties from a US NAVY vessel, coming into his port". "Well the boys were just being boys, Sir, they over stepped their bounds a little". The LTjg seemed to understand, but, discovered he was the middle man here.
"Well the Admiral is REALLY pissed, he is out for blood"!! Master Chief leaned into the LTjg, "Well, LT, if I was the Admiral, I would be pissed too, especially when I found out the third pair of panties on the flag are actually his daughters panties"! The LTjg went white as a sheet! "Your joking right Master Chief"? totally straight faced Master Chief said "I wish I was, Sir"
With that the LTjg looked destroyed, so Master Chief said, "Look Sir, let us refuel and we will be out of here". He stalled for us, and out to sea we went, all having a good laugh and an awesome life long sea story. I wonder if that guy ever made LT?
Panties are a Pirate/DBG thing, but we didn't do that again.....until on the way back home and we pulled into West Palm Beach!!!
[:-laughing-:][:-laughing-:][:-laughing-:][:-laughing-:][:-coolhairsmoke-:][:-sunglasses-:]
Thanks again CJ!
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 30, 2016 - 1:23pm
Total Posts: 3093 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Ted I like your story. We had no complaints from any of the brass.. Guys just looked on with envy.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Jul 30, 2016 - 3:37pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
They always do C.J. They always do. Its envy!!
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 30, 2016 - 3:58pm
Total Posts: 3093 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
C.J.
Lord knows I love this forum, especially when I can connect with guys like you on a similar experience, and there is almost 40 years between our initial service dates(I went to Boot camp (CO 313)on 4 Sept 1984 and after ATD graduated on 24 December 1984), I went to the boats(NSW) on 18 November 1989 until July 2001, and retired in 2014. Awesome!
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 30, 2016 - 4:09pm
Total Posts: 3093 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Thanks, TED!
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jul 30, 2016 - 11:10pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
EARL HADN'T SEEN THIS THREAD, AND I TOLD HIM ABOUT IT TODAY.
HE'S GOT SOME STORIES ALSO.........................[:-bigeyes2-:]
Steve
Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Aug 4, 2016 - 2:43pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am
I'll bet he does....
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Aug 4, 2016 - 10:29pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Found this painting of Todd City while surfing the net.
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Aug 16, 2016 - 3:40pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Drew;
Todd City was named for Ensign Leon Edgar Todd, Jr., USNR, O-161871 (MIA / KIA) NJ. RON 9 Killed July 2, 1943. but his name is not on the casualty list in ACQ. Only GM3/C Merwin K. Todd is listed.
Take care,
TED
P.S. Looking at the camo and the date LCDR Draper painted it, the boats are C.J.'s RON 19.
Here is the painter: LCDR William F. Draper USNR(pictured here as a LT.).
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Ted%20Walther/LCDR%20William%20F.%20Draper%20USNR.jpg[/image]
He has a nice write-up at:
https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxReflectionProfile&type=Person&ID=570642
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Aug 16, 2016 - 10:29pm
Total Posts: 3093 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Ted,
Great info, and I'm glad we could put up a painting of C.J.'s Ron's PTs "in the area!"
I've got a depth chart of Rendova Harbor (Lumbari, Bau, Pau, etc.) in my Pictures file, but I think I'd be wearing out my welcome in asking Dick to post another photo for me!
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Aug 17, 2016 - 1:59pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Ted I noticed in the picture that the boats were Higgins and looked like our color paint. This must have been drawn about the last week or two of October 1943. Ron 19 was there then preparing to go up to Vella La Vella. We started patrolling out of Vella La Vella Nov 1 st.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Aug 17, 2016 - 2:12pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
C.J.
Your probably right, he probably took a photo of did a rough sketch first,
The completion date under his signature is June 28 1944. The painter was attached to COMSOPAC, USS Yorktown(CV 10) and USS Tennessee(BB43) during his time in the Pacific as per his bio.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Aug 17, 2016 - 3:37pm
Total Posts: 3093 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am