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� Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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� Topic:
Mini Series about PT Boats?
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In a recent interview with Tom Hanks about his new mini series Masters of the Air, Tom Hanks hints that they will continue to do these stories as long as there is great source material." I think a mini series about PT boat would be incredible. I am Not saying this because of my passion for the boats but from a historical look on the impact they had during WW2, My question to all of you, what would the mini series would look like? What parts of PT boat history should they portray in the series? If we work together we could reach out to Hanks and the production team with a presentation about a mini series on these great boats!
Posted By: Travis B | Posted on: Feb 11, 2024 - 6:22am
Total Posts: 129 | Joined: Nov 23, 2019 - 10:11am
Travis;
Great minds think alike!
I was watching an interview on YouTube, with the script writers of Masters of The Air, the same guys who wrote Band of Brothers and The Pacific. They mentioned at first when they were deciding what project to do, it was a toss up between a WW2 Army Air Force story or a Navy story .
I suggest that a PT mini series follows the career of the Searles Brothers, and a few others of the original Tulagi Yacht Club gang that way The Med and D-Day, and later Pacific actions could naturally be included.
I have passed my thoughts on to my reunion group, the Combatant Craft Crewman Association, who does have Hollywood connections. Possibly, with the Association behind the project, it can even follow the history of the Naval Special Warfare Combat Crewmen, including Vietnam and Operation Just Cause and the Gulf War(Operation Praying Mantis).
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 13, 2024 - 10:01am
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
A PT boat mini series would need John Bulkeley in it. They could tell his heroic story at the start of WW2 then touch on Buckeley's return state side for a war bond drive and meeting the Ambassador to Britain Joseph Kennedy at New York's Plaza Hotel in 1942, Shortly after this meeting he recruited Lieutenant John F. Kennedy into the Navy's Motor Torpedo Boat Training Center Mellville Rhode Island.
I have read that Tom Hanks loves to read his fans mail. Maybe we should put something together and send it to him in hopes it sparks some interest.
Posted By: Travis B | Posted on: Feb 17, 2024 - 4:13pm
Total Posts: 129 | Joined: Nov 23, 2019 - 10:11am
Travis;
IMHO, “They Were Expendable”, is the only movie that should represent John Bulkeley and his exploits with RON 3.
Same goes for PT 109. Both are classics that should not be duplicated. Hollywood has a strange habit of redoing movies and hoping the make a ton of cash.
Tom Hanks is different. His Band of Brothers, The Pacific and now Masters of The Air, are fresh and new. These miniseries all have a few factors in common, they are all buddy stories , they all tell the human factors of combat, good, bad, and ugly. The fun times, hardships, and things guys witnessed that they never talked about again, but never forgot.
This is why I suggested a story line centered on the Searles Brothers. They both came into PT Boats in Pre-War RON 2, with the 70 footers. MTBSTC Melville didn’t exist. Then progressed to the 77 footers. They trained with a collection of Officers and Men that would form the nucleus of the PT Program. These guys all got into PT’s when Bulkeley was starting with PTC RON 1. Almost all were part of multiple MTB RONs during the course of the war. Many enlisted later became PT Officers.
IMHO, what is good about focusing on the Searles Brothers is they were at first together at Guadalcanal with ELCO PT’s, then both came back to the US in 1943, took some leave, then both were made Squadron Commanders of later Higgins Squadrons(like 658).
Jack(the oldest brother )as CO of RON 31 went back to the Pacific with several of his Guadalcanal Officers and men. They went back to the Solomons, then the Philippines, then Okinawa.
Bob as CO of RON 30, went to England and worked for John Bulkeley during D-Day and after.
These two and their buddies were fighting The Tokyo Express at Guadalcanal when Bulkeley was touring and recruiting, and Kennedy was still a student at Melville, he would arrive in the Solomons in April-May 1943, after the Searles Brothers rotated back with other members of “The Tulagi Yacht Club”.
So a story along these lines would include Bulkeley and Kennedy but only as background figures, but they will be included.
Plus, I don’t know how much you have researched Masters of The Air, but the Special Effects people built two full size replicas of B-17’s and a third partial to show close ups and damage or crashed aircraft. These two aircraft will probably go to a museum somewhere as the Douglas Devastator Replica which is now on the hangar deck of USS Midway ( it should be on Hornet, but it’s not yet).
This being said , maybe we can finally get one or two 77’ full size Replicas and one or two 80’ full size replicas, inside and out, just like the B-17’s. For the 78’ Higgins, they can use 658, with a “substantial “ donation.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 22, 2024 - 12:19pm
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
It's great that much of their cliff note history is well documented in At Close Quarters, and John Searles being awarded a Navy Cross for actions with PT-59 and Robert Searles with a Silver Star is also helpful.
Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Feb 22, 2024 - 1:37pm
Total Posts: 266 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm
Andy;
Thanks, that was exactly my way of thinking. When Jack Wrote Tales of Tulagi (which would be a great title for the Guadalcanal portion), he sent his original notes to Ken Prescott (Skipper of PT 61 and PT 48), well Ken sent those original notes, which Jack typed himself, to me. I still have them today.
Another aspect, PT men were all volunteers for “Extra hazardous duty”. While there were some Naval Academy Grads in the PT service most were reservist volunteers. Which highlights their call to service and many led the rest of their lives that way.
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 22, 2024 - 5:13pm
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Ted you have changed my mind, I agree it would be an incredible story that would tie together PT boat history really well. I noticed with Masters of the Air that to many names come and go so you never get attached like Band of Brothers or the Pacific. Now we just have to contact Tom Hanks.
Posted By: Travis B | Posted on: Feb 23, 2024 - 2:27pm
Total Posts: 129 | Joined: Nov 23, 2019 - 10:11am
Travis;
Roger That, I already have a few points of contact for him, I want to send a write up on the basic story, historical facts, names and biographies, and photos, and send it in a package to him. Since I have multiple points of contact, I will send a identical package to each one
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 24, 2024 - 11:02am
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Travis;
Roger That, I already have a few points of contact for him, I want to send a write up on the basic story, historical facts, names and biographies, and photos, and send it in a package to him. Since I have multiple points of contact, I will send a identical package to each one
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 24, 2024 - 3:52pm
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Travis;
Roger That, I already have a few points of contact for him, I want to send a write up on the basic story, historical facts, names and biographies, and photos, and send it in a package to him. Since I have multiple points of contact, I will send a identical package to each one
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 25, 2024 - 4:56am
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Travis,
Another great reference on RON 9 is the book First-Up: Chronicales of the PT 157 by the late Bridgeman Carney. I found numerous copies available on bookfinder.com
Bill Smallshaw
Posted By: smallwi | Posted on: Feb 26, 2024 - 7:56am
Total Posts: 141 | Joined: Jun 21, 2007 - 3:02pm
Does Bridge knows he passed away?? I don’t think he does.
Take care,
TED[:-cheers-:]
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 26, 2024 - 9:01am
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Dear ALL,
I am alive and very well.
It is a wonderful tribute that so much enthusiasm about PTs continues so strong.
I have to say that after the passing of what became my very favorite of friends, the PT157’s original Torpedoman (Welford West) and Skipper William (Bud) Liebenow, I became a bit withdrawn.
As for talk of a mini-series of PT’s I can only wish that it reflect to true character and often unnoticed actions of this who served on PTs.
Skipper Liebenow joined the US Navy (reserve) the day after Pearl Harbor as did Welford West. they met, as well as the other members of the 157 plank crew when they were assigned the 157 boat in New York; across the river from the ELCO boat factory.
The exploits of their missions in the critical summer of ‘43 in the Solomons is detailed in the ‘First-Up’ book. This book is my tribute to Bud, Welford and the unique crew of the 157 and those who serviced in RON 9 and other RONs in this theater of operations when wether we win or lose the war was very much still up in the air…and a day-to-day struggle. And yes, the 157 did rescue the remaking crew of the PT109 having to skillfully weave the 157 thru numerous shallows
and coral to get to them.
Skipper Liebenow was also plucked out of the PTO by Bulkeley and moved to the EOT. Liebenow skippered my clandestine OSS missions between England and France to pickup downed flyers and pickup/dropoff resistance fighters before D-Day.
On D-Day Liebenow was assigned the PT199 as a protection boat for the USS Corry. The Corry did hit a mine and/was hit by German shore fire and quickly sunk. The 199 rescued 64+ of the Corry’s crew with Liebenow having to mouth-to-mouth resuscitate 3 of the crewmen.
Liebenow was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in the PTO and a Silver Star for the ETO. In the words of West and Liebenow ‘we were just doing our job’.
Bridge
Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: Feb 26, 2024 - 12:40pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm
Dup msg deleted
Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: Feb 26, 2024 - 1:38pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm
Bridge;
I think the Searles Brothers rotated back just as Bob Kelly and RON 9 arrived at Tulagi.
Bud will be in it, but as Skipper of PT 199.
What did Welford West do after RON 9?
Take care,
TED[:-cheers-:]
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Mar 1, 2024 - 5:34pm
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
****Msg deleted duplicate ****
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Mar 1, 2024 - 5:53pm
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Ted, look into sending a packet to John Orloff and John Shiban. Both men helped write and produce Band of Brothers and Masters of the air. It seems we have a good base for the beginning and middle of the series, say episodes 1-6 but what Squadrons would be covered after D-Day say from July 1944 thru August 1945 for episodes 7-10?
Posted By: Travis B | Posted on: Mar 18, 2024 - 6:20pm
Total Posts: 129 | Joined: Nov 23, 2019 - 10:11am
*****duplicate msg*****
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Mar 20, 2024 - 10:45am
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Travis;
Post D-Day, the story obviously would jump to the 45 PT Boats making the voyage from Mios Woendi to Leyte Gulf the Philippines (1100 miles)for the battle of Surgaio Strait. Then, build up for proposed Invasion of Japan, Jack Searles was CO of RON 31(with RON 32, and RON 37, these two RON’s were led by Tulagi veterans Bob Wark and Clark Faulkner. Several other Tulagi Vets were in these 3 RONs), in Okinawa. Then end of the war.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Mar 20, 2024 - 10:47am
Total Posts: 3071 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
two other important battles should be mentioned as well Luzon and Lingayen gulf.
Posted By: Travis B | Posted on: Mar 22, 2024 - 7:27pm
Total Posts: 129 | Joined: Nov 23, 2019 - 10:11am
Ted,
You asked about Welford on an earlier post in this thread.
Short story…Welford father was a fishermen of the coast of Virginia. Welford often went along which is where he got his sea legs and knowledge of boatsmanship (including how to run a lead line which becomes important quality nobody else in Rendova had and became a critical skill due the 157 having navigate very shallow, coral bottomed waters between numerous small islands to execute the 109 rescue mission. Welford was standing on the bow with the lead line
giving direction to Skipper Liebenow at the wheel).
Welford told me he was working on a torpedo factory around Yorktown VA when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He went to his boss to say he wanted to join the USN. His boss wrote a letter recommending him to be at a rank befitting his experience which Welford used when he enlisted. All this combined to make him a natural as a torpedo man on PT boats. He was the right man in the right place at the right time.
Welford served on the 157 as a plank crewman (late ‘42). The exploits of their getting to the PTO and the missions is what the ‘First-Up’ book covers. Also a good name for a mini-series :-).
Welford served in the Pacific on the 157 (the whole time for almost a year! This was unheard of as you were only suppose to serve for 6-months due to the wear and tear on a body bouncing around on sea waves in an 80-foot boat. Well, Welford said he
never missed a mission his entire time until one day he felt bad. He couldn’t describe really; just bad. He was sent to see ‘Doc’. Doc looked him over, he said, and told him to lie down at which time Doc gave him a shot (likely B12?). He said he never before or since had such a restful sleep. When he finally woke there we’re orders on his chest saying he was being shipped home. That was April ‘44.
Welford was transferred to Melville and did torpedo training to new PT recruits. There was a Goodyear facility nearby that made the rubber liners for fuels tanks for fighter planes which is where his future wife, Rita, was working at the time.
That’s the quick bio on Welford West of the 157.
P.S. Welford’s grandson, whom I met, was inspired by his granddad’s stories of the missions while aboard the 157 and became a Navy Seal (now retired)
Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: Mar 31, 2024 - 4:49pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm
My late 2 cents would be to follow a Squadron of common everyday men that joined and volunteered. From various training locations to actually picking up the boat from the factory to off to war.
My bias would be Ron 16. There have been at least 2 books/diaries/memories published by crew members. Assignments included Attu to the South Pacific an earning a Unit Citation s for actions at Mindoro.
Fun project if it were to happen.
Bob Stanton
Ron 16 PT224 2nd gen
Posted By: Robert J Stanton | Posted on: May 26, 2024 - 11:54am
Total Posts: 23 | Joined: Jun 21, 2012 - 8:48am