| USN
Damaged
September 30, 1943
by friendly fire |
|
Lt. (jg) Craig C. Smith |
| |
Ensign John F. Daley (WIA/KIA) |
|
Gunners Mate 1st Class Thomas M. Ross (MIA/KIA) |
|
MoMM2 Bertis I. Paul (KIA) |
Ship History
Built July 1942 at Bayonne, New Jersey. First assigned to
PT Boat training center at Melville Rhode Island. Ferried across the
Pacific by
transport ship to Noumea, and towed to Guadalcanal. John F. Kennedy
assumed command of her in April 1943.
Wartime History
On an overnight barge hunting mission on September 30, 1943,
this PT boat, along with PT 124 and PT 116 located and straffed barges
near Ropa
Point on north-eastern Kolombangara
Island, where they remained until after dawn, when all friendly
boats were supposed to be withdrawn from the area to avoid mistaken
identity.
At 0740, three F4U from VMF-214 'The Black Sheep' flying from Munda
spotted the three PT-Boats, and swooped down to investigate. The
PT Boat fired a recognition flare. Two of the F4Us waggled
wings in recognition, but the F4U
piloted by Robert Alexander opened fire, hitting the stern. The
PT boats opened fire, and shot him down.
Wounded crew were evacuated to PT 124.
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