User:Kderrick/PT-323

PT-323 was a PT boat (Patrol Torpedo boat) that served in the Pacific theater during World War II. It had several commanders and crews  and accomplished many missions before being destroyed. It was last commanded by Herbert Stadler, Lt. JG. On December 10, 1944 it was almost cut in half by a Japanese Kamikaze in Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands. Both Lt. Stadler and Ens. William Adelman were killed upon impact. Eleven other shipmates were injured during this attack.

Notes to look up or site
The island patrols, consisting of detachments from the 302d Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop plus artillery officers, left Salami on 11 March. Bear Point, though not occupied by the enemy, had so poor a beach that artillery could not be landed. Butjo Mokau, the most northern of the Butjo Luo group, offered good artillery positions and bore no signs of enemy occupation. In late afternoon F Troop, 7th Cavalry, occupied both islands of the group.

The Hauwei patrol, a platoon strong, left Salami aboard an LCV and a PT boat and landed on the western part of Hauwei.49 After the patrol had moved a short distance inland, machine gun, mortar, and rifle fire struck it from the front and both sides. The patrol made a fighting withdrawal to the beach, supported by fire from the PT boat and the LCV. But by the time the cavalrymen made the beach, the PT, whose skipper had been wounded, had returned to its tender. Five men boarded the LCV, but the remainder were still embroiled with the enemy. Mortar shells and machine gun bullets wounded most of the men aboard the LCV, which struck a submerged coral reef two hundred yards from shore and sank, leaving the survivors floating in the water. When about six Japanese started to set up a machine gun on the beach, the cavalrymen still on shore shot them with submachine guns, then took to the water and joined the survivors from the LCV. After three hours in the water, the eighteen men, suffering from exposure to the sun and water, were picked up by a PT boat while a destroyer shelled Hauwei. An LCM later picked up one more man.

49. Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons 18 and 21 had arrived in Seeadler Harbour with their tender Oyster Bay. They served as a "sneak and peak" and general utility organization. Morison, Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, p. 446.

Motor Torpedo Boat PT-323
december 18/19 ens james f foran usnr in pt 323 patrolled up the huon peninsual from wandokai march 10 seeadler harbor, los negros island march 11 butjo luo island, bear point and hauwei island pt 323 destroyed two barges on the beach quarter mile southeast of bear point. March 15 during the landings at Lorengau 10 January 1944: Sio. I-177 returns that night and surfaces, but shortly thereafter PT-320 and Ensign F. C. Feeser's PT-323 appear. I-177 and Daihatsu barges supported by several Sokoteis (armored barges fitted with tank gun turrets) engage the PT boats and drive them out of range. I-177 then embarks LtGen Adachi and Rear Admiral Kudo and their staffs and slips away undamaged. at: http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-177.htm PT-323 was part of Squadron 21 (Ron 21) and was assigned to the Southwest Pacific during World War II. It had action at Morobe, Dreger Harbor, and Mios Woendi in New Guinea; at Manus in the Admiralties; and at San Pedro Bay and Subic Bay in the Philippines. It also based for a time at Kana Kopa, New Guinea, and at Samar and Basilan Island in the Philippines, but had no action from these bases.

Awards
PT-323 was part of Squadron 21 (Ron 21) and was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for action in the New Guinea area from October 1943 to March 1944.

Crew


Emery M. Newton, Jr., Lt. JG was commander on PT-323 from it commision in April 1943 until October 1944.

Ens. James Foran Jan 7, 1944

Herbert Stadler, Lt. JG was commander from October 1944 until December 10, 1944 when it was destroyed by a Japanese Kamikaze in Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands.

Warren Mills, a motor machinists mate

David Michael Myers, Radioman (R3/c) (Charlestown, Massachusetts)

Commanders of Squadron 21 were:

Comdr. SELMAN S. BOWLING--April 8, 1943-January 30, 1944

Lt. PAUL T. RENNELL, USNR--January 30-October 1, 1944

Cdr. Paul T. Rennell, (deceased) Commanding Officer of Ron 21 who later was the First Executive VP of Pan Am