Really cool story.
I couldn't imagine running out to sea at night on that small boat with the limited ( by today's standards ) technology they had back then. Tough and Brave as heck.

it was AV gas too, Packard V-12 times three, probably similar to the P-51 motors I bet.

Ahoy there Paul.....wow!!! What an amazing story. As everyone else has said...you're doing something very special to put Reif in touch with his former XO.

As much negative publicity the Internet gets......here is an example of it's positive attributes.

We are losing our military vets too quickly but with these Internet forums and websites at least they help bring old friends and comrades back together again to remember those days and nights of valor, battle, and survival - as well as to catch up with each other after all these years.

Please keep us posted with more....and I will share this with my 90 y/o Mom who was a WAVE during WW II and has remained a hell of a patriotic woman all her life! :)

I have a somewhat similar story.my Dad was over a Saturday night a few years ago to watch a hockey game. between periods we were talking about hs brother who served during the battle of the Atlantic on HMCS Fergus. I googled the Fergus and HOLY SH## there was a group of guy's with his brother in the middle.
here is the pichttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1368499226.jpg

There is a PT boat that has had some restoration in Portland. I believe it runs. My understanding is they had three rolls Royce Merlin V12's. Fun!

my dad's buddy bill had a converted PT boat in the mid 50's
it had the third motor pulled out
and was used as a open tour boat with about 40 seats
reminded me of a bus with out a roof

we went on a 50 mile trip in that boat at hull speed [slow]
as running the boat at speed sucked up way too much gas even lighted

bill also owned a 103ft yacht and briefly the phantom crusader car

The Packards were somewhat similar to the Merlins. No commonality.

The Packards were derived from a WWI Liberty Vee aircraft engine.

I posted those photos and know another crewman
 

Hi,
My name is Jerry, I am a volunteer restoration crewman on USS PT658 located in Portland OR. Those photos the OP put on the message board were all originally placed onto NAVSOURCE by myself, a couple of years ago. One of our original WW2 Veterans Bob Hostetter was the XO on your Dads boat. He was in RON25. I came across those pictures and scanned them to be able to share with everybody in hopes of just something like this occurring. I am happy that the photos have some meaning to you! When I came across the original prints, one of the vets had used thumbtacks to post them onto a cork board, you can still see the holes in the corners of these photos. Bob hostetter, after having been instrumental in the early restoration of the WW2 PT Boat PT658, sadly passed away in 2007. He got his wish of piloting the PT658 up the Williamette River before he took his "Last Patrol" as they say. I have more photos as well that Bob had, and one shows a crew photo. Look under PT596 on NAVSOURCE. It may be a photo of the crew from any one of the 3 PT Boats he served on during the war. I dont know how to post photos on this board. I could email them to somebody if you want them. Thanks Jerry Gilmartin

PS Check out our website PT Boat PT Boats PT658 - Save The PT Boat for many more photos.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1369014552.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1369014597.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1369014678.jpg

Hi Jerry,

Thanks much for responding and providing more information to the thread. I know there are many in our community who have relatives who fought in WW II and can appreciate the dedication, patriotism, and sacrifices of these men and women during those years and beyond.

Hope to see more added to the thread going forward.

Thanks again!
Baz

Sir, I personally can't thank you enough for posting those photos. They started a bit of a journey that eventually put my Step Father in Law in touch with his XO on PT 344, Joe Deegan.

Reif and Joe have spoken over the phone twice now, according to my mother-in-law they talked for over an hour each time, laughing and telling stories best told between the men who lived it.

I don't know what the future holds, Jerry, but you certainly helped bring the past alive for Reif.

I plan on getting some of Reif's pictures scanned and I will certainly share them with you.

Again, thank you.