USN
Squadron 25

Sunk
March 27, 1944
(friendly fire)

Captain Ens Richard B. Secrest (USNR)

Wartime History
This boat, along with PT-353 were investigated a schooner, and were navigating the reefs at Ewasse in Bangula Bay (near Talasea). Four 78 Squadron P-40s overview the ships, that via radio confirmed the schooner was hit and no longer a target. 

Friendly Fire Accident
Later, four other RAAF P-40s from 78 Squadron and a Beaufighter from 30 Squadron attacked the PT-Boats. Another Beaufighter sucessfully identifed the ships as friendly, but was not able to stop the attack. After they made several passes, PT-Boats returned fire, but the captains of each boat made them cease fire.  Both PT-Boats were hit, burned and sank. Shortly after the attack, the first group of P-40s returned to the area, reported the tragedy and dropped life raft.  Five hours later, other P-40s guided PT-346 and PT-354 to the site to look for survivors. A total of four officers and four enlisted men were KIA, four officers and four enlisted men were WIA. This was the first friendly fire incident in the South-West Pacific area of aircraft attacking PT-Boats (operating for a year prior), but would not be the last.

References
At Close Quarters PT Boats in the US Navy, pages 232-233

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