USN
MTB-25
Via Dan Williams 1944
Justin Taylan 2000
Dan Williams 2005
Tons
38
Dimensions
80' / 23' / 5'
Speed
41 knots
Armament
2 x 2x50 Cal MG
1 x 20mm
1 x 37mm bow
1 x 40mm stern
4 x Mark37 Torpedoes
4 x Depth Charges
Rocket Launcher
Crew
15
Captain Lt.(jg) Robert J. Williams USNR (WIA)
Crew GM2C Henry Paul O’Connell USNR (WIA)
Crew CM2C Forrest May USNR (WIA)
Crew S1C Raymond Theodore Juneau USNR (KIA refused to abandon)
Coxwain John Harry Dunner USNR (KIA drowned)
Second Officer Lt. (jg) Eugene G. Clayton USNR
Third Officer Ensign Franklin L. Couch USNR
Crew Q3C James D. Sizemore USNR
Crew R2C Dean K. Whitmore USNR
Torpedoman Robert Carpenter USNR
Crew MMM3C Joseph A. Cubera USNR
Crew S1C Bernard J. McGee USNR
Crew TM2C Raymond A. Sequin USNR
Crew S2C Robert J. Valentine USNR
Gunner MMM3C William B. Larson USNR
Sunk April 29, 1944 by friendly fire
Ship History
Elco 80 PT-Boat.
Wartime History
PT 347 and PT-350 were caught three miles from the line of demarcation near Cape Lambert,
when it became caught on the reef after a nighttime patrol. PT-350 came to her aid. They made repeated attempts to get off the reef.
The next morning at 0705, two American F4Us from VMF-215 spotted the boats behind the demarcation line, climbed to 6000' and dived on the targets. Major Dill in command later stated: "there was no recognition signals of any kind." From two miles away, both started strafing and then circled once. The two boats tried unsuccessfully to contact the unidentified planes using daytime frequency. PT-347 blinked "S" and "V" with searchlight during the whole attack. Both had US Stars painted on roof and were flying US flag. Crews waved their arms frantically. When the strafing started, Captain williams ordered his boat to return fire, and shot down the wingman: F4U 13307.
The other F4U piloted by Dill returned to Green Island, and ordered an immediate attack on the enemy gunboats. No one aboard PT-347 was hurt, but PT-350 sustained 3 KIA and 3 WIA, and departed the area. PT-347 was dispatched to assist PT-347 still on the reef.
Second Attack
Back at Green Island Airfield, 8 SBD's, 6 TBF's, and 4 F6F (VF-34) made up the new strike force, lead by Lt. Knite. 3 F4Us (VMF-215) lead by Dill were to circle above, and when the bombing was over, to search for his downed wingman. At 2:00pm, PT-347 sighted planes northeast at about ten miles, and notified PT-346's captain Lt. Thompson who replied "Those must be our air cover, so lets resume efforts to get the boat off the reef."
PT-346 made several unsuccessful attempts to communicate with the planes. Two planes coming in on an apparent run, General Quarters was called. The planes began firing at the beginning of the run. Then, PT-347 fired several rounds at the attacking planes, trying to radio them. Captain Williams recalled: "Lt. Thompson and I unraveled a ten foot American flag that was held up on the day room, but they made their runs and fired just the same." The PT Boats returned fire, shooting down Knite's F6F 09012.
Lt. Williams then orders all hands into the water. Everyone abandons ship. Wilbur Larson still firing his 20mm was the last off, and noticed Forrest May standing on the reef shouting at Wilbur that he couldn't swim, and that he had been shot in the hand. After going over the side, Seaman Larson then took off his web belt and wrapped it around Forrest's wrist and hand to hold on his severed thumb. Holding onto him and swimming during the whole attack, and pulling Forrest under water with him during the strafing. (Williams recommend that Larson be decorated for this. He would later receive the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his bravery [ Read Citation ] ).
The ship was bombed for 3 minutes and a direct hit on PT-347 that blew her apart. PT-346 was also burning furiously. Then, the Corsairs began strafing the men in the water for approximately 45 minutes, causing many of the casualties. From the water, they could see the pilot's faces as they flew low. The attack ended at about 3:30pm. Two were KIA, three WIA aboard PT-347.
Rescue
At about 4:50 a PBY was sighted with fighter cover heading in their direction. The fighters showed up flying wagging their wings. The Catalina flew over and dropped an inflated life raft. The survivors clun to the bow of PT-347 and the raft which they tied up to a reef marker. Early the next morning, PT-351 and PT-355 picked them and brought them back to the USS Hilo. Out of the three boats involved (PT-350, PT-347, PT-346) 24 were KIA or MIA. 25 were WIA.
Aftermath
Due to the rivalry between MacArthur and Nimitz commands, and after MacArthur leaked a small mention of the incident to the American press, Nimitz decided no marine will be indicted, prosecuted, or penalized due to this tragic accident. Capt. Dill would eventually retire as a Full Colonel. Lt. Williams was retired from the navy at the age of 26, about a year after the incident for being 50% mentally disabled for posttraumatic syndrome.
Discovery
In March 1999, Peter Leggett was asked to find the wreckage of the PT Boats, and located the wreckage
of PT-347, and found it three miles from Cape
Lambert. Not much of the boat remains. The hulls of PT boats were wooden,
and since have rotted away on the reef. The engines, guns and mounts
and other bits of metal fixtures remain where the war left them.
Relatives
Dan Williams (son of Captain Robert Williams)
"I have PT-347's flag with battle damage. It sat in my father's closet for almost 50 years. After he passed away I had it, his hat band and few pictures of his crew mounted and framed. One of the sailors from my father's boat swam to the smoldering hull and cut the flag off, then gave it to the Skipper while they were spending the night in a raft."
Dan Williams
(son of captain)
PT-347 Webpage
Navy & Marine Corps Medal Citation
