PBR 6927

[John Neuenburg]

Let's all West Coasters dream of Dave talking the Air Guard into putting the boat on a C-17 as a training exercise, and landing at Travis AFB where the river to Tower Park is a short tow away! May the Force be with us! There would be nothing cooler than to see a PBR navigating the Sacramento Delta like the original training squadron did.

Tow?????????????????????????????? We don't need no stinking tow!!!!

Get PBR6927 in the water and she is good to go!!!

No, not tow to Tower Park...tow to the RIVER! Course that assumes the cradle has wheels....

[SURPDLR]

Let's all West Coasters dream of Dave talking the Air Guard into putting the boat on a C-17 as a training exercise, and landing at Travis AFB where the river to Tower Park is a short tow away! May the Force be with us! There would be nothing cooler than to see a PBR navigating the Sacramento Delta like the original training squadron did.

Tow?????????????????????????????? We don't need no stinking tow!!!!

Get PBR6927 in the water and she is good to go!!!

No, not tow to Tower Park...tow to the RIVER! Course that assumes the cradle has wheels....

No cradle, yet, (And they don't have wheels) just a trailer.

[D Pizzoferrato]

I just received this picture from a member of the LST 325 crew. For all intents and purposes, this was the Maiden Voyage that was our goal. I've passed it around to the crew, and all agree that it's one of the better pictures. This was taken as we met the LST entering the New Cumberland Pool of the Ohio River last August.

PBR LST MAIDEN.jpg (1.04 MiB) Viewed 1498 times

Crew, from L to R, Ron Fitzpatrick (Chumley), Jeff Hain-Matson, David Pizzoferrato, Mike Seymour (The Old Man)

[Zack Magnusson]

Hello Dave,
Are you planning to drive the PBR to Mobile this year?

[D Pizzoferrato]

As much as I'm captivated with the idea, at 1 mile to currently $4 per gallon diesel fuel, the fuel cost alone is close to $14,000 for the round trip. Likely looking at a minimum of 15 days one way on the water for the 1600 miles.

I've heard talk of the LST being drydocked in Mobile in the next year or so for a hull inspection. If I can hitch a ride for the PBR for one leg of the round trip (depending on timing), it might be possible.

I am working on plans to trailer the boat to Peoria IL at the end of August in order to join the LST for 2 weeks on her Illinois River cruise
http://www.lstmemorial.org/events.htm.

[Zack Magnusson]

That's understandable. If you're able to work out hitching a ride with the LST, try to do it on the return leg, that way the current will be at your back on the leg you drive and you'll use a lot less fuel. Nice job on the restoration, by the way.

[M38A1 MP Jeep]

Dave

Are you going to need any help when in Peoria in August?

I have moved from Kentucky to the Quad Cities and Peoria is only an hour away.

Jon Ramsdell

[D Pizzoferrato]

Jon,
Will you be attending Aberdeen or Dayton? We can talk then, or give me a call.

[M38A1 MP Jeep]

Dave - probably not, Aberdeen is too far and Dayton is really close to Iola which is much closer for me.

I'll call you.

Jon

[keystonefarm]

Yesterday since it is Memorial Day weekend I decided to take a look in my old Navy sea chest where I keep all my old USN stuff. I spent a number of hours last night remembering things I have not thought about in many years. Today May 30th 41 years ago I was involved in my last firefight on a PBR. I was with Riv Div 515 and at that time we were based out of Rach Gia. My boat was the 31RP68114. Funny how some numbers are etched in my mind and I will never forget. At that time we had replaced the rear 50 mount with a 61 mm motar . My normal position was the rear 50 so I got to be the guy up on the canopy. 515 had removed all the radar units ( they were pretty much useless on the canals) They had replaced them with a pipe mount for either 1 or 2 M 60's . A piece of plywood placed under the canopy gave you a place to stand. On our way to the nighttime waterbourne guardpost somewhere on the canal some nice locals decided to make us their targets. They fired 3 B-40's at the two boat patrol. Since I was up on the canopy I had a great view but was wide open. They always seemed to go after the second boat which was the 14 boat ( mine ) The first rocket went between the boats bouncing off the water and hit the opposite bank where it detonated. The second went over my head by maybe 10 feet and detonated on the shore far in. The third went behind the boat by maybe 20 feet and never detonated. The VC would set up the B-40's and then run wire to wherever they wanted to be to set them off remotely. So shooting where the rockets came from was normally useless. I saw where the rockets had come from so decided to put some fire in that area. They must have had other B-40's ready to go as I must have hit one and it detonated. We called in air support and ended up with some Black Ponies OV-10's. They rocketed the area and put some mini gun in while we made a few passes with the 50's and whatevere else we had. We checked out the area the next morning but other than a hole where the explosion was and a bunch of shot up bananna trees there was nothing.
My Memorial Day this year was much more quiet and friendly . Remember all the people who served long ago on the PBR's , STABS, Heavies , SeaWolves, OV-10 Broncho's . They never got the welcome home that the troops get today. I'm happy that the troops today get the welcome as they rightly deserve it. I served one tour in Vietnam 12 months to the day. I can't imagine the troops today serving 2-3-4 tours in combat. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken McCorry EN3 Riv Div 515. Stabron 20

[Mike Seymour]

Welcome home, Ken.

[D Pizzoferrato]

Looks like all of the details have been handled.

PBR 6927 will be in the water at the MVPA Dayton Convention.

3 weeks later, she will be proudly escorting the LST 325 from Peoria IL north to Henry IL, and will be on station for both the Henry and Peoria LST docking/exhibits

[D Pizzoferrato]

A few pics of the Dayton lift operation. Unfortunately, due to the thick submerged vegetation in the pond, we were unable to run the boat due to the jet pumps fouling.

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[68427vette]

good to see it at dayton!!

did i miss something??

"at 1 mile to currently $4 per gallon diesel fuel, the fuel cost alone is close to $14,000 for the round trip"
did you add an extra "0" at the end of $14,000??? or is that chevy a gas burner???

[D Pizzoferrato]

The Chevy isn't in the equation (yes it's a well tuned oil burner). The question and answer was concerning a RIVER trip to Mobile AL. The math is perfect, 1600 miles one way=3200 mile round trip or 3200 plus gallons of diesel at $4+ per gallon. Adding in the idle time for waiting on lock passages, $14,000 for fuel for a 3200 mile river trip is a darn good estimate.

As they used to say on the PSAs when I was younger, Reading is fun(damental)!