I'm at the SOS and came across this jacket. It's a USN N3 jacket that has a painted sailor on top of a torpedo that says PT 299 and 16 which means squadron 16 on the back of it. The sailor looks to have a cross on his arm so I wonder if that means the sailor was a pharmacist mate or if he just drealized some random symbol. He said he would do $350 on it. I don't know though whether it is real or fake though. He said that he got it from a flea market in Brooklyn.

 

I did buy it after I had talked to some other collectors and with Bob Chatt.

 

This is what I found out about PT 299.

PT 299 was placed in service October 20, 1943. Placed out of service, stripped and destroyed, November 26, 1945.

 

Squadron 16 participated in the Aleutian campaign from August 1943 to May 1944. Transferred to the Southwest Pacific, the squadron had action at Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea; Mindoro, P.I.; and Brunei Bay, Borneo. It also based for a time at Dreger Harbor, New Guinea, and San Pedro Bay, P.I., but had no action from these bases. As part of Task Unit 70.1.4, Squadron 16 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for action at Mindoro from December 15 to 19, 1944. PT's 295-301, placed in service after the squadron had departed for the Aleutians, were designated as Squadron 16B, which was commissioned as a separate command under Lt. James H. Van Sicklen, USNR. Squadron 16B was placed out of separate commission on May 31, 1944, when it joined the parent squadron in Seattle.

 

 

 

 

 

The "Cross" is the eagle of a Petty Officer badge

The "Cross" is the eagle of a Petty Officer badge

 

Thanks. I was thinking it might be an eagle but I didn't think about it until after I posted it. Now im trying to figure out at way to display both the front and back of the jacket. I'm assuming i'll have to either hang it up to were you can be at the back of the uniform and at the front or take a picture of the front. Wish there was a name in it.

 

Thanks. I was thinking it might be an eagle but I didn't think about it until after I posted it. Now im trying to figure out at way to display both the front and back of the jacket. I'm assuming i'll have to either hang it up to were you can be at the back of the uniform and at the front or take a picture of the front. Wish there was a name in it.

Little idea to see both sides

Put it on a torso form and put it on a nice size table r cabinet and place a mirror behind it so you see both sides when you look ad it

 

And realy nice one i have to say

Does anyone have any photos of PT 299? I have been able to find photos of other PT boats in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 16 but not PT 299.

Here she is.

 

And 2 more photos of some of the crew. In the first photo it looks like the guy on the left jacket is painted on the back. The caption of the second photo says it is suspected to be PT 299 so its not 100% for sure the crew PT 299 but that's one of the few photos I have that is either PT 299 or might be PT 299.

 

Second photo.

PT 299

Laid down 15 March 1943 by Higgins Industries, New Orleans, LA

Launched 10 May 1943

Completed 26 October 1943, placed in service and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN (MTBRon 16) under the command of Lt. Comdr. Almer P. Colvin, USN

 

MTBRon 16 participated in the Aleutian campaign from August 1943 to May 1944. Transferred to the Southwest Pacific, the squadron had action at Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea; Mindoro, P.I.; and Brunei Bay, Borneo. It also based for a time at Dreger Harbor, New Guinea, and San Pedro Bay, P.I., but had no action from these bases. As part of Task Unit 70.1.4, MTBRon 16 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for action at Mindoro from 15 - 19 December 1944. PT's 295-301, placed in service after the squadron had departed for the Aleutians, were designated as Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN B, which was commissioned as a separate command under Lt. James H. Van Sicklen, USNR

 

The "Pom Pom", ex-"Two Niner Niner", ex-"Lucky Lady" was placed out of service 26 November 1945

Transferred to the State Department, Foreign Liquidation Commission in May 1946

 

Radioman Earle H. Lightner, Jr. seated on the right of the life ring

 

Radioman Earle H. Lightner, Jr. on the starboard .50 cal. machine guns

 

Source:  Gary Lightner via navsource.org