William Louis Dudas (19, 08 November 1922 Cleveland, Ohio), a resident of Box 139, Stumpf Road, Parma, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. N-208, Order No. 12499) on 30 June 1942 in Parma, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He was unemployed. William listed his mother, Julia Dudas, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5'7" in height, 135 lbs., with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.
William L. Dudas enlisted in the U.S. Navy (S/N 285-02-86) on 11 December 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio.
He was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker (B) (PTRon 16B) on 24 July 1943, made up of PT's 295 thru 301. He was part of the commissioning detail for PT-300 on 27 October 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
PT-300 Specifications:
78' Higgins Motor Torpedo Boat
Displacement: 56 tons
Length: 78 feet
Beam: 20' 8"
Draft: 5' 3"
Speed :41 knots.
Complement: 17 crew
Armament: One 40mm mount, two 21" torpedoes, two twin .50 cal. machine guns, one 37mm mount and one 20mm mount
Propulsion: Three 1,500 shaft horsepower (shp) Packard W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.
The first part of December 1943 PT-300 was attached to S.C. T.C. Miami, Florida and underwent operational shakedown training. They left for Cuba on 14 December and were there until 28 December. In January and February they were stationed in Columbia and Panama and practiced firing their torpedos and exercised high speed daylight and nighttime attacks. In March the PT's were loaded aboard the SS HIRAM BINGHAM at Balboa, Canal Zone and brought to Seattle. On 22 March the SS HIRAM BINGHAM arrived Navy Yard, Bremerton and unloaded the PT's. They were stationed at Pier #41, Naval Station, Seattle, Washington and outfitted and prepared for North Pacific duty. On 17 April 1944 they were sent to Alaska.
May 1944
01-06 May 1944 PT's 297 thru 301 assigned to Task Force 91 and operated out of the Naval Air Station, Sitka, Alaska. They were there until 07 May 1944 when they returned to Seattle. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker War Diary.
June 1944
PT's 297 thru 301 moored Navy Yard, Puget Sound undergoing repairs and refitting preparatory to new assignment. 21-22 June 1944 In accordance with orders PT's 297, 298 and 299 were loaded aboard SS SHENANDOAH. PT'S 300 and 301 loaded aboard SS YARBA LINDA. Both ships stood out for San Francisco. 26 June 1944 all boats unloaded in San Francisco to await transportation to South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of June 1944.
On 05 July 1944 PT's 298-301 were loaded aboard the SS JAMES J. O'KELLY enroute to Milne Bay from San Francisco in accordance with orders. 03 August 1944 SS JAMES J. O'KELLY arrived Ladava Achorage, Milne Bay. 10-11 August 1944 all boats unloaded, fueled, provisioned and made ready for sea.
14 August - 07 September 1944
PT's 298-301 based at Dreger Harbor, New Guinea.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for months of July, August and September 1944.
On 08 September 1944 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker was transferred to Mios Woendi PT Boat Base (Camp Taylor) in the Schouten Islands. The island was the location of a forward base of the United States Navy during World War II code named "Stinker". It became the largest PT facility in the Pacific. Mios Woendi is in an atoll southeast of Biak, off the north coast of New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies (now Papua, Indonesia). PT-300 operated out of Camp Taylor until the end of October. "The crew of PT 300 performed its duties in an efficient manner."
23-24 September 1944
PT-300 with PT-525 stood out for Oemar Bay - Roemberpon patrol. 0615 24 September 1944 destroyed two type "A" barges off Sombroko Island.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of September 1944.
04-05 October 1944
PT's 300 and 74 landed a commando party of Alamo Scouts ten (10) miles north of Pt. Ornasbari, Netherlands, New Guinea. At dawn picked up the scouts and 140 rescued prisoners of war.
26-27 October 1944
PT's 229, 300 patrolled the area between Wandamman Bay and Roemberpon Island. Destroyed one type "A" army barge at Windisi Harbor, Netherlands, New Guinea. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of October 1944.
In November 1944 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN was sent to the Philippine Islands and operated from San Pedro Bay, Leyte (27 November - 13 December 1944) and then Mangarin Bay, Mindoro (15 -18 December 1944). Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary.
13-14 December 1944
PT-300 as part of TG 73.8 was underway from San Pedro Bay, Philippine Islands to Mangarin Bay, Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
15 December 1944
Arrived Mangarin Bay, Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands. Seven suicide dive bombers attacked in the morning, all seven enemy planes were destroyed by AA fire from units of TG 73.8. No damage was incurred by the boats. That night PT-300 made a night patrol up the west coast of Mindoro. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
16 December 1944
On the morning of 16 December 1944, PT-300 and PT-230 were returning from an anti-shipping patrol along the western Mindoro coast. As the boats approached Mangarin Bay, a single Japanese plane (SALLY) came in low from the east and strafed PT-320 without causing damage and then made a circle and began a dive on LST-605 unloading on the beach. Both PT boats and LST-605 opened fire hitting the aircraft and shot off part of the tail that caused it to crash ashore 50 yards from the LST and killed 5 men and wounded 11 ashore. Later six enemy fighters attacked the PT's, all of them were destroyed by PT AA fire and no casualties were incurred by the squadron. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
17 December 1944
At 1617 the PT's were attacked by seven enemy fighter planes - Zekes and Zeros. Three planes were destroyed by AA fire from the PT's. Five minor personnel casualties were suffered. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944
18 December 1944
On 18 December 1944, PT-300 with PT Boats from Task Unit 70.1.4 entered Mangarin Bay off San Jose on Mindoro Island, Philippines. PT 300 was on a southeasterly course paralleling the beach at a speed of about twenty knots. At about 1600 hours the PT boats were spotted and attacked by three Japanese Ki-51 Sonias.
One of the planes made a low diving *kamikaze attack on PT-300, hitting the starboard quarter amidships of the engine room and causing the vessel to break into two pieces with the stern sinking immediately and the bow on fire but still afloat for eight hours. It sank about 300 yards offshore of Caminawit Point.
Aboard, the crew of fifteen suffered four dead and four missing, six were wounded,
and only one crew member escaped uninjured. The body of the Japanese pilot was recovered.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Action Report, PT 300, 18 December 1944.
Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William Louis Dudas was one of the four killed.
"PT 300 had been ordered to go on night patrol that evening and Oliver Young, who was scheduled to crew the 300 boat, was walking towards the intelligence shack for a briefing when the air-raid alarm sounded warning of the arrival of Japanese planes. PT 300 immediately cast off and headed for the outer bay where it could maneuver to avoid enemy planes, and it departed before Young could get back to the boat. On board PT 300 was Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William Dudas, who also served as the trainer on the 40 mm cannon. Dudas was also Young's best friend. When the kamikaze came, Dudas continued to fire fearlessly at the plane until the kamikaze crashed into the boat, seriously wounding Dudas. When the wounded from PT 300 were brought back to shore, Young was waiting, terrified about what he was about to learn. Bill Dudas was still alive, but mortally wounded. As Young held and comforted his friend, Dudas continued to murmur, "Momma, Momma." Young asked the Navy corpsman the prognosis. The reply could not have been worse, "Every bone I checked was broken, and I cannot shoot enough pain killer in him to stop the pain." Bill Dudas was dead 45 minutes later. Fifty-five years after his friend was killed, Oliver Young still teared up when he told of the event, and explained that, while on Mindoro, he would see much death, and there would be days when the "bodies were stacked up like cordwood on the shore until they could be checked and buried. But it was different with my buddy Bill." Source: PT Boat Odyssey: In the Pacific War with Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 16, 1943-1945 by Robert P. Gelzheiser (2019 McFarland & Company, North Carolina), pages 167-168.
He was first buried in the United States Armed Forces Cemetery #1, in San Jose, Mindoro, P. I. After the war their remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 2, Row 7, Grave 873 (D-D 5234). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Anton Dudas), Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William L. Dudas was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot G, Row 3, Grave 3.
He is buried next to his brother, Sgt. John B. Dudas who was killed a month earlier aboard the S.S. Thomas Nelson, also hit by a kamikaze – Plot G, Row 3, Grave 2. They are one of 20 sets of brothers buried next to each other in the Manila American Cemetery.
The attack on PT-300 by a Kamikaze plane was the twelfth attack of that nature suffered by the vessels of this Task Unit in three days.
The four sailors killed on PT-300:
Radioman Third Class Joseph Gerard Amos 836 26 43 USNR
Seaman First Class Albert John Basso 813 70 06 USNR
Machinist's Mate First Class Joseph Miles Brunner 250 73 04 USN
Machinist's Mate Second Class William Louis Dudas 285 02 86 USNR
The four sailors missing in action:
Quartermaster Second Class John Wilder Ball 725 19 99 USNR
Fire Controlman First Class Valmore William Beauregard 579 14 12 USNR
Gunner's Mate Third Class Albert Earl Boone 896 12 93 USNR
Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class John Robert Bowers 244-65 61 USNR
William L. Dudas enlisted in the U.S. Navy (S/N 285-02-86) on 11 December 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio.
He was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker (B) (PTRon 16B) on 24 July 1943, made up of PT's 295 thru 301. He was part of the commissioning detail for PT-300 on 27 October 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
PT-300 Specifications:
78' Higgins Motor Torpedo Boat
Displacement: 56 tons
Length: 78 feet
Beam: 20' 8"
Draft: 5' 3"
Speed :41 knots.
Complement: 17 crew
Armament: One 40mm mount, two 21" torpedoes, two twin .50 cal. machine guns, one 37mm mount and one 20mm mount
Propulsion: Three 1,500 shaft horsepower (shp) Packard W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.
The first part of December 1943 PT-300 was attached to S.C. T.C. Miami, Florida and underwent operational shakedown training. They left for Cuba on 14 December and were there until 28 December. In January and February they were stationed in Columbia and Panama and practiced firing their torpedos and exercised high speed daylight and nighttime attacks. In March the PT's were loaded aboard the SS HIRAM BINGHAM at Balboa, Canal Zone and brought to Seattle. On 22 March the SS HIRAM BINGHAM arrived Navy Yard, Bremerton and unloaded the PT's. They were stationed at Pier #41, Naval Station, Seattle, Washington and outfitted and prepared for North Pacific duty. On 17 April 1944 they were sent to Alaska.
May 1944
01-06 May 1944 PT's 297 thru 301 assigned to Task Force 91 and operated out of the Naval Air Station, Sitka, Alaska. They were there until 07 May 1944 when they returned to Seattle. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker War Diary.
June 1944
PT's 297 thru 301 moored Navy Yard, Puget Sound undergoing repairs and refitting preparatory to new assignment. 21-22 June 1944 In accordance with orders PT's 297, 298 and 299 were loaded aboard SS SHENANDOAH. PT'S 300 and 301 loaded aboard SS YARBA LINDA. Both ships stood out for San Francisco. 26 June 1944 all boats unloaded in San Francisco to await transportation to South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of June 1944.
On 05 July 1944 PT's 298-301 were loaded aboard the SS JAMES J. O'KELLY enroute to Milne Bay from San Francisco in accordance with orders. 03 August 1944 SS JAMES J. O'KELLY arrived Ladava Achorage, Milne Bay. 10-11 August 1944 all boats unloaded, fueled, provisioned and made ready for sea.
14 August - 07 September 1944
PT's 298-301 based at Dreger Harbor, New Guinea.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for months of July, August and September 1944.
On 08 September 1944 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker was transferred to Mios Woendi PT Boat Base (Camp Taylor) in the Schouten Islands. The island was the location of a forward base of the United States Navy during World War II code named "Stinker". It became the largest PT facility in the Pacific. Mios Woendi is in an atoll southeast of Biak, off the north coast of New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies (now Papua, Indonesia). PT-300 operated out of Camp Taylor until the end of October. "The crew of PT 300 performed its duties in an efficient manner."
23-24 September 1944
PT-300 with PT-525 stood out for Oemar Bay - Roemberpon patrol. 0615 24 September 1944 destroyed two type "A" barges off Sombroko Island.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of September 1944.
04-05 October 1944
PT's 300 and 74 landed a commando party of Alamo Scouts ten (10) miles north of Pt. Ornasbari, Netherlands, New Guinea. At dawn picked up the scouts and 140 rescued prisoners of war.
26-27 October 1944
PT's 229, 300 patrolled the area between Wandamman Bay and Roemberpon Island. Destroyed one type "A" army barge at Windisi Harbor, Netherlands, New Guinea. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of October 1944.
In November 1944 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN was sent to the Philippine Islands and operated from San Pedro Bay, Leyte (27 November - 13 December 1944) and then Mangarin Bay, Mindoro (15 -18 December 1944). Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary.
13-14 December 1944
PT-300 as part of TG 73.8 was underway from San Pedro Bay, Philippine Islands to Mangarin Bay, Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
15 December 1944
Arrived Mangarin Bay, Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands. Seven suicide dive bombers attacked in the morning, all seven enemy planes were destroyed by AA fire from units of TG 73.8. No damage was incurred by the boats. That night PT-300 made a night patrol up the west coast of Mindoro. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
16 December 1944
On the morning of 16 December 1944, PT-300 and PT-230 were returning from an anti-shipping patrol along the western Mindoro coast. As the boats approached Mangarin Bay, a single Japanese plane (SALLY) came in low from the east and strafed PT-320 without causing damage and then made a circle and began a dive on LST-605 unloading on the beach. Both PT boats and LST-605 opened fire hitting the aircraft and shot off part of the tail that caused it to crash ashore 50 yards from the LST and killed 5 men and wounded 11 ashore. Later six enemy fighters attacked the PT's, all of them were destroyed by PT AA fire and no casualties were incurred by the squadron. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
17 December 1944
At 1617 the PT's were attacked by seven enemy fighter planes - Zekes and Zeros. Three planes were destroyed by AA fire from the PT's. Five minor personnel casualties were suffered. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944
18 December 1944
On 18 December 1944, PT-300 with PT Boats from Task Unit 70.1.4 entered Mangarin Bay off San Jose on Mindoro Island, Philippines. PT 300 was on a southeasterly course paralleling the beach at a speed of about twenty knots. At about 1600 hours the PT boats were spotted and attacked by three Japanese Ki-51 Sonias.
One of the planes made a low diving *kamikaze attack on PT-300, hitting the starboard quarter amidships of the engine room and causing the vessel to break into two pieces with the stern sinking immediately and the bow on fire but still afloat for eight hours. It sank about 300 yards offshore of Caminawit Point.
Aboard, the crew of fifteen suffered four dead and four missing, six were wounded,
and only one crew member escaped uninjured. The body of the Japanese pilot was recovered.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Action Report, PT 300, 18 December 1944.
Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William Louis Dudas was one of the four killed.
"PT 300 had been ordered to go on night patrol that evening and Oliver Young, who was scheduled to crew the 300 boat, was walking towards the intelligence shack for a briefing when the air-raid alarm sounded warning of the arrival of Japanese planes. PT 300 immediately cast off and headed for the outer bay where it could maneuver to avoid enemy planes, and it departed before Young could get back to the boat. On board PT 300 was Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William Dudas, who also served as the trainer on the 40 mm cannon. Dudas was also Young's best friend. When the kamikaze came, Dudas continued to fire fearlessly at the plane until the kamikaze crashed into the boat, seriously wounding Dudas. When the wounded from PT 300 were brought back to shore, Young was waiting, terrified about what he was about to learn. Bill Dudas was still alive, but mortally wounded. As Young held and comforted his friend, Dudas continued to murmur, "Momma, Momma." Young asked the Navy corpsman the prognosis. The reply could not have been worse, "Every bone I checked was broken, and I cannot shoot enough pain killer in him to stop the pain." Bill Dudas was dead 45 minutes later. Fifty-five years after his friend was killed, Oliver Young still teared up when he told of the event, and explained that, while on Mindoro, he would see much death, and there would be days when the "bodies were stacked up like cordwood on the shore until they could be checked and buried. But it was different with my buddy Bill." Source: PT Boat Odyssey: In the Pacific War with Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 16, 1943-1945 by Robert P. Gelzheiser (2019 McFarland & Company, North Carolina), pages 167-168.
He was first buried in the United States Armed Forces Cemetery #1, in San Jose, Mindoro, P. I. After the war their remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 2, Row 7, Grave 873 (D-D 5234). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Anton Dudas), Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William L. Dudas was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot G, Row 3, Grave 3.
He is buried next to his brother, Sgt. John B. Dudas who was killed a month earlier aboard the S.S. Thomas Nelson, also hit by a kamikaze – Plot G, Row 3, Grave 2. They are one of 20 sets of brothers buried next to each other in the Manila American Cemetery.
The attack on PT-300 by a Kamikaze plane was the twelfth attack of that nature suffered by the vessels of this Task Unit in three days.
The four sailors killed on PT-300:
Radioman Third Class Joseph Gerard Amos 836 26 43 USNR
Seaman First Class Albert John Basso 813 70 06 USNR
Machinist's Mate First Class Joseph Miles Brunner 250 73 04 USN
Machinist's Mate Second Class William Louis Dudas 285 02 86 USNR
The four sailors missing in action:
Quartermaster Second Class John Wilder Ball 725 19 99 USNR
Fire Controlman First Class Valmore William Beauregard 579 14 12 USNR
Gunner's Mate Third Class Albert Earl Boone 896 12 93 USNR
Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class John Robert Bowers 244-65 61 USNR
William Louis Dudas (19, 08 November 1922 Cleveland, Ohio), a resident of Box 139, Stumpf Road, Parma, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. N-208, Order No. 12499) on 30 June 1942 in Parma, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He was unemployed. William listed his mother, Julia Dudas, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5'7" in height, 135 lbs., with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.
William L. Dudas enlisted in the U.S. Navy (S/N 285-02-86) on 11 December 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio.
He was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker (B) (PTRon 16B) on 24 July 1943, made up of PT's 295 thru 301. He was part of the commissioning detail for PT-300 on 27 October 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
PT-300 Specifications:
78' Higgins Motor Torpedo Boat
Displacement: 56 tons
Length: 78 feet
Beam: 20' 8"
Draft: 5' 3"
Speed :41 knots.
Complement: 17 crew
Armament: One 40mm mount, two 21" torpedoes, two twin .50 cal. machine guns, one 37mm mount and one 20mm mount
Propulsion: Three 1,500 shaft horsepower (shp) Packard W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.
The first part of December 1943 PT-300 was attached to S.C. T.C. Miami, Florida and underwent operational shakedown training. They left for Cuba on 14 December and were there until 28 December. In January and February they were stationed in Columbia and Panama and practiced firing their torpedos and exercised high speed daylight and nighttime attacks. In March the PT's were loaded aboard the SS HIRAM BINGHAM at Balboa, Canal Zone and brought to Seattle. On 22 March the SS HIRAM BINGHAM arrived Navy Yard, Bremerton and unloaded the PT's. They were stationed at Pier #41, Naval Station, Seattle, Washington and outfitted and prepared for North Pacific duty. On 17 April 1944 they were sent to Alaska.
May 1944
01-06 May 1944 PT's 297 thru 301 assigned to Task Force 91 and operated out of the Naval Air Station, Sitka, Alaska. They were there until 07 May 1944 when they returned to Seattle. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker War Diary.
June 1944
PT's 297 thru 301 moored Navy Yard, Puget Sound undergoing repairs and refitting preparatory to new assignment. 21-22 June 1944 In accordance with orders PT's 297, 298 and 299 were loaded aboard SS SHENANDOAH. PT'S 300 and 301 loaded aboard SS YARBA LINDA. Both ships stood out for San Francisco. 26 June 1944 all boats unloaded in San Francisco to await transportation to South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of June 1944.
On 05 July 1944 PT's 298-301 were loaded aboard the SS JAMES J. O'KELLY enroute to Milne Bay from San Francisco in accordance with orders. 03 August 1944 SS JAMES J. O'KELLY arrived Ladava Achorage, Milne Bay. 10-11 August 1944 all boats unloaded, fueled, provisioned and made ready for sea.
14 August - 07 September 1944
PT's 298-301 based at Dreger Harbor, New Guinea.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for months of July, August and September 1944.
On 08 September 1944 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker was transferred to Mios Woendi PT Boat Base (Camp Taylor) in the Schouten Islands. The island was the location of a forward base of the United States Navy during World War II code named "Stinker". It became the largest PT facility in the Pacific. Mios Woendi is in an atoll southeast of Biak, off the north coast of New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies (now Papua, Indonesia). PT-300 operated out of Camp Taylor until the end of October. "The crew of PT 300 performed its duties in an efficient manner."
23-24 September 1944
PT-300 with PT-525 stood out for Oemar Bay - Roemberpon patrol. 0615 24 September 1944 destroyed two type "A" barges off Sombroko Island.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of September 1944.
04-05 October 1944
PT's 300 and 74 landed a commando party of Alamo Scouts ten (10) miles north of Pt. Ornasbari, Netherlands, New Guinea. At dawn picked up the scouts and 140 rescued prisoners of war.
26-27 October 1944
PT's 229, 300 patrolled the area between Wandamman Bay and Roemberpon Island. Destroyed one type "A" army barge at Windisi Harbor, Netherlands, New Guinea. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of October 1944.
In November 1944 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN was sent to the Philippine Islands and operated from San Pedro Bay, Leyte (27 November - 13 December 1944) and then Mangarin Bay, Mindoro (15 -18 December 1944). Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary.
13-14 December 1944
PT-300 as part of TG 73.8 was underway from San Pedro Bay, Philippine Islands to Mangarin Bay, Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
15 December 1944
Arrived Mangarin Bay, Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands. Seven suicide dive bombers attacked in the morning, all seven enemy planes were destroyed by AA fire from units of TG 73.8. No damage was incurred by the boats. That night PT-300 made a night patrol up the west coast of Mindoro. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
16 December 1944
On the morning of 16 December 1944, PT-300 and PT-230 were returning from an anti-shipping patrol along the western Mindoro coast. As the boats approached Mangarin Bay, a single Japanese plane (SALLY) came in low from the east and strafed PT-320 without causing damage and then made a circle and began a dive on LST-605 unloading on the beach. Both PT boats and LST-605 opened fire hitting the aircraft and shot off part of the tail that caused it to crash ashore 50 yards from the LST and killed 5 men and wounded 11 ashore. Later six enemy fighters attacked the PT's, all of them were destroyed by PT AA fire and no casualties were incurred by the squadron. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
17 December 1944
At 1617 the PT's were attacked by seven enemy fighter planes - Zekes and Zeros. Three planes were destroyed by AA fire from the PT's. Five minor personnel casualties were suffered. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944
18 December 1944
On 18 December 1944, PT-300 with PT Boats from Task Unit 70.1.4 entered Mangarin Bay off San Jose on Mindoro Island, Philippines. PT 300 was on a southeasterly course paralleling the beach at a speed of about twenty knots. At about 1600 hours the PT boats were spotted and attacked by three Japanese Ki-51 Sonias.
One of the planes made a low diving *kamikaze attack on PT-300, hitting the starboard quarter amidships of the engine room and causing the vessel to break into two pieces with the stern sinking immediately and the bow on fire but still afloat for eight hours. It sank about 300 yards offshore of Caminawit Point.
Aboard, the crew of fifteen suffered four dead and four missing, six were wounded,
and only one crew member escaped uninjured. The body of the Japanese pilot was recovered.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Action Report, PT 300, 18 December 1944.
Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William Louis Dudas was one of the four killed.
"PT 300 had been ordered to go on night patrol that evening and Oliver Young, who was scheduled to crew the 300 boat, was walking towards the intelligence shack for a briefing when the air-raid alarm sounded warning of the arrival of Japanese planes. PT 300 immediately cast off and headed for the outer bay where it could maneuver to avoid enemy planes, and it departed before Young could get back to the boat. On board PT 300 was Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William Dudas, who also served as the trainer on the 40 mm cannon. Dudas was also Young's best friend. When the kamikaze came, Dudas continued to fire fearlessly at the plane until the kamikaze crashed into the boat, seriously wounding Dudas. When the wounded from PT 300 were brought back to shore, Young was waiting, terrified about what he was about to learn. Bill Dudas was still alive, but mortally wounded. As Young held and comforted his friend, Dudas continued to murmur, "Momma, Momma." Young asked the Navy corpsman the prognosis. The reply could not have been worse, "Every bone I checked was broken, and I cannot shoot enough pain killer in him to stop the pain." Bill Dudas was dead 45 minutes later. Fifty-five years after his friend was killed, Oliver Young still teared up when he told of the event, and explained that, while on Mindoro, he would see much death, and there would be days when the "bodies were stacked up like cordwood on the shore until they could be checked and buried. But it was different with my buddy Bill." Source: PT Boat Odyssey: In the Pacific War with Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 16, 1943-1945 by Robert P. Gelzheiser (2019 McFarland & Company, North Carolina), pages 167-168.
He was first buried in the United States Armed Forces Cemetery #1, in San Jose, Mindoro, P. I. After the war their remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 2, Row 7, Grave 873 (D-D 5234). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Anton Dudas), Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William L. Dudas was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot G, Row 3, Grave 3.
He is buried next to his brother, Sgt. John B. Dudas who was killed a month earlier aboard the S.S. Thomas Nelson, also hit by a kamikaze – Plot G, Row 3, Grave 2. They are one of 20 sets of brothers buried next to each other in the Manila American Cemetery.
The attack on PT-300 by a Kamikaze plane was the twelfth attack of that nature suffered by the vessels of this Task Unit in three days.
The four sailors killed on PT-300:
Radioman Third Class Joseph Gerard Amos 836 26 43 USNR
Seaman First Class Albert John Basso 813 70 06 USNR
Machinist's Mate First Class Joseph Miles Brunner 250 73 04 USN
Machinist's Mate Second Class William Louis Dudas 285 02 86 USNR
The four sailors missing in action:
Quartermaster Second Class John Wilder Ball 725 19 99 USNR
Fire Controlman First Class Valmore William Beauregard 579 14 12 USNR
Gunner's Mate Third Class Albert Earl Boone 896 12 93 USNR
Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class John Robert Bowers 244-65 61 USNR
William L. Dudas enlisted in the U.S. Navy (S/N 285-02-86) on 11 December 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio.
He was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker (B) (PTRon 16B) on 24 July 1943, made up of PT's 295 thru 301. He was part of the commissioning detail for PT-300 on 27 October 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
PT-300 Specifications:
78' Higgins Motor Torpedo Boat
Displacement: 56 tons
Length: 78 feet
Beam: 20' 8"
Draft: 5' 3"
Speed :41 knots.
Complement: 17 crew
Armament: One 40mm mount, two 21" torpedoes, two twin .50 cal. machine guns, one 37mm mount and one 20mm mount
Propulsion: Three 1,500 shaft horsepower (shp) Packard W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.
The first part of December 1943 PT-300 was attached to S.C. T.C. Miami, Florida and underwent operational shakedown training. They left for Cuba on 14 December and were there until 28 December. In January and February they were stationed in Columbia and Panama and practiced firing their torpedos and exercised high speed daylight and nighttime attacks. In March the PT's were loaded aboard the SS HIRAM BINGHAM at Balboa, Canal Zone and brought to Seattle. On 22 March the SS HIRAM BINGHAM arrived Navy Yard, Bremerton and unloaded the PT's. They were stationed at Pier #41, Naval Station, Seattle, Washington and outfitted and prepared for North Pacific duty. On 17 April 1944 they were sent to Alaska.
May 1944
01-06 May 1944 PT's 297 thru 301 assigned to Task Force 91 and operated out of the Naval Air Station, Sitka, Alaska. They were there until 07 May 1944 when they returned to Seattle. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker War Diary.
June 1944
PT's 297 thru 301 moored Navy Yard, Puget Sound undergoing repairs and refitting preparatory to new assignment. 21-22 June 1944 In accordance with orders PT's 297, 298 and 299 were loaded aboard SS SHENANDOAH. PT'S 300 and 301 loaded aboard SS YARBA LINDA. Both ships stood out for San Francisco. 26 June 1944 all boats unloaded in San Francisco to await transportation to South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of June 1944.
On 05 July 1944 PT's 298-301 were loaded aboard the SS JAMES J. O'KELLY enroute to Milne Bay from San Francisco in accordance with orders. 03 August 1944 SS JAMES J. O'KELLY arrived Ladava Achorage, Milne Bay. 10-11 August 1944 all boats unloaded, fueled, provisioned and made ready for sea.
14 August - 07 September 1944
PT's 298-301 based at Dreger Harbor, New Guinea.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for months of July, August and September 1944.
On 08 September 1944 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Baker was transferred to Mios Woendi PT Boat Base (Camp Taylor) in the Schouten Islands. The island was the location of a forward base of the United States Navy during World War II code named "Stinker". It became the largest PT facility in the Pacific. Mios Woendi is in an atoll southeast of Biak, off the north coast of New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies (now Papua, Indonesia). PT-300 operated out of Camp Taylor until the end of October. "The crew of PT 300 performed its duties in an efficient manner."
23-24 September 1944
PT-300 with PT-525 stood out for Oemar Bay - Roemberpon patrol. 0615 24 September 1944 destroyed two type "A" barges off Sombroko Island.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of September 1944.
04-05 October 1944
PT's 300 and 74 landed a commando party of Alamo Scouts ten (10) miles north of Pt. Ornasbari, Netherlands, New Guinea. At dawn picked up the scouts and 140 rescued prisoners of war.
26-27 October 1944
PT's 229, 300 patrolled the area between Wandamman Bay and Roemberpon Island. Destroyed one type "A" army barge at Windisi Harbor, Netherlands, New Guinea. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of October 1944.
In November 1944 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN was sent to the Philippine Islands and operated from San Pedro Bay, Leyte (27 November - 13 December 1944) and then Mangarin Bay, Mindoro (15 -18 December 1944). Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary.
13-14 December 1944
PT-300 as part of TG 73.8 was underway from San Pedro Bay, Philippine Islands to Mangarin Bay, Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
15 December 1944
Arrived Mangarin Bay, Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands. Seven suicide dive bombers attacked in the morning, all seven enemy planes were destroyed by AA fire from units of TG 73.8. No damage was incurred by the boats. That night PT-300 made a night patrol up the west coast of Mindoro. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
16 December 1944
On the morning of 16 December 1944, PT-300 and PT-230 were returning from an anti-shipping patrol along the western Mindoro coast. As the boats approached Mangarin Bay, a single Japanese plane (SALLY) came in low from the east and strafed PT-320 without causing damage and then made a circle and began a dive on LST-605 unloading on the beach. Both PT boats and LST-605 opened fire hitting the aircraft and shot off part of the tail that caused it to crash ashore 50 yards from the LST and killed 5 men and wounded 11 ashore. Later six enemy fighters attacked the PT's, all of them were destroyed by PT AA fire and no casualties were incurred by the squadron. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
17 December 1944
At 1617 the PT's were attacked by seven enemy fighter planes - Zekes and Zeros. Three planes were destroyed by AA fire from the PT's. Five minor personnel casualties were suffered. Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944
18 December 1944
On 18 December 1944, PT-300 with PT Boats from Task Unit 70.1.4 entered Mangarin Bay off San Jose on Mindoro Island, Philippines. PT 300 was on a southeasterly course paralleling the beach at a speed of about twenty knots. At about 1600 hours the PT boats were spotted and attacked by three Japanese Ki-51 Sonias.
One of the planes made a low diving *kamikaze attack on PT-300, hitting the starboard quarter amidships of the engine room and causing the vessel to break into two pieces with the stern sinking immediately and the bow on fire but still afloat for eight hours. It sank about 300 yards offshore of Caminawit Point.
Aboard, the crew of fifteen suffered four dead and four missing, six were wounded,
and only one crew member escaped uninjured. The body of the Japanese pilot was recovered.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN War Diary for month of December 1944.
Source: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN Action Report, PT 300, 18 December 1944.
Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William Louis Dudas was one of the four killed.
"PT 300 had been ordered to go on night patrol that evening and Oliver Young, who was scheduled to crew the 300 boat, was walking towards the intelligence shack for a briefing when the air-raid alarm sounded warning of the arrival of Japanese planes. PT 300 immediately cast off and headed for the outer bay where it could maneuver to avoid enemy planes, and it departed before Young could get back to the boat. On board PT 300 was Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William Dudas, who also served as the trainer on the 40 mm cannon. Dudas was also Young's best friend. When the kamikaze came, Dudas continued to fire fearlessly at the plane until the kamikaze crashed into the boat, seriously wounding Dudas. When the wounded from PT 300 were brought back to shore, Young was waiting, terrified about what he was about to learn. Bill Dudas was still alive, but mortally wounded. As Young held and comforted his friend, Dudas continued to murmur, "Momma, Momma." Young asked the Navy corpsman the prognosis. The reply could not have been worse, "Every bone I checked was broken, and I cannot shoot enough pain killer in him to stop the pain." Bill Dudas was dead 45 minutes later. Fifty-five years after his friend was killed, Oliver Young still teared up when he told of the event, and explained that, while on Mindoro, he would see much death, and there would be days when the "bodies were stacked up like cordwood on the shore until they could be checked and buried. But it was different with my buddy Bill." Source: PT Boat Odyssey: In the Pacific War with Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 16, 1943-1945 by Robert P. Gelzheiser (2019 McFarland & Company, North Carolina), pages 167-168.
He was first buried in the United States Armed Forces Cemetery #1, in San Jose, Mindoro, P. I. After the war their remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 2, Row 7, Grave 873 (D-D 5234). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Anton Dudas), Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class William L. Dudas was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot G, Row 3, Grave 3.
He is buried next to his brother, Sgt. John B. Dudas who was killed a month earlier aboard the S.S. Thomas Nelson, also hit by a kamikaze – Plot G, Row 3, Grave 2. They are one of 20 sets of brothers buried next to each other in the Manila American Cemetery.
The attack on PT-300 by a Kamikaze plane was the twelfth attack of that nature suffered by the vessels of this Task Unit in three days.
The four sailors killed on PT-300:
Radioman Third Class Joseph Gerard Amos 836 26 43 USNR
Seaman First Class Albert John Basso 813 70 06 USNR
Machinist's Mate First Class Joseph Miles Brunner 250 73 04 USN
Machinist's Mate Second Class William Louis Dudas 285 02 86 USNR
The four sailors missing in action:
Quartermaster Second Class John Wilder Ball 725 19 99 USNR
Fire Controlman First Class Valmore William Beauregard 579 14 12 USNR
Gunner's Mate Third Class Albert Earl Boone 896 12 93 USNR
Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class John Robert Bowers 244-65 61 USNR
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Ohio.
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