On August 9, 1944, while engaged in combat with German naval vessels, PT509 was sunk in the English Channel off the coast of the Isle of Jersey. All members of the crew were lost except John Page, Radarman 2nd Class. John was pulled from the sinking PT509 by the crew of a German vessel.
U.S.S. PT 509 after maneuvering into position fired one torpedo at target at range of 700 yards. No results were observed. It was then decided to close target and make a firing run. This was done at a range of 200 yards and a speed of something over 1500 RPMs. In the course of the firing run there was much return fire from the enemy. One shell hit and apparently killed Lieutenant (junior grade) Pavlis who was at the wheel. Another heavy calibre shell hit the chart house setting it on fire and wounding PAGE. Pavlis fell to the deck and the boat went out of control and rammed the enemy ship at right angles. Force of impact was so great that the bow was stoved in and the PT 509 momentarily was lodged into the side of the enemy ship. PAGE was severely wounded but managed to crawl out of the chart house up to the focsle deck. There the Germans threw him a line and pulled him aboard - his right arm was broken and he held on with his left arm. Although the 509 was lodged in to enemy ship, the ship continued underway. PAGE estimated there were 75-100 Nazi troops aboard all of whom fired small arms and threw hand grenades at PT personnel.
PAGE was half conscious aboard the German ship and a minute or two after he was aboard, he felt a blast plus terrific heat "as if I opened a blast furnace door and closed it quickly". This leads PAGE to believe the 509 exploded. However he did not actually see it explode. The Germans were able to free the boat from where it had rammed by boat hooks and crow bars.
Lieutenant (junior grade) Mathes was in the chart house with PAGE when the initial shell penetrated the chart house and caught it afire. Mathew was not hit and the last PAGE saw of him was when he went below to get confidential gear for destruction.
PAGE has no recollection of Lieutenant Crist at all. As PAGE crawled from the chart house to the focsle deck he saw Pavlis lying on the deck with his mouth open evidently dead. PAGE noticed 37MM gunner was dead.
PAGE was given first aid treatment aboard the enemy ship as she proceeded to St. Helier. Was asked detailed questions at St. Helier by Gestapo agent relative to radio and radar and where based but refused to answer except to give name, rate, serial number. Was then taken to Hospital where his wounds were treated after approximately 75 Germans were treated who were wounded dur- in the attack.
PAGE was in officer's hospital and had 37 wounds. Remained in hospital from 9 August to middle of January. Had leg, back and chest wounds. Stated that German surgeon was excellent but hospital very dirty.
A few days after the action the bodies of Horsefield, Bricker and Shaffroth floated ashore and were given decent burial rites by American prisoners and English town authorities.
PAGE stated that radar was working efficiently all the time.
PAGE noticed Ausley evidently dead with his face blown off.
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Ed. Note:
1. It should be noted that the Isle of Jersey was, and
still is, a British crown dependency. During WW-II it was occupied by the
Germans who installed naval gun batteries on its shores. It was liberated
in 1945.
2. All the persons named in this statement were members
of the crew of PT509. However, there are some discrepancies in the spelling
of their names.
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to maintain the history and artifacts of the U.S. PT Boats of World War
II,
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