National Wwii Museum News

Commercial workboat philanthropy on display on PT-305: WWII Museum’s PT-305 sails again after a far reaching donor-funded restoration. In March, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans launched its reconstructed PT-305, built locally by Higgins Industries in 1943. The museum acquired the boat known as the USS Sudden Jerk in 2007, restoration began in 2009, and it now sails Lake Pontchartrain as an interactive exhibit. PT-305, with a fifteen-man crew, belonged to a 12-ship squadron operating in the Mediterranean from 1944 until the war ended in 1945.

A U.S. Navy World War II PT boat, which was recently restored and rebuilt by volunteers at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, has been equipped with modern state-of-the-art battery chargers from Newmar. After more than a decade of volunteer-provided planning and restoration work, PT-305 motored to its new home in a custom-built boathouse on Lake Pontchartrain March 25, where visitors can tour and arrange rides on the fully functioning vessel. It was a homecoming of sorts…

Amphenol Industrial Operations (AIO) sponsored The National WWII Museum during their endeavor to bring patrol torpedo boat PT-305 back to the water. The restoration began ten years ago, and AIO has been involved since 2014. It supplied a number of its 97 Series connectors to enable the PT-305 team to faithfully and accurately restore the boat's instrumentation and electrical systems to their former glory. Built in New Orleans by Higgins Industries, the patrol-torpedo (PT) boat PT-305 was a critical asset for the US Navy during World War II…

The National WWII Museum announced plans to return restored patrol-torpedo (PT) boat PT-305 to her home waters of Lake Pontchartrain, where she was originally tested by Higgins Industries more than 70 years ago. The Museum launched the first phase of the plan this morning: a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds necessary to move PT-305 to the water, test her for passenger use and, for the first time, offer civilians the chance to take a ride on a fully restored combat-veteran PT boat – the fastest U.S. naval ship in World War II.

The top stories this week covered everything from a DP system failure, a facelift for a WWII torpedo boat, and some mysterious tankers off the coast of Philadelphia. The tanker Olympic Flag was carrying 650,000 barrels of Angolan crude when it dropped anchor seven miles off the coast of Delaware Bay last November. It finally left two weeks ago, but not before being joined by five other tankers. Nobody seems to know why the tankers were idling offshore that long, although experts gave a few theories  (spoiler alert: none of the theories involved aliens).

A cadre of volunteers navigate the regulatory labyrinth and a host of safety requirements to bring back to life an enduring symbol the nation’s can-do spirit and resiliency. Early next year, a 78-foot Patrol Torpedo 305 boat, being restored at the National WWII Museum, should be U.S. Coast Guard compliant and ready for passengers. The fast-attack PT-305, equipped with cannons, torpedoes and machine guns, served in the Mediterranean in 1944 and 1945, operating from Bastia, Corsica.

At its Annual General Meeting in New Orleans last week, members of WISTA USA (Women’s International Shipping &Trading Association) were urged to support investment in infrastructure projects in order to maintain and grow the transportation of waterborne commerce in the United States. From U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) to Spencer Murphy of Canal Barge Company, Rick Calhoun of Cargill, Gary LaGrange of the Port of New Orleans, Joel Dupre of Southern Recycling and Colonel Richard Hansen of the U.S.

After a seven-decade odyssey, PT-305 is back home in New Orleans, Louisiana, preparing to serve her country again. Built by Higgins Industries in 1943 for the U.S. Navy, this 78' patrol torpedo vessel sank three enemy craft in the World War II Mediterranean Theater of Operations. PT-305 is now in the final stages of refurbishment at the National WWII Museum's John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion. Engine room ventilation expert Delta "T" Systems plays a role in this historical vessel's return to service through its donation of 110V fans and DC blowers for PT-305.

The Port of New Orleans welcomed Texas A&M University at Galveston’s training vessel, TS General Rudder. The Texas Maritime Academy vessel and 50 cadets will be docked at the Julia Street Cruise Terminal through Thursday, Aug. The TS General Rudder comes to the Port of New Orleans on its first ever visit to the Crescent City after making stops at several other ports earlier this year including Mobile, Ala., and Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Pensacola, and Tampa, Fla. While at the Port, cadets will conduct training exercises such as standing watches and vessel maintenance.