The National World War II Museum is in the midst of a multi-year project to restore a historic PT Boat built by Higgins Industries in New Orleans, LA.  PT-305 served in the European Theater of Operations and was known by several nicknames including The Sudden Jerk, The Bar Fly and The Half Hitch.

Want to help? Check out our PT-305 Wish List.

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PT-305 Restoration Project Updates

Spring 2009

The Man Who Relaxes is Helping the Axis.
PT-305 Volunteers hard at work

The PT-305 restoration project recently moved to its new, temporary home, a warehouse adjacent to The National World War II Museum. Eventually, this site will be part of the Museum’s expanded campus, but will serve as a temporary workspace until the completion of the planned Restoration Pavilion.

The PT-305 volunteers have taken full advantage of the new space to catalog parts as well as begin work on some of the smaller salvaged parts of PT-308, PT-309 and PT-659. Click here  for a full wish list of parts and supplies still needed for the restoration.

The Museum hopes to have PT-305 moved into this space before summer of 2009 once necessary changes can be made to the warehouse to accommodate the vessel.

Fall 2008

Make all Preparations for Getting Underway!
PT-659 comes to New Orleans

In April 2007, after an absence of 64 years, PT-305 returned to New Orleans as the first step in the restoration of this proud fighting craft. Since then, the Museum and the faithful Higgins Industries volunteers, who did such excellent work on the LCVP and LCP(L) projects, have been continuing with preparations for this major undertaking. 

Volunteers have sorted through plans at the University of New Orleans and copies provided by the Defenders of America Naval Museum, assembling a near complete set for PT-305.  The Museum’s Collections and Exhibits Department has been gathering replacement parts and cataloging items that came with PT-305.  Struts, shafts, propellers, rudders, exhaust pipes and steering gear have all been acquired and must be verified to insure they are correct to the original plans. Parts represent several boats including PT-305, PT-308, PT-309 and PT-659.

One exciting development this year involved PT-659.  This Higgins-built boat was well past the stage where it could be restored. So with the approval of the US Navy, the Museum salvaged the remains of the vessel for usable parts. The main electrical panel, the engine control panel, water tight doors, heads, battle lantern brackets, electrical boxes and switches, two fans, through hull fittings, strainers, shear braces, log boxes, two engines and gear boxes, a rudder, fresh water tanks, the cradle and other small pieces have all arrived in New Orleans where they will live on as part of PT-305.

The project has been particularly blessed with the generosity of Ken Clark of Tulsa, Oklahoma for his donation of a running Packard V-12 engine for the boat. The Museum was also able to acquire two non-running engines from Vancouver, WA which are scheduled for full restoration. The next phase of the plan will be to fit a temporary roof on PT-305 until workshop space becomes available.

A number of items are still essential to the restoration of PT-305.  The Museum is also seeking sponsors to fund the restoration as well as donors to fund the renovation of the warehouse at 940 Magazine St. into the Restoration Pavilion.  This would enable the boat to be restored in a safe, secure environment. The Pavilion could also be used for work on future macro-artifacts and to provide the public with a sneak peek into the process.

Anyone with knowledge of available Higgins PT Boat parts can contact the Collections and Exhibits Department at 877-813-3329 x 237. To help support the PT-305 project or the creation of the Restoration Pavilion, please contact the Museum’s Capital Campaign Department at 877-813-3329 x 250.

Summer 2007

Ahoy! PT-305 joins the collection.
Historic Motor Torpedo Boat to be fully restored

After several years of searching, The National World War II Museum recently secured a Motor Torpedo Boat for the collection.  PT-305 was manufactured by Higgins Industries in New Orleans. The keel was laid down on March 30, 1943 at the City Park Plant. She was launched on May 27, 1943 and completed at the Industrial Canal Plant on December 8, 1943.   

For the American Navy the PT Boat was a critical asset in the days after Pearl Harbor when the U.S. was short on larger vessels and facing an onslaught of attacks from the Japanese.  The actions of PT Boat crews in the Philippines and Solomon Islands represents an outstanding example of the American Spirit in action. 

As the war progressed and America was able to mobilize more forces, the role of the PT boat shifted from attacks on capital ships to operations in coastal waters. PT Boats slugged it out toe to toe with Japanese armored landing barges and German Flak lighters. Flak lighters or F-lighters were heavily armed and armored barges used by the German military to move men and material in costal areas.

PT-305, along with PT-302 through PT-313, was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 22 (Ron 22).  Ron 22 was commissioned on November 10, 1943 under the command of LCDR Richard J. Dressling and was assigned to the Mediterranean. 

MTB RON 22 operated in the Mediterranean along the coast of Southern France and Northern Italy. Boats from Ron 22 participated in the Invasion of Elba on June 17, 1944, where PT-305 sank a German Flak lighter. 

The squadron acted as a diversionary force in Gulf Juan, and as an anti-E-boat screen in the Nice-Cannes area. Ron 22 was part of Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France on August 15, 1944. They landed French Commandos on the coast of France in preparation for the invasion. The squadron was also involved in action around Leghorn, Italy. To harass the enemy Ron 22 fired torpedoes into harbors between Genoa, Italy and the French-Italian border. On the night of April 19, 1945, PT-305 sunk another Flak lighter.

In late April 1945, the squadron was returned to the United States to be overhauled in preparation for deployment to the Pacific.  The war however ended while the squadron was still in New York Harbor. The Squadron was decommissioned November 15, 1945 still under the command of LCDR Richard J. Dressling. On June 18, 1948, PT-305 was sold along with the rest of the squadron. 

PT-305 was modified for work as an oyster boat in the Chesapeake Bay.  To save on fuel the three Packard engines which required 100 octane aviation gasoline to operate were removed and replaced with two diesel engines.  All of the upper works were removed and a chart house was fitted at the stern. To avoid Coast Guard regulations requiring a licensed Captain of vessels over 65 feet in length, 13 feet of boat was removed from the stern.

PT-305 continued as an oyster boat for many years until 2001, when it was acquired by the Defenders of America Naval Museum in Galveston, Texas.  In June 2006, The National World War II Museum was contacted by the Defenders of America Naval Museum about the possible transfer of PT-305.  The vessel was transported to the Museum campus in April 2007.  With the help of the faithful Higgins boat volunteers, PT-305 will be completely restored to her wartime appearance. Everything except the weapons will be fully operational. It is anticipated that PT-305 will have at least one more run on Lake Pontchartrain before becoming a permanent part of the exhibits in the expanded National World War II Museum.

The inclusion of a PT Boat in the collections of The National World War II Museum provides a tangible example of the American Spirit that future generations can understand and appreciate.