Walter Kundis - PT 524 Skipper Wolf

"One of the most important statements made by Skipper James P. Wolf to the newly formed crew of PT 524 took place at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. Prior to departing for shakedown, Skipper Wolf assembled the crew and stated:" I will never strike my colors. I will not tolerate anyone on the crew that would. Anyone that thinks he would, should leave now.”

Needless to say, no one left. The quote from Skipper Wolf relating to not ever lowering his flag and surrendering was quite appropriate on the night of November 10, 1944, when our PT was pursued by a Japanese destroyer for 45 minutes. The destroyer was 300 yards away with a searchlight beam lighting up the boat. Over a loud speaker the Japs were telling us to surrender, while at the same time they were firing their 4.7-inch forward guns at us, and also their smaller weapons.

Lt. (j.g.) James P. Wolf enjoys some downtime with three of his charges.

At the direction of our Skipper I was on the headset telling our torpedo man to lay smoke using our smoke screen generator. Each turn would edge the 524 closer to the shores of Leyte. It wasn’t going to be long before our PT would run out of water. When the Jap firepower would let up for correction, Wolf would wheel the boat to avoid the correction and then shells would scream past.

Time was running out and something had to be done. Each time our PT tried to turn and outrun the Nip, we would be cut off and have to run closer to the beach. Shells sprayed all around the boat. Wolf gave me the signal to open up the smoke bottle and slowly the Japanese searchlight was blotted out.

The 524 immediately dodged away from the smoke as the Japs pumped the big white cloudy stuff full of holes. This allowed the 524 to slip past to the open sea and safety. If only our torpedoes would work when they were needed. In this case we set the torpedoes for 9 feet and I believe the Jap destroyers were drawing only 7 feet. A mistake on our part. Damn it! It did make a very interesting night though.

Skipper Wolf didn’t tolerate cowardice. The fury of the war increased with every passing day. One patrol we attacked two luggers with approximately 200 Japs each. We received intense return fire. One of the crew on our 40mm cannon acted in a cowardly manner in the face of the enemy and began to cry and shout, “I can’t see the target.” He stopped firing. I replaced him. After we returned from patrol he was replaced and I began to be the permanent pointer on the 40mm that fired the gun using a foot pedal.

Lt. (j.g.) James P. Wolf (on the left) with an unidentified crewman.

A few days later during an intense air raid three enemy planes were shot down by the 40mm cannon within an hour. When the last one was fired on and hit, it continued to dive towards our boat crashing within 25 yards. The first loader on our gun bolted from his position and jumped over the side of our PT. He also was removed from the crew."

Photos courtesy the private collection of Walter Kundis.