Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

The tragedy of Navy PT 347, which was fired on by American planes, will be the topic of the Scott Hosier World War II Roundtable on Monday at Rochester Assembly of God Church.

On April 29, 1944, PT 347 was hung up on a coral reef near New Britain Island in the southwest Pacific. As another PT boat tried to dislodge the 347, two American planes mistakenly fired on the small boats, thinking they were Japanese gunboats. When one of the American planes was shot down, the other went for help and returned to attack again.

The crew of the 347 jumped into the water, but were strafed for 45 minutes. Two were killed, three were wounded. Among the two remaining survivors is Bernard McGee of Austin.

McGee will recount his experiences that day in 1944. The men were eventually rescued, but the wreckage of their boat was not found until 1999.

Music from the 1940s starts at 6:30 p.m., with the program at 7 p.m. Admission is by a suggested donation of $3. The church is at 4240 18th Ave. N.W.

For more information, call Tom Brinkman at 287-1021.

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