Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online:
Submarine Chaser Photo Archive

Persistent (PYc-48)



Call sign:
Nan - Yoke - Fox - Nan

ex-PC-456

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is top to bottom, left to right
American Defense Service Medal - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Acquired Yacht::
  • Built by Consolidated Shipbuilding Co., Morris Heights, NY
  • Completed for George L. Bourne, New York, NY, as yacht Onwego (ON 230810), 1931
  • Acquired by the Navy, 13 August 1940
  • Converted for Naval service at the New York Navy Yard completed, 13 September 1940
  • Commissioned USS PC-456, 16 October 1940
  • Served as patrol vessel in Panama Sea Frontier, November 1940 - summer 1944
  • Reclassified as a Patrol Yacht, coastal, PYc-48 and named Persistent, 16 June 1943
  • Decommissioned at Philadelphia, PA, 27 September 1944
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 14 October 1944
  • Transferred to the War Shipping Administration for disposal, January 1946
  • Registered to Frederick Smith, Memphis, TN, as yacht Salchanick, 1946
  • Sold to Henry F. Haldeman, Los Angeles, CA and renamed Brodie, 1953
  • Registered to O.J. Hall, San Diego, CA, 1958
  • Registered to Joe L. Rose, San Diego, CA, 1964
  • Registered to Charles M. Stillwell, Long Beach, CA, 1965
  • Final disposition, burned off Frog Rock, Catalina Island, CA, 11 April 1965
    Specifications:
    Displacement 224 gross tons, 152 net tons
    Length 115' 0" waterline
    Beam 22' 0"
    Draft 11' 6"
    Speed 12 knots
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    four machine guns
    two depth charge tracks
    Propulsion
    Two Winton eight cylinder diesel engines, 600hp
    twin propellers
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Motor Yacht Onwego
    PC-456
    1201045602    		 189k Onwego as completed.
    National Archives photo 19-N-22192    		 Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
    Motor Yacht Brodie
    PC-456
    1201045601    		 325k Brodie at Avalon harbor, Santa Catalina Island, CA, date unknown. Barry Walker
    Commanding Officers
    01LT(JG) Gifford Cochran Ewing, D-VG USNR1940 - ???
    02LT(JG) Charles Eldred Weyll, Jr., DE-VG USNR(July 1942) - October 1942
    03ENS John Boykin Ricker, Jr., D-VG USNR(October 1942) - (April 1943)
    04LT(JG) John Leo Custer, D-VG USNR(June 1943) - ???
    05LT Braxton Bragg Gilmore, D-VG USNR(December 1943) - ???
    04LT Frank Austin Conerton, D-VS USNR??? - 27 September 1944
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    View the Persistent (PYc 48)
    DANFS History entry located on the Naval History & Heritage Command website
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Patrol Craft Sailors Association
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back to the Patrol Craft/Gunboat/Submarine Chaser Ship Index Back to the Submarine Chaser (PC) Photo Index Back to the Coastal Patrol Yacht (PYc) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster
    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 30 April 2026