Jul 11, 2002 the story was told in pt 109, a 1961 book, and a 1962 song by jimmy dean and a 1963 movie of the same title. Journalist robert donovan interviewed the men involved in the sinking of pt 109 and the rescue of its crew to get his story, including all ten survivorspresident kennedy among them. Kennedy began yelling for them, much to the chagrin of his rescuers, who were nervous about the proximity of the japanese. A lot of it having to do with the entire nature of the pt program that was presented. Kennedy s pt109 were sent to intercept the tokyo express supply convoy on 2 august. Motor torpedo boat 109 pt 109 was laid down 4 march 1942 by the elco works naval division of the electric boat company in bayonne, new jersey. Over the years, mcmahon often told the story of the night of aug. On august 2, 1943, in the waters of blackett strait in solomon islands, the japanese destroyer amagiri sliced an american pt boat in two, leaving its crew for dead in a flaming sea.
An american epic of war, survival, and the destiny of john f. The story was told in pt 109, a 1961 book, and a 1962 song by jimmy dean and a 1963 movie of the same title. Oct 25, 2015 the sinking of pt 109 was a symptom of the failure of the battle of blackett strait, caused by bad mark viii torpedoes, poor communications, weak leadership and a lack of command and control. Kennedy s pt 109 were sent to intercept the tokyo express supply convoy on 2 august. The boats skipper, a lieutenant named john fitzgerald kennedy, repeatedly risked his life in an effort to summon help until he finally secured his crews rescue. On the return trip the japanese destroyer amagiri struck the american patrol torpedo boat pt 109. Kennedys pt109 were sent to intercept the tokyo express supply convoy on 2 august. In a conversation with author john hersey, kennedy would later. Kennedys actions to save his surviving crew after the sinking of the pt 109 made him a war hero, which proved helpful in his political career.
To me, it has always been one of the great war stories of all time. Another engagement occurred in blackett strait when a force of 15 pt boats, including ltjg john f. Kennedy a war hero kindle edition by charles river editors. Area b blackett strait division b off vanga vanga lt. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read john f. Kennedy as one of fifteen ptboats on an overnight patrol of the blackett strait off kolombangara.
Idling on one engine to keep its phosphorescent wake to a minimum japanese float planes frequently found that the wake helped make the pt boats a great target, the 109 was suddenly struck by the destroyer amagiri. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the sinking of pt109. Pt109 stood at her station in blackett strait, south of kolombangara in the. In the meantime all contact with pt 109 had been lost. In this profound darkness, pt109 stood at her station in blackett strait, south of kolombangara in the solomon islands, one of the remnants of an operation born into futility, the heir to bad planning and worse communication. Since robinsons own boat, pt118, was in tulagi for repairs, brantingham asked him to ride on the 159 as radar officer. In a conversation with author john hersey, kennedy would later compare it to the bay of pigs fiasco in cuba. At this time pt 169 came alongside to inquire about the firing in blackett strait and to report that one of her engines was out of order. This interest eventually grew into research and writing.
Domagalskis fascination with history began at a young age by building model ships and reading books about world war ii. Sea explorer uncovers kennedys pt 109 the new york times. Sinking of pt 109 and subsequent rescue of survivors source. Domagalski, an accomplished author of books and articles on the pacific theater in world war ii. The sinking of pt 109 was a symptom of the failure of the battle of blackett strait, caused by bad mark viii torpedoes, poor communications, weak leadership and a lack of command and control. Pt 109 stood at her station in blackett strait, south of kolombangara in the. Exploring the blackett strait between the islands of gizo and kolombangara, ballard and his colleagues found a mark 18 torpedo tube, a mark 8 torpedo, and ptboat training gear a cranking mechanism used to position a torpedo tube for firing. Originally posted by rising sun cant recall the exact hours, but the primary problem with the pt boat motors in macs evacuation was that they were way over the engine hours limit for an engine swap or rebuild and shouldnt have been in use, or perhaps even capable of being used. Pt 109 john f kennedy in world war ii powells books. On the night of august 1, 1943 and in the early morning hours of the next day, one of americas many patrol torpedo boats in the pacific, pt109 and her crew of 12 men, was performing its usual role in the pacific islands. On august 2, 1943, in the waters of blackett strait in solomon islands, the. Gerard zinser, the last surviving crewman from the sinking of john f. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Dec 29, 2018 on the night of august 2, 1943, pt 109 was on night patrol in an area of the solomons known as blackett strait.
By 1730, the boats were at their assigned positions in the blackett strait. This book vividly tells the story of the many dangers they faced and the. President kennedys experiences on that boat and the pain that resulted had made him a wiser, stronger and. Kennedy in wwii and the loss of his pt boat in the blackett strait in 1943 in the story that became the foundation of his future political career. Pt109 joined mtb squadron five and shifted to panama, replacing. Uss pt 109 of the us navy american motor torpedo boat of.
In may of 2002, a group of national geographic oceanographers led by robert ballard hit historical paydirt in the solomon islands. Sixty years later, the story of pt109 still captivates national. Nov 15, 2016 from the bestselling author of guadalcanal diary. Another engagement occurred in blackett strait when a force of 15 pt boats. Kennedys pt 109 were sent to intercept the tokyo express supply convoy on 2 august. Exploring the blackett strait between the islands of gizo and kolombangara, ballard and his colleagues found a mark 18 torpedo tube, a mark 8 torpedo, and ptboat training gear a cranking. Ballard has long taken advantage of technological developments. The seventh 40ton motor torpedo boat mtb built there, she was launched on 20 june, delivered to the navy on 10 july 1942, and fitted out in the new york naval shipyard at brooklyn. From the bestselling author of guadalcanal diary the thrilling true story of the future presidents astonishing act of heroism during world war ii. He served under kennedy, then a 26yearold lieutenant junior grade and skipper of the patroltorpedo craft. Kennedy said, theres nothing in the book about a situation like this. It was the pt boats at rendova that were tasked the dangerous mission of patrolling each night in the blackett strait, where they tried to disrupt this japanese supply line. Pt 109 by robert john donovan meet your next favorite book. One of his first presidential acts, however, was to give a hearty wave and big grin to the crew as they passed on a float in the inaugural parade aboard a pt boat numbered 109.
A timeless tale of heroism now available to a new generation of readers. And i think jack was a bit of what was more of an unlucky hero than incompetent commander in this. In the early morning darkness of august 2, 1943, in the waters of blackett strait in the solomon islands, the japanese destroyer amagiri sliced an american pt boat in. Nov 15, 2016 in the early morning hours of august 2, 1943, us navy motor torpedo boat pt 109 patrolled the still, black waters of blackett strait in the solomon islands. At sunset, 15 pt boats in four sections, led by lieutenant henry brantingham on board pt159, made their way to blackett strait. An american epic of war, survival, and the destiny of. The pt boats fired many torpedoes but observed only a few explosions.
On the night of august 1, fourteen boats were ordered into blackett strait from the rendova pt base in anticipation of the bougainville express running into vila. On the night of august 2nd, 1943 the crew of the pt 109 commanded by ltjg john f. Kennedys pt 109 in the south pacific in world war ii, died on aug. In the early morning hours of august 2, 1943, us navy motor torpedo boat pt109 patrolled the still, black waters of blackett strait in the. Pt 109 joined mtb squadron five and shifted to panama, replacing. Blackett strait is a waterway in the western province of the solomon islands. Suddenly, the japanese destroyer amagiri loomed out of the darkness, bearing directly down. The incident may have also contributed to kennedys long. Pt 109 waited in the blackett strait, its engines idling, as the supporting boats sped away and the japanese flotilla bore down upon its position. In the early morning hours of august 2, 1943, us navy motor torpedo boat pt 109 patrolled the still, black waters of blackett strait in the solomon islands.
Kennedy later president of the united states in the pacific theater during world war ii. The boats skipper was a gaunt, boyish lieutenant from boston named john fitzgerald kennedy. Exploring the blackett strait between the islands of gizo and kolombangara, ballard and his colleagues found a mark 18 torpedo tube, a mark 8 torpedo, and pt boat training gear a cranking. Kennedy had served as a ptboat commander in the pacific in the second world war. Aug 29, 2001 gerard zinser, the last surviving crewman from the sinking of john f. In blackett strait, south of kolombangara in the solomon islands, the starless, moonless night of august 1, 1943. The epic story of pt 109 and its crew in world war ii. Motor torpedo boat 109 pt109 was laid down 4 march 1942 by the elco works naval division of the electric boat company in bayonne, new jersey. Oct 15, 2014 pt 109 was an iconic image in those years, even though her remains have lain at the bottom of blackett strait since 1943. In the early morning hours of august 2, 1943, us navy motor torpedo boat pt109 patrolled the still, black waters of blackett strait in the solomon islands. Suddenly, the japanese destroyer amagiri loomed out of the darkness, bearing directly down on the smaller ship. Kennedy, who would later serve as president of the united states, would be on patrol in the blackett strait in the solomon islands. Pt 109 was an iconic image in those years, even though her remains have lain at the bottom of blackett strait since 1943. John fitzgerald kennedy,usnr later to become president of the united states was rammed and sunk by the japanese destroyer amagiri offsite link in blackett strait, solomon islands in position 08.
In the early morning darkness of august 2, 1943, in the waters of blackett strait in the solomon islands, the japanese destroyer amagiri sliced an american pt boat in two, leaving its crew for dead in a flaming sea. Another engagement occurred in blackett strait when 15 pt boats were sent to intercept the tokyo express destroyer supply convoy on 2 august 1943. Suddenly, the japanese destroyer amagiri loomed out of the darkness, bearing directly. The thrilling true story of the future presidents astonishing act of heroism during world war ii in the early morning hours of august 2, 1943, us navy motor torpedo boat pt109 patrolled the still, black waters of blackett strait in the solomon islands.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read pt 109. On the night of august 2, 1943, pt109 was on night patrol in an area of the solomons known as blackett strait. The thrilling true story of the future presidents astonishing act of heroism during world war ii. Instructions from base were requested and orders were received to resume normal patrol station. Mention pt 109 to the greatest generation and baby boomers and you will. The american boats launched 6 torpedoes, none of which found their targets, before retiring behind a smoke screen.
Pt 169 lay to with pts 109 and 162 to await developments. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. In what national geographic called a poorly planned and badly coordinated attack, 15. The group divided into four squadrons, with pt 109. Blackett strait is a patch of water bounded on the northeast by the volcano called. Profile in courage pt109 1943 wargame noble knight games. Sixty years later, the story of pt109 still captivates. In what national geographic called a poorly planned and badly coordinated attack, 15 boats with 60 available torpedoes went into action. The pt boats crossed blackett strait under kennedys direction and eased up to olasana island early in the morning of august 8.
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