Pt 109 crew history book pdf

Kennedy joined the us navy in 1941 and was stationed in the solomon islands in the south pacific during world war ii. It is a game with great depth of options, realism, accuracy of simulation and enriched with an outstanding documentation. Kennedy, was sunk by a japanese destroyer, a message was received at an australian wireless station in playfair code. Kennedy captains a pt boat and takes it into battle. A lot of it having to do with the entire nature of the pt. Uss pt 109, 194343 uss pt 109, an elco type patroltorpedo boat, was placed in service in july 1942 and departed onboard the liberty ship ss joseph stanton for duty in the pacific. Attend a free investment and wealth conference online at click here profit from bitcoin, learn how. Kennedy in command of motor torpedo boat pt 109 as an officer of the united states navy during world war ii. Overall, pt109 does a good job with keeping things accurate. At a later date, when asked to explain how he had come to be a hero, one of the young commanders involved, by then an. The sinking of pt109 and the mystery of history as a child, i grew up thrilled to hear the story of john f. Remembering pt109 a carved walking stick evokes ship commander john f. Ballard, who is known for his discovery of the titanic in 1985 as.

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. Then, googling some more, i came across a story about pt 109 crew member harold marney who, along with andrew kirksey, did not survive the crash and was lost at sea. His actions to save his surviving crew after the sinking of pt 109 made him a war hero. Kennedys heroic actions that saved his crew and a fascinating examination. Raymond albert, whos hometown was akron, ohio, he was twenty years old when he joined the crew of the pt 109. For example this series of photos of pt 61, flanked by all green boats pt 47 and most likely pt 109, shows a custom mixed paint that the crew voted on.

Pt109 was a pt boat patrol torpedo boat last commanded by ltjg john f. Flores the young, skinny navy officer walked along the dock at a south pacific base and met his new crewmen for the first time, as. Thanks to the 1963 movie pt 109, adapted from the 1961 book pt 109. His email praised my own books, which surprised me, and asked me if i would be so. Pt 105 by dick keresy, hunters in the shallows and the navy history of pts, at close quarters. The book discusses the sinking and survival of the pt109 in great detail, based on interviews with actual participants, including the captain of the japanese destroyer which rammed pt109. Patrol torpedo boat pt109, captained by lieutenant john f. Know your pt boat folks, know your pt boat, july 1945, was created very near the end of ww ii to use as an introduction to pt boats for crews in training. Media in category pt 109 ship, 1942 the following 11 files are in this category, out of 11 total.

The young senator kennedy from massachusetts was a war hero. 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. August 20, 1942 pt109 on board the liberty ship joseph stanton at norfolk naval shipyard portsmouth, virginia. This vessel was immortalized in a 1962 song by jimmy dean, as well as the. In real life, two native islanders played a pivotal role in rescuing the crew of pt109. After a week of foraging the tiny atoll offered no more water or food, so the group then swam two kilometres south to olasana island, from where kennedy and crewman george ross swam another kilometre south to larger naru island in the hope of finding american troops. It shows the amagiri, a japanese destroyer, ramming into the pt 109, the boat jfk commanded during world war ii. Kennedy in command of motor torpedo boat pt109 as an officer of the united states navy during world war ii. However, one could argue that this is a book focusing on jacks time with the pt 109, only.

Kennedy a war hero kindle edition by charles river editors. Most of the crew were knocked or fell into the water. Pt 109 william doyle ebook harpercollins publishers. Pt 109 aboard the liberty ship joseph stanton at norfolk navy yard. William doyle, author of pt 109, talks about john f. The new afterward gives some detailed information on the history of american pt boats and jfks time as skipper of the pt59 after the pt109. Desperate for food and water, kennedy set off on a solo. Kennedy, with cane in the pacific, 1943, would later downplay his pt109 role. Kennedy and pt109 the moment that made a president. This book is a wellresearched historical document that reads like a novel, at least it did for me, but then i have always had a special interest in jfk. On this day in 1943, a japanese destroyer rams an american pt patrol torpedo boat, no. Crew of pt109 the world war ii multimedia database. It is obvious that robert donovan was very careful to get the facts straight as he wrote this. Jack and peter shook hands like the old friends they were and moved to the front of the vessel to be away from the rest of the crew so they could talk privately.

Entering service later that year, it served in the pacific theater of world war ii. Uss pt 163 had picked up survivors from the japanese destroyer yugumo and one of these men grabbed the machine g. The story of pt109s sinking was featured in several books and a 1963. His actions to save his surviving crew after the sinking of pt109 made him a war hero. Pt 109 by robert john donovan was published as john f. Kennedy, nearly 18 years before becoming president, and the rest of pt109 crew following the ships collision with the japanese destroyer amagiri near plum pudding island on august 2, 1943.

Liebenow, the man who rescued jfk and the pt 109 crew in august 1943. An american epic of war, survival, and the destiny of john f. This booklet was created just before the end of a deadly, bitterly fought war with imperial japan. If pt 109 was moving, wouldt the slower destroyer have fired shots at her before trying to ram her. The author traveled to the south pacific to the location where the ramming of kennedys pt boat patrol torpedo by a japanese warship split his ship in two and started the whole ordeal of life and death for lieutenant kennedy and his crew. And i think jack was a bit of what was more of an unlucky hero than incompetent commander in this. Kennedys actions to save his surviving crew after the sinking of pt109 made him a war hero, which proved helpful in his political career it is arguably the most famous. Navy photo by chief mass communication specialist shawn p.

Shortly after her retirement from service, the pt 796 was used as a float during president john f. The ordeal that kennedy and his crew went through after pt 109 was destroyed is a story of courage that will last the ages. Pt 109 is a 1963 biographical which depicts the actions of john f. Pt109 build help finescale modeler essential magazine. Pt 109 departed on its last mission on august 1, 1943 on august 1, 1943, pt 109 was one of fifteen boats which departed rendova, informed by american code breakers of japanese naval activity. Oct 10, 2015 without pt 109, said powers, there never would have been a president john f.

All three of these men were injured on previous patrols and were not on board when the pt 109 was sunk. However, they altered one significant part of the story with the sole purpose of writing ethnic minorities out of history. Sep 24, 2012 when one thinks about president kennedys naval career in world war ii, what most often comes to mind is his command of motor torpedo boat pt109. Into the dark water is purportedly about pt 109 and the three officers, including john f. Pt 109 1963 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. West, who as a world war ii torpedo man helped rescue the pt109 crew. Kxjey urebe zwehe wrytu heyfs krehe goyfi wtttu olksy cajpo botei zontx bybnt goney cuzwr gdson sxbou ywrhe baahy usedq the key used was royal new zealand.

Kennedy later president of the united states in the pacific theater during world war ii. The new foreword and new preface to this 40th anniversary edition help put things in perspective. 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. As you may remember, kennedy would swim out into the ocean at night, leaving the island hiding place and his crew, in an attempt to attract the attention of. Uncovering pt109 and family history the new york times. The crew was rescued and jack was given a special medal for his leadership and a purple heart for his injuries. Kennedy was later cited by the navy for his bravery.

Pt109 earned famed under the command of lieutenant junior grade john f. Pt boats filled an important need in world war ii in shallow waters, complementing the achievements of greater ships in greater seass. Without pt109, there never would have been a president john f. Pt109 was a pt boat patrol torpedo boat last commanded by lieutenant junior grade john f.

Lieutenant kennedy is instrumental in saving crew on this day in 1943, a japanese destroyer rams an american pt patrol torpedo boat, no. Acclaimed war correspondent richard tregaskiswho once beat out the future president for a spot on the harvard university swim teambrings this remarkable chapter in american history to vivid life in john f. 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. An incentive was that our required refueling was firstcomefirstserved, in order of arrival, after which the crew would be free to take a swim in the bay to cool off. Kennedys path to power hailed as a breathtaking account by james patterson, masterfully written by historian douglas brinkley, and the finest book ever written on the subject by lt. A thrilling, momentbymoment account of one of the most famous events of world war ii the sinking of pt109 and john f.

Last surviving member of pt boat crew that saved kennedy. Doyle, a 20152016 fulbright scholar and coauthor of the best seller american gun. You can see the 61s boat number on her charthouse quite clearly in that photo, which was taken from pt 109s foredeck. A must read to dispel rumors and truth about the pt109 sinking and crew rescue. Sixty years later, the story of pt109 still captivates national. Donovan, kennedys wartime exploits with pt109 were wellpublicized and became. The story was told in pt 109, a 1961 book, and a movie of the same title two years later.

Pt 109 joined mtb squadron five and shifted to panama, replacing. Dec, 2017 sixty years later, the story of pt109 still captivates. In february 1943, the month after the japanese retreated from guadalcanal, lieutenant junior. Commanding the patrol torpedo craft pt pt 109, lieutenant kennedy and his crew participated in early allied war campaigns. Kennedys war time experiences during which he captained a pt boat, took it to battle and had it sunk by a japanese destroyer. Kennedy and the unhurt members of the crew swim among flaming wreckage and burning fuel oil to rescue the survivors as pt 109s foredeck barely remains afloat. The flatter hull of our 70foot pt 60 boat was lighter and faster than the pt 109, an 80foot boat. You can see the 61s boat number on her charthouse quite clearly in. Two of the crew marney and kirksey went missing in action mia during the collision. The extraordinary world war ii story of shipwreck and survival that paved john f.

On october 8, 1943, exactly two months after his rescue he was killed by a japanese pow. A technical manual on the development, design and use of pt boats in the us navy prior to. During the war, pt109 was recognized for the heroic struggle its crew made to survive after being sunk by a japanese destroyer. She continued to be involved in numerous tokyo express runs and skirmishes with. The movie was adapted by vincent flaherty and howard sheehan from the book pt 109. After a week of surviving on small islands with the help of natives, kennedy and the 109s surviving crew were rescued by pt157. Pt 109 might ring some bells for american history buffs, but the story of jfks bravery, leadership, and stamina isnt wellknown. The story was told in the journalist robert donovans book pt 109 mcgrawhill, 1961 and in the movie with the same title two years. Fates of the crew the crew of pt109 clung to the wreckage of the bow. Pt boat colors and camouflage in the pacific varied. Navy lieutenant junior grade was skipper of the motor torpedo boat pt109. Commanding the patrol torpedo craft pt pt 109, lieutenant kennedy and his. Pt 109 was a pt boat patrol torpedo boat that was last commanded by lieutenant, junior grade ltjg john f. When the pt109 american patrol boat, under the command of lieutenant john f.

The movie pt109 was released in june, 1963, right before president kennedy was assassinated. Pt109 was a pt103 class motor torpedo boat built for the us navy in 1942. Commander william liebenow, the man who rescued jfk and the pt 109 crew in august 1943. Pt109 s collision with a japanese destroyer contributed to kennedys longterm back problems and required months of. I see slight criticism of some pt boat books on other websites that i think are the best books that i have, so i guess what you may be looking for depends on your interests and whether you are looking for riveting stories or research on the people, the companies, the armament, general world war ii events, or the boats themselves, or indeed in my case mostly just. The amagiri har dly felt the collision with the relatively small pt boat and made it safely home to her base at rabaul. Kennedy jfk as an officer of the united states navy in command of motor torpedo boat pt 109 in the pacific theater of world war ii.

Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Kennedy, future united states president, in the pacific theater during world war ii. Robert green 11162003 pt 109s crew must have been asleep. Sixty years later, the story of pt109 still captivates. Garth connelly earlier this summer, i heard about this book and even though i am not a huge pt109 fan, i was intrigued about the book due to the fact that the book, apparently, give the reader a history of the famous boat before its final and most famous patrol. July 1943, members of the crew of pt109 pose for a photo on deck. Kennedy, later become president of the united states.

Kennedys inaugural parade to represent pt 109, with the pt 109 hull number painted on the bow, and several of pt 109 s surviving crew members manning the boat. For those of us who were children of world war ii veterans, it always seemed as if every story of that conflict was glorious. Pt 109 was a pt boat patrol torpedo boat last commanded by lieutenant junior grade john f. His actions to save his surviving crew after the sinking of pt109 made him a.

Renowned explor er robert ballar ds book describing the 2002 discover y of the wreck of pt109 was suitably titled collision with history. The new afterward gives some detailed information on the history of american pt boats and jfks time as skipper of the pt 59 after the pt 109. What destroyer captain would try and ram a faster more manuverable boat that was moving. Naval historical center curator mark wertheimer and. Born on may 29, 1917, in brookline, massachusetts, john f.

The film was adapted by vincent flaherty and howard sheehan from the book pt 109. Kennedy when it was rammed by the japanese destroyer amagiri on august 2, 1943. The boats likely remains were found because advances in technology have opened up the deep in recent. Pt 109 is a 1963 american technicolor biographical war film, filmed in panavision, which depicts the actions of john f. With cliff robertson, robert culp, ty hardin, james gregory. This need for small, fast, versatile, strongly armed vessels does not wane. In 1943, gardos pt 157 was sent to rescue the survivors of pt 109, which was cut in half by a japanese ship. The epic story of pt 109 and its crew in world war ii. The crew knew where pt 109 was when it sank, but not where the survivors had gone. On august 2, 1943, pt 109 was struck by the japanese destroyer amagiri and the entire crew was thrown into the pacific. William doyles pt109 is a masterfully written book on john f. The engines were muffled to allow the crew to hear aircraft overhead. Elco 80 pt boat deck construction table boat number construction dimensions 103108 mahogany planking, 2 layers laid fore and aft inner layer 516, outer layer 38 109 196, 314367, 372383, 487497, 546563, 731760 mahogany planking, 2 layers laid fore and aft inner layer 38, outer layer 516. The crew on the last voyage of august 12, 1943, not all of whom.

American naval operations, campaigns, career in the navy, military leadership, world war, 19391945, naval military operations, american, world war 19391945 fast ocolcfst01180924, guerre mondiale 19391945, command of troops, campagnes et batailles, kennedy, john f. The history of the controversial incident that made john f. Kennedy takes command of pt 109 to fight the japanese in the solomon islands. Navy when his pt 109 was hit by a japanese destroyer in august 1943.

However, one could argue that this is a book focusing on jacks time with the pt109, only. Without pt 109, said a longtime aid, there never would have been a president john f. Kennedy was in command of 109, which carried a crew of ten enlisted and, in addition to kennedy, two commissioned. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the sinking of pt109. An american epic of war, survival, and the destiny. John fitzgerald kennedy library it is arguably the most famous smallcraft engagement in naval history, and it was an unmitigated disaster. The pt109 story became a mainstay of jfks political campaigns, during which he saluted the heroics of his surviving crew members. Joining motor torpedo boat two in october, she participated in the guadalcanal campaign to stop japanese reinforcements. Top row left to right are al webb standing far left, friend and not a crew member leon e. The story of jfk and pt 109 you havent heard ecumen. Kennedy known as jack was the second of nine children. The collision sank pt109, splitting the vessel into two pieces.

Three packard twelvecylinder engines delivered a total of 4,500 horsepower, with each engine driving a separate propeller. Kennedy, with cane in the pacific, 1943, would later. Pt 109 by robert john donovan goodreads share book. Kirksey and a machinists mate, harold marney, are never found. Kennedy jfk as an officer of the united states navy in command of motor torpedo boat pt109 in the pacific theater of world war ii. The crew of pt 109 courtesy files of john flores by john w. John fitzgerald kennedy library it is arguably the most famous smallcraft engagement in naval history, and. Kennedy, who commanded her during her roughly thirteen months in service. Kennedy and the survivors swam nearly 3 miles to a small island.

Kennedys campaign for the presidency in 1960 the nation and the world became familiar with the distinguished history of the pt boats in wwii. Kennedy led his battered and exhausted men on a harrowing threeandahalfmile swim to a tiny uninhabited island. Mar 04, 2007 how many times in warfare does a smaller, less visible, faster,more manuverable, boat get rammed in any war. The much larger destroyer hit the 109 broadside at full speed nearly splitting the much smaller wooden boat in half. A crewman wetted the deck in one of the shots, you can see how far weathering faded the paint. Drewitch was injured on june 30, 1943 when a depth charge was dislodged and came through the deck landing on the bunk above him. Theres a world of new ideas in every books newsletter. Pt109 is a classic torpedo boat simulation, set in the world war ii. Pt 109 was struck by the japanese destroyer amagiri and the entire crew was.

Kennedy, was struck by the japanese destroyer amagiri near the solomon islands. All three of these men were injured on previous patrols and were not on board when the pt109 was sunk. The pt 109 was tied sideways to the dock, so peter just had to step up onto the gunwale to board the vessel. Nearly 60 years ago a japanese destroyer materialized out of a moonless night and smashed through pt109, sending 26yearold skipper john f.

Inside back cover featuring six photos from the movie. I bought this kit at the dec, 2012 meetingswap meet of the san francisco model yacht club located on spreckles lake in golden gate park, san francisco. The destruction is so massive other american pt boats in the area assume the crew. A pt109 float carried his shipmates in his presidential inaugural parade. If you were male, young, and interested in ships in the early 1960s, you know all about president john f.