The Pt-109 Mystery: Kennedy's Command

John F. Kennedy, the future president of the United States, commanded the patrol torpedo boat PT-109 during World War II. On the night of August 1, 1943, the PT-109 was struck by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri in the Solomon Islands, resulting in a devastating explosion. Kennedy and his crew clung to the wreckage until the early morning, when they decided to swim to a nearby island. Kennedy, a strong swimmer, played a crucial role in the rescue efforts, towing an injured crew member to safety. After several days on the island, Kennedy encountered native coastwatchers who helped deliver a message to the Allies, leading to their eventual rescue. Following this incident, Kennedy took command of another patrol boat, PT-59, and continued his naval service until he was discharged due to physical disability in March 1945.

The boat's specifications

The boat commanded by John F. Kennedy, the PT-109, was an 80-foot (24-metre) Elco PT boat (patrol torpedo boat). It was powered by three 12-cylinder 1,500-horsepower Packard 4M-2500 marinized aero gasoline engines, with a designed top speed of 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph). The boat was equipped with four 21-inch (53 cm) torpedo tubes containing Mark 8 torpedoes. It also had a single 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft mount at the rear, two open circular rotating turrets mounting twin M2 .50 calibre (12.7 mm) anti-aircraft machine guns, and a smoke generator. The PT-109 was one of the largest PT boats operated by the U.S. Navy during World War II.

The PT-109 had a strong wooden hull, constructed of two layers of 1-inch (2.5 cm) mahogany planking, making it excellent for speed and reasonably adequate for seakeeping, but providing limited protection in combat. The boat could accommodate a crew of three officers and 14 enlisted men, with a typical crew size of 12-14.

Following the loss of PT-109, Kennedy was given command of another boat, the PT-59. The PT-59 was a 62-foot (18.9-metre) cutter-rigged Bermudan yawl with a 13-foot 9-inch (4.2-metre) beam and a four-ton keel. It had teak planking on the deck and mahogany on oak for its hull. The PT-59 was later converted into a gunboat, with additional .50- and .30-calibre machine guns and 40-millimetre anti-aircraft guns added.

The circumstances of its sinking

On the night of August 1, 1943, Lieutenant John F. Kennedy's patrol torpedo boat, PT-109, was one of fifteen boats that set out to engage the Japanese navy's supply convoy, the "Tokyo Express". The night was profoundly dark, and PT-109 rendezvoused with two other boats, PT-162 and PT-169, to make a picket line across the strait.

At around 2:30 a.m., a shape loomed out of the darkness off PT-109's starboard bow. Initially mistaking it for another PT boat, Kennedy and his crew soon realised it was a Japanese destroyer, the Amagiri. Kennedy attempted to turn to bring his torpedoes to bear, but there was not enough time. The Amagiri struck PT-109 just forward of the forward starboard torpedo tube, ripping away the starboard aft side of the boat. The impact threw Kennedy around the cockpit, and most of the crew were knocked into the water. The engineer, Patrick McMahon, was the only man below decks and miraculously escaped, although he was badly burned by exploding fuel.

Fearing that the boat would go up in flames, Kennedy ordered the remaining crew to abandon ship. However, the destroyer's wake dispersed the burning fuel, and when the fire began to subside, Kennedy sent his men back to the wreckage. Kennedy and two other crew members, Edgar Mauer and John E. Maguire, identified the locations of their crew mates in the water. Leonard Thom, Gerard Zinser, George Ross, and Raymond Albert were able to swim back on their own. Kennedy swam out to McMahon and Charles Harris, towing the injured McMahon by a life vest strap. Meanwhile, Thom pulled in William Johnston, who was debilitated by the gasoline he had swallowed and the heavy fumes. Finally, Raymond Starkey swam in, having been flung away by the shock of the collision.

Two crew members, Harold Marney and Andrew Jackson Kirksey, had disappeared in the collision and were likely killed on impact. The remaining crew, exhausted and some injured, abandoned the remains of PT-109 and struck out for an uninhabited islet, Plum Pudding Island, three and a half miles away. Kennedy, a skilled swimmer who had been on the swim team at Harvard, towed McMahon by clenching a life jacket strap between his teeth. Two other crew members, Johnston and Mauer, could not swim and were lashed to a plank that the others pushed and pulled.

The crew reached Plum Pudding Island after a five-hour swim. Kennedy, who had been towing McMahon, was so exhausted that he had to be helped up the beach by the man he had rescued. The island was only 100 yards in diameter, with no food or water, and the crew hid behind the tree line from passing Japanese barges. Kennedy then swam to Ferguson Passage, hoping to hail a passing American PT boat, but he did not encounter any. The return voyage was treacherous, with strong currents pulling him out into Blackett Strait and then back into Ferguson Passage. Kennedy eventually made it back to Plum Pudding Island, stopping to rest on Leorava Island along the way.

On August 4, Kennedy led the men back into the ocean, swimming towards Olasana Island in search of food and fresh water. Again, Kennedy towed McMahon, while the rest of the crew clustered around the plank. They reached Olasana Island but were disappointed to find no fresh water, and they were too nervous to explore further due to Japanese patrols in the area. On August 5, Kennedy and Ross swam to Naru Island, where they discovered a small canoe, packages of crackers and candy, and a drum of drinkable water left by the Japanese.

Kennedy and Ross were approached by two islanders, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, who initially mistook Kennedy for a Japanese soldier. Gasa and Kumana were Allied scouts who had been searching for the PT-109 crew after seeing the explosion from a secret observation post. Kennedy scratched a message onto a coconut husk, which Gasa and Kumana took back to their base. On August 7, Kennedy was picked up by Gasa and Kumana and taken to Evans' base, where he helped plan the rescue mission for the rest of the crew. On August 8, PT boats 157 and 171 rescued the crew from Olasana Island, and they reached the US base at Rendova at 5:30 a.m.

Kennedy's actions following the sinking

John F. Kennedy's actions following the sinking of PT-109 were instrumental in saving the lives of his crew and earned him several commendations, including the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and a Purple Heart. Here is a detailed account of Kennedy's actions following the sinking:

Immediate Aftermath

Kennedy and his crew clung to the floating bow section of PT-109 for about 12 hours, hoping for rescue. However, by 1 pm on August 2, it became apparent that the hull was taking on water and would soon sink. Kennedy, a skilled swimmer and former member of the Harvard swim team, took charge and ordered his men to abandon the remains of the boat and swim towards a nearby islet, Plum Pudding Island, about 3.5 miles away. Kennedy, despite his own injuries, played a crucial role in the swim, using a life jacket strap clenched between his teeth to tow the badly burned engineer Patrick McMahon. The exhausted crew reached Plum Pudding Island after a challenging five-hour swim.

Search for Help

Kennedy, aware of the presence of Japanese camps on nearby islands, decided to take action to find help. On the night of August 2, he embarked on a solo mission, swimming 2 miles to Ferguson Passage in an attempt to hail passing American PT boats. He carried a lantern and a pistol, intending to signal any boats that came by. Unfortunately, he did not encounter any boats, and the strong currents carried him away, leaving him lost and disoriented. Kennedy spent a harrowing night in the cold waters before eventually finding his way back to Ferguson Passage the next morning.

Island Hopping

On August 4, Kennedy led his men back into the ocean, this time towards Olasana Island, in search of food and fresh water. Again, Kennedy towed the injured McMahon during the demanding swim. They reached Olasana Island but were disappointed to find no fresh water, and the coconuts they consumed made some of the men sick. Kennedy and his crewmate, George Ross, then swam to Naru Island on August 5, where they discovered a small canoe, packages of crackers and candy, and a drum of drinkable water left by the Japanese. Kennedy paddled back to Olasana with the supplies.

Contact with Coastwatchers

On Naru Island, Kennedy and Ross encountered two native Melanesian coastwatchers, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, who had been trained by the Allies. Initially, the coastwatchers mistook Kennedy for a Japanese soldier due to his disheveled appearance, but they eventually recognized the crew as Americans. Kennedy, with Gasa's suggestion, scratched a message onto a coconut, requesting rescue: "NAURO ISL COMMANDER... NATIVE KNOWS POS'IT... HE CAN PILOT... 11 ALIVE NEED SMALL BOAT... KENNEDY." Gasa and Kumana took the coconut and a more detailed written message by Ensign Thom to a military outpost, a challenging journey through hostile waters.

Final Rescue

On August 7, Kennedy was picked up by PT-157, commanded by his friend Lieutenant William Liebenow, and guided the rescue boats to Olasana Island. The exhausted crew of PT-109 were rescued early on August 8 and brought back to the US base at Rendova, ending their harrowing ordeal.

Post-Rescue Recognition

Kennedy's bravery and leadership during the incident were recognized with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the Purple Heart. The story of his heroism spread, following him into politics and contributing to his appeal as a leader. Kennedy's actions during and after the sinking of PT-109 solidified his reputation as a war hero, and he often referred to his service on PT-109 in his postwar campaigns for elected office.

The rescue of Kennedy and his crew

On the night of August 1, 1943, Lieutenant John F. Kennedy's boat, PT-109, was rammed and split in half by a Japanese destroyer, the Amagiri, in the Solomon Islands. Two of Kennedy's crewmen were killed instantly, and the boat's engineer, Patrick McMahon, was badly burned. Kennedy and the surviving crew were left stranded in open water.

Kennedy and the ten surviving crew members regrouped and clung to the floating bow section of the boat for 12 hours. As it became apparent that the hull was taking on water, they decided to swim to the tiny, deserted Plum Pudding Island, about 3.5 miles away. Kennedy, a strong swimmer who had been on the swim team at Harvard, towed the injured McMahon by clenching a life jacket strap between his teeth. It took them five hours to reach the island.

The next day, Kennedy swam 2 miles to Ferguson Passage to try to hail a passing American PT boat, but without success. On August 4, Kennedy and the crew swam to Olasana Island in search of food and fresh water. They were disappointed to find no fresh water, and nervous about exploring too much due to the proximity of Japanese patrols. On August 5, Kennedy and another crew member, George Ross, swam to Naru Island, where they found a small canoe, food, and a drum of drinkable water left by the Japanese.

On August 6, Kennedy and Ross were approached on Naru Island by two native Melanesian coastwatchers, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, who had been sent by an Australian coastwatcher, Sub-lieutenant Reg Evans, to search for survivors. Kennedy scratched a message on a coconut husk, which Gasa and Kumana delivered to Evans's base.

On the evening of August 7, Kennedy was picked up by the rescue boats, PT-157 and PT-171, which had been sent out by Commander Thomas Warfield. Kennedy guided the boats to Olasana Island, where the rest of the crew was rescued early on the morning of August 8.

Kennedy's subsequent military career

John F. Kennedy's subsequent military career was illustrious and heroic, though marred by injury and ill health. After his first command, the PT-101, Kennedy was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 14, which was tasked with patrolling the Panama Canal. Kennedy, however, was eager for combat duty and transferred to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 2, based at Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands.

On April 23, 1943, Kennedy took command of PT-109, an 80-foot Elco PT boat. On the night of August 1, 1943, Kennedy and his crew were involved in a skirmish that would later be known as the "Battle of Blackett Strait." PT-109 and 14 other PT boats were ordered to intercept and repel four Japanese destroyers and floatplanes carrying food, supplies, and soldiers. Despite firing 30 torpedoes, not a single American torpedo hit its target.

On the night of August 2, PT-109 was idling on one engine to avoid detection when the crew realized they were in the path of the Japanese destroyer Amagiri, which was travelling at a high speed. Kennedy attempted to turn PT-109 to fire a torpedo but was unable to do so in time. The Amagiri collided with PT-109, ripping away its starboard side and cutting the boat in two. Kennedy was thrown into the cockpit, injuring his back. Two of Kennedy's crew were killed, and several others were injured.

Kennedy and the surviving crew swam to Plum Pudding Island, about 3.5 miles away. Kennedy, a strong swimmer, towed a badly burned crewman by clenching a life jacket strap between his teeth. On Plum Pudding Island, they found no food or water, so Kennedy decided to swim the route the PT boats took through Ferguson Passage in search of another ship. After this attempt proved fruitless, Kennedy and Ensign George Ross swam to a slightly larger island where they found coconuts. Kennedy then swam to Naru Island, where they met two native scouts, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, who promised to help. Kennedy carved a message on a coconut shell: "NAURO ISL COMMANDER... NATIVE KNOWS POS'IT... HE CAN PILOT... 11 ALIVE NEED SMALL BOAT... KENNEDY".

On August 8, Kennedy and his crew were finally rescued by PT-157. For his courage and leadership, Kennedy was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and the Purple Heart for his injuries.

After his rescue, Kennedy took command of PT-59, a gunboat he used to attack Japanese barges and rescue stranded Marines. However, his injuries and ill health eventually forced him to return to the United States for treatment. Kennedy was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1945 and retired with the full rank of lieutenant.

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