What was PT 107?
USS PT-107, an 80-foot ELCO type motor torpedo boat, was placed in service with Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron FIVE in early July 1942. Following training and defensive duty in the Panama Canal Zone area, in the spring of 1943 she was shipped to the Solomon Islands for front-line service in the war against Japan.
What happened to JFK’s PT boat?
Although the wreckage was still afloat, it was taking on water, and it capsized on the morning of August 2. After a discussion of options, the men abandoned the remains of PT 109 and struck out for an islet three and a half miles away.
What does PT stand for in PT-109?
patrol torpedo
On August 1, 1943, a Japanese destroyer rams an American PT (patrol torpedo) boat, No. 109, slicing it in two. The destruction is so massive other American PT boats in the area assume the crew is dead.
Did they ever find the PT-109?
A National Geographic expedition has found the WWII patrol boat that became a cornerstone of the Kennedy legend. A National Geographic expedition led by explorer Robert Ballard has found what is believed to be the remains of John F. Kennedy’s PT-109.
Are any of the PT-109 crew still alive?
Gerard Zinser, the last surviving crewman from the sinking of John F. Kennedy’s PT 109 in the South Pacific in World War II, died on Aug. 21 at a hospital in Orange Park, Fla. He was 82.
How long was JFK in the Navy?
| John F. Kennedy | |
|---|---|
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Motor Torpedo Squadron 2 Patrol Torpedo Boat 109 Patrol Torpedo Boat 59 |
Who did JFK save on PT 109?
On the night of 6–7 August, while Kennedy still awaited rescue, Admiral William Halsey, now convinced that PTs were unsuitable against Japanese destroyers, sent six U.S. Navy destroyers equipped with more advanced radar to intercept the “Tokyo Express”, again on their frequent run to Kolombangara Island.
What did JFK think of the movie PT-109?
After seeing the film, President Kennedy called PT 109 a “good product,” but he worried about the length of the film at 2 hours and 20 minutes. He said, “It’s just a question of whether there’s too much of it”.
What is the greatest battleship of all time?
the Yamato
air raids but also the Yamato, the greatest battleship in the world (72,000 tons, with nine 18.1-inch [460-millimetre] guns), which was sent out on a suicidal mission with only enough fuel for the single outward voyage and without sufficient air cover.