http://www.ptboats.org/
Posted on 05/29/2002 1:15:23 AM PDT by kattracks
SYDNEY, Australia, May 29, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Shipwreck hunter Robert Ballard said Wednesday he has found the World War II patrol boat commanded by John F. Kennedy in the Pacific Ocean off the Solomon Islands.
The remains of the wooden boat, PT 109, were lying on the seabed in the Blanket Strait near Gizo in the New Georgia group of islands, Ballard told Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Gizo is 235 miles northwest of the capital of the Solomons, Honiara.
Ballard, who led a team that found the Titanic shipwreck in 1985, said he located the wreckage of Kennedy's boat last week after searching for about a week. He did not provide further details of the discovery, citing contractual obligations over film and magazine rights to the search.
The radio report said a National Geographic documentary will be released in November. Members of the National Geographic team in the Solomon Islands did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
The PT 109 sank in August 1943 after it was hit by a Japanese warship.
It is unknown how much of the boat remains besides the engines. Water is expected to have caused extensive damage to the hull.
Ballard, who found the wreck of the Titanic and other historic ships, had planned to use remote cameras to search for the boat.
The late president's brother, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, and daughter, Caroline Kennedy, agreed to the expedition after being assured that the site would not be disturbed. Two members of Kennedy's crew died when the boat was hit.
In a 1999 interview, Ballard said PT 109 is "not lost, just misplaced." But he added searching for the vessel in an area full of unexploded ordnance would be "no fun."
Kennedy was commanding a patrol in August 2, 1943, when the boat was hit and cut in two by a Japanese destroyer.
Kennedy and 10 other survivors swam 15 hours to reach a nearby island. He towed one injured survivor, engineer Patrick Henry McMahon, by swimming with a strap from McMahon's lifejacket in his teeth.
They later swam to another island where there were coconuts to eat. Kennedy carved a message into one coconut and gave it to a native islander to take to rescuers.
Patrol torpedo boats, such as the PT109, had mahogany hulls. Plywood was used for the internal structures, chart houses and gun turrets. They were 80 feet long and powered by 12-cylinder gasoline engines.
The boats were used primarily to attack surface ships, but they also were used to lay mines and smoke screens, to rescue downed aviators and to carry out intelligence operations.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
Nah, it's not his fault that he grew up with idiots who couldn't speak english. He was an idiot for completely different reasons.
They did this search for the same reasons Ballard searched for the Titanic and the Bismark, to TEST search equipment for the US Navy.
The Titanic "Search" was actually a cover for Ballard searching for the USS Thresher and one other downed Sub (the name escapes me - It started with an S). As it happened, he also found the Titanic, which ended up paying for the entire mission.
I'm surprised Ted hasn't killed Vicky...
Have you seen the size of that blotted whale?
Imagine what that poor women has to endure when big Ted gets frisky?
I just made myself sick.
The point is that John Kennedy for all his faults went to war, a shooting war. He had his boat cut in two by a destroyer and had the skills courage and bravery required to save his life and the lives of his crew. W has done none of that. While his father served in WWII, does the fact that he got shot down make him a failure as a pilot?
The point is that John Kennedy for all his faults went to war, a shooting war. He had his boat cut in two by a destroyer and had the skills courage and bravery required to save his life and the lives of his crew. W has done none of that. While his father served in WWII, does the fact that he got shot down make him a failure as a pilot?
You mean he'd be former Senator Kennedy
On the night of the incident PT 109 was part of a fifteen boat intercept mission. JFK was ordered, with two other boats to stand to while other elements attacked five Jap destroyers. After the initial attack PT 109 was leading PT 162 and PT 169 in an effort to intercept the destroyers on their return trip. The skippers on both PT 162 and PT 169 saw the oncoming destroyer in time to maneuver and attack. Kennedy's boat did not react and was cut in two.
There was a push to hold young Jack officially responsible, but his connections and his actions after his crew went into the water saved his skin....bottom line....he was a bum who was behaved heroically.
I'm convinced that he was never in that car when it went over the bridge. He is a swine for all kinds of other reasons, including covering up what actually happened that night.
Any details on the feud between the McCormack's vs. Kennedy's?
Also, thanks to michigander for the link to the official version.
'Course knowing the Kennedys as I do (cross bay neighbors for 30 years) it wouldn't be the first time they "fixed" the official version, either. Same goes for the ex-shipmates they dragged out for the movie premiere.
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