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The wreckage of PT-109 was located in May 2002, at a depth of 1,200 feet (370 m), when a National Geographic Society expedition headed by Robert Ballard found a torpedo tube from wreckage matching the description and location of Kennedy's vessel.
Jul 11, 2002 · Nearly 60 years ago a Japanese destroyer materialized out of a moonless night and smashed through PT-109, sending 26-year-old skipper John F. Kennedy into fiery waters to save his crew. Six...
Jun 16, 2020 · Last month, in a muddy spot near Harlem River’s North Cove inlet, a crane dredged up the remnants of what is believed to be PT-59, a patrol boat commanded by John F. Kennedy during World War II.
Feb 22, 2011 · The most famous collision in U.S. Navy history occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on August 2, 1943, a hot, moonless night in the Pacific. Patrol Torpedo boat 109 was idling in Blackett Strait in the Solomon Islands. The 80-foot craft had orders to attack enemy ships on a resupply mission.
On August 2, 1943, PT 109 was struck by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri and the entire crew was thrown into the Pacific. After fifteen hours at sea, eleven survivors made it to a nearby island with Kennedy towing one injured crew member to land.
The wreckage of PT-109 was located in May 2002, when a National Geographic Society expedition, headed by Ballard, found a torpedo tube amongst wreckage that matched the description, and location, of Kennedy's vessel in the Solomon Islands.
Nov 18, 2022 · The destroyer, later identified as the Amagiri, the escort ship of the Express, struck PT-109 just forward of the forward starboard torpedo tube, ripping away the starboard aft side of the boat. Less than a minute had passed since the first sighting.
Sunk August 2, 1943 at 1:30am. Ship History. Built by Elco at Bayonne, New Jersey as the seventh PT boat built built by Elco in Bayonne, NJ. Laid down March 4, 1942 as PT 103 Class Elco 80' Motor Torpedo Boat. Launched June 20, 1942 as PT-109. On July 10, 1942 delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PT-109. Completed July 19, 1942.
May 29, 2002 · It took Robert Ballard only about a week to find the wreck of John F. Kennedy's old patrol boat, PT-109, at the bottom of the Blanket Strait off the Solomon Islands.
John Kennedy jumped into action ordering PT-109 to get underway while briefly seeing a Japanese plane crash into the water off Rendova. His crewmen opened fire with the forward machine gun and 20mm cannon near the back of the boat. The 109 was able to move out of harm’s way. Other boats, however, were not so lucky.
