What was the crew on a PT boat?
PT-class Motor Torpedo Boat
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Bunkerage | 3,000 gal aviation fuel |
| Speed | 39 knots |
| Crew | 14 |
| Armament | 1x20mm Oerlikon cannon at stern, 2×12.7mm twin M2 or 2×7.6mm Lewis machine guns on rotating turrets, 2x or 4x21in torpedo tubes, Mark 8 torpedoes |
How many PT boats did JFK command?
That brought the number of men aboard to 13—a number that spooked superstitious sailors. Lieutenant Hank Brantingham, a PT veteran who had served with Bulkeley in the famous MacArthur rescue, led the four boats in Kennedy’s group.
Who were the men on PT 109?
The PT 109 crew consisted of John F. Kennedy, Leonard J. Thom, George H. R. “Barney” Ross, Raymond Albert, Charles A.
Was the PT-109 ever found?
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. Zinser, who lived in Orange Park, had Alzheimer’s disease, The Associated Press reported.
Are any of the PT 109 crew still alive?
What happened to crew of PT 109?
Spilled fuel ignited on the water, causing crews of the other PT boats to assume there had been no survivors. Two crew members were never seen again, but 11 who survived, all wearing life vests, managed to board what was left of PT-109. One had been badly burned and couldn’t swim.
What happened to crew of PT-109?
What happened to Kennedy’s PT-109?
What few people realize is that after the loss of PT-109, Kennedy was given command of another boat: PT-59. Actually, the last scene in the movie PT 109 shows Kennedy and this boat sailing off into the sunset to begin new adventures on his path to the White House.
Who was in command when the PT-109 was sunk?
Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy, USNR, was in command when PT-109 was rammed by a Japanese destroyer and sunk. Kennedy and the surviving crew members were rescued on August 8, and Kennedy was then sent to Tulagi Island to recover.
How many tons does a PT boat hold?
PT-109 could accommodate a crew of three officers and 14 enlisted men, with the typical crew size between 12 and 14. Fully loaded, it displaced 56 tons . The Elco boats were the largest PT boats operated by the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Was Kennedy’s son a hero in the Pacific?
KENNEDY’S SON IS HERO IN PACIFIC AS DESTROYER SPLITS HIS PT BOAT, declared a New York Times headline. It was Kennedy’s presence, of course, that made the collision big news. And it was his father’s media savvy that helped turn an embarrassing disaster into a tale worthy of Homer.
