Maurice Kowal
Maurice Kowal served under Kennedy as a crewman on the PT 109, although he had left the boat before it was rammed by the Japanese…
Currently browsing: PT 59
Bad Weather
JFK was out on patrol in bad weather hanging off the coast of Choiseul Island hunting Japanese barges. As on most of the patrols the…
Drydock Again
JFK was not assigned a mission and PT 59 remained in drydock again. [153, p. 328]
Second Trial
JFK took his newly fitted PT 59 out for a second trial on the open water off Savo Island. [153, p. 328]
November 18, 1943
November 18, 1943 JFK was forced to relinquish his command of PT 59 when he was ordered by a Navy physician to report to the…
November 16, 1943
November 16, 1943 This was JFK’s last night in combat. His final action was an uneventful night time patrol on PT 59. [109]
Out Again
After the previous night’s action, the 59 went out again on patrol, leaving base just before midnight to join up with the 187. The mission…
November 5, 1943
November 5, 1943 JFK, in command of PT 59, led three boats on a night time mission to Choiseul Bay and Moli Point that intercepted…
November 2, 1943
November 2, 1943 JFK skippered PT-59 as part of an operation to help evacuate Marines who were trapped on the island of Choiseul. Kennedy picked…
Fresh Water
JFK returned to base in the morning after the previous night’s patrol and restocked PT 59 with fresh water. He did not resupply the gas…
Third Night
For the third night of the planned diversionary action by the US Marines on Choiseul, Jack and PT 59 remained moored at the base on…
Standby
Jack and PT 59 remained on standby at base on Lambu Lambu in support of the diversionary force of Marines on Choiseul. He did not…
October 18, 1943
October 18, 1943 JFK and his crew of the PT 59 arrived in at the Navy base at Lambu Lambu Cove on Vella Lavella Island….
First Mission
JFK and crew head out of Tulagi to Guadalcanal to stage for the first mission of PT 109. [153, p. 329]
Photos
JFK and crew took PT 59 out for a spin to allow for publicity photos to be taken of the new “Gunboat #1”. [153, p….
On the base
JFK and his crew remained on the base at Tulagi for the 3rd consecutive day after two days of trial runs. [153, p.328]
Drydock
JFK was on Tulagi with the PT 59 in drydock. [153, p. 328]
Trial Run
After having spent most of September refitting PT 59, JFK took Gunboat #1 as she was now called on a trial run to Savo Island…
PT 59
JFK took command of PT 59. He chose Lt. (jg) Robert Lee Rhoads, Jr. for his executive officer. Five of the men who had served…
Tulagi Island
JFK was sent to Tulagi Island to recover after his August 8, 1943 rescue from a six day ordeal following the sinking of his PT…