The 109 Boat Launch Mystery: A Dead Man's Tale

On the night of August 1, 1943, Lieutenant John F. Kennedy's patrol torpedo boat, PT-109, was idling in the Blackett Strait in the Solomon Islands when it was struck by a Japanese destroyer, slicing the boat in two and igniting its fuel tanks. Kennedy and his crew leaped into the water, and though two of his men were killed instantly, the remaining eleven managed to swim to a nearby island. Kennedy, a strong swimmer, towed one of the injured men by his life jacket strap. After several days, they were rescued by native scouts and taken back to the US base. Kennedy's bravery and leadership during the incident earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and he was also awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries.

The boat was sliced in two

The story of how John F. Kennedy's boat was sliced in two is a famous incident in US naval history. It occurred during World War II in the Solomon Islands, in a strait known as Blackett Strait, south of Kolombangara. On the night of August 1, 1943, Kennedy's boat, PT-109, was one of fifteen Patrol Torpedo (PT) boats that had been dispatched to intercept and attack the "Tokyo Express," a Japanese supply convoy.

As the PT boats lay in wait, a shape loomed out of the darkness towards PT-109. Kennedy and his crew first believed it to be another PT boat, but soon realized it was a Japanese destroyer. Kennedy attempted to turn the boat to bring its torpedoes to bear, but there wasn't enough time. The destroyer, later identified as the Amagiri, struck PT-109, ripping away its starboard side. The impact tossed Kennedy around the cockpit, and most of the crew were knocked into the water. The engineer, Patrick McMahon, was below decks and escaped, but was badly burned by exploding fuel.

The collision demolished the forward gun turret, instantly killing two crew members: Harold Marney and Andrew Jackson Kirksey. Kennedy, dazed and injured, gave the order to abandon ship. The men leaped into the water as the boat began to sink. However, when the flames subsided, Kennedy ordered his men back to the wreckage to take stock of the situation. They realized that two of their crew were dead, and the rest were exhausted, injured, or sickened by fuel fumes. There was no sign of other boats or ships in the area, and they dared not fire a flare for fear of attracting the attention of the nearby Japanese.

As the wreckage of PT-109 continued to take on water, the men knew they had to abandon it and try to reach an islet about three and a half miles away. Kennedy, a skilled swimmer and former member of the Harvard swim team, took charge. He towed the injured McMahon by the strap of his life vest, while the rest of the crew clustered around a plank, pulling and pushing it through the water. Despite their exhaustion, they managed to reach the island, which they named "Bird Island."

Kennedy's ordeal was not over, however. Fearing the proximity of Japanese forces, he decided to swim down into Ferguson Passage, the route used by American PT boats in the area. He island-hopped and clung to reefs, but strong currents spun him out into Blackett Strait and back into the passage. He eventually made it to Leorava Island, where he rested before returning to Bird Island. Kennedy's determination and leadership during this harrowing experience would later be recognized with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the Purple Heart.

The crew swam to safety

The crew of the PT-109 swam to safety in the early morning of 2 August 1943. The boat had been rammed and sliced in two by a Japanese destroyer, the Amagiri, in the Solomon Islands. The boat's commander, John F Kennedy, future US president, was thrown around the cockpit but survived. Kennedy and the 10 other surviving crew members abandoned ship and swam to a nearby island, Plum Pudding Island, about four miles away. Kennedy towed one of the injured crew members, Patrick McMahon, by gripping a strap between his teeth. The journey took five hours.

The boat was found drifting

The story of John F. Kennedy and the PT-109 is one of the most famous small-craft engagements in naval history. On the night of August 1, 1943, in the waters of the Solomon Islands, Kennedy's Patrol Torpedo boat idled in Blackett Strait. The 80-foot craft was one of fifteen PT boats that had set out to engage and intercept the "Tokyo Express", the Japanese navy's regular supply convoy to soldiers.

At around 2:30 a.m., a Japanese destroyer emerged from the darkness and smashed into the PT-109, slicing it in two and igniting its fuel tanks. The collision killed two of Kennedy's men instantly and threw the rest of the crew into the water. The remaining crew clung to the drifting bow section of the boat for hours.

Kennedy, a strong swimmer who had been on the Harvard swim team, took charge and towed one of his badly burned crew members, Patrick McMahon, by gripping the strap of his life jacket with his teeth. The journey to a nearby island took about five hours.

The crew remained on the small island for a couple of days before Kennedy realised they needed to swim to a larger island, Olasana, in order to survive. There, they were found by two local scouts, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, who helped them send a message to a lookout, who then radioed the PT base for a rescue boat.

The story of the PT-109 became part of the Kennedy legend, showcasing his courage under pressure, and it helped him win voters in the 1960 presidential election.

The body was mummified

The process of mummification occurs when the right conditions are met for a body not to decompose. These conditions include a dry and breezy environment. The body also needs to be in an enclosed area so that insects cannot attack it.

In the case of the dead sailor, the warm, salty ocean air, in combination with the dry ocean winds and hot temperatures, created the perfect environment for mummification. The air, heat, and saltiness of the sea are all very conducive to the process.

The mummification of the body likely starts within two to three weeks of death. The fingers and other extremities, such as the nose and face, dry out first, and within a month or two, they are well on their way to mummification. After about a week, the skin can turn yellow, hard, and leathery, with complete mummification occurring after several weeks.

In the case of the sailor, the dry ocean winds, hot temperatures, and salty sea air helped to preserve his body. The yacht was found floating in the ocean, providing the ideal conditions for mummification.

The cause of death was unknown

The mystery surrounding Bajorat’s death deepened as items inside the yacht were scattered, and his wallet was missing. However, the yacht’s radio, GPS, and other valuable items were still there. The police investigation found no obvious signs of violence, but the exact time of death could not be determined.

Dr Mark Benecke, a forensic criminologist, suggested that the way Bajorat was sitting indicated that his death was unexpected, possibly from a heart attack. The dry ocean winds, hot temperatures, and salty air likely contributed to the mummification of his body.

Frequently asked questions