PT109 SURVIVORS AWAIT RESCUE
Solomon Islands (JFK+50) On August 3, 1943, the survivors of PT 109 waited for rescue after having been struck by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri in the early morning hours of August 2nd.
Australian coast watcher Reginald Evans* reported sighting the sinking of PT109 and there was little hope that any of the crew were still alive.
Having failed in an attempt to flag down a rescue ship, 109's commander, Lt. j.g. John F. Kennedy, swam back to the island where his surviving crew waited.
When JFK arrived...
"he looked skinny, bedraggled and exhausted. He had a beard. His hair was matted over his forehead. His circled eyes were bloodshot."
*Arthur Reginald Evans (1905-1989) was born in Sydney, Australia & worked as a clerk in Paddington, NSW. During WWII, he served in the Royal Australian Artillery & as a coastwatcher in the Solomon Islands.
SOURCE
"PT109, JFK in WWII," by Robert J. Donovan, McGraw-Hill, 1961.
Solomon Islands (JFK+50) On August 3, 1943, the survivors of PT 109 waited for rescue after having been struck by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri in the early morning hours of August 2nd.
Australian coast watcher Reginald Evans* reported sighting the sinking of PT109 and there was little hope that any of the crew were still alive.
Having failed in an attempt to flag down a rescue ship, 109's commander, Lt. j.g. John F. Kennedy, swam back to the island where his surviving crew waited.
When JFK arrived...
"he looked skinny, bedraggled and exhausted. He had a beard. His hair was matted over his forehead. His circled eyes were bloodshot."
*Arthur Reginald Evans (1905-1989) was born in Sydney, Australia & worked as a clerk in Paddington, NSW. During WWII, he served in the Royal Australian Artillery & as a coastwatcher in the Solomon Islands.
SOURCE
"PT109, JFK in WWII," by Robert J. Donovan, McGraw-Hill, 1961.
Guadalcanal Coastwatcher & Island Natives
October 1942
USMC Photo
October 1942
USMC Photo
