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Topic: The Most Famous Boat |
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QM
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Posted on: Jan 12, 2010 - 3:30pm
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PT 41 is the most famous boat of all time. Yes, I had to refer to "At Close Quarters" to be sure that I had the correct number. I will just mention two of its good deeds. On March 13, 1942 General MacArthur, his family and members of his staff were safely delivered to Mindanao. On March 19, 1942 President Quezon, his family and others in his party were transported from Negros to Mindanao. For more information please refer to "At Close Quarters" and "They Were Expendable" I still remember the news reports from the early days of WWll. A high powered publicity campaign is responsible for much of the notoriety of PT 109. The millions of dollars spent every day on advertising and public relations is proof they pay off. It is not my intention to question the accomplishments of any of the boats. All were helpful in winning the war. Review the pages of "At Close Quarters" and any other books available for evidence on many other boats that did as much or more than the 109. |
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PeterTareBuilder
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Posted on: Jan 13, 2010 - 11:18am
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Hi there QM.
I'd have to disagree with you on that. I still think that the most famous PT boat, for better or worse and irregardless of any publicity campaigns, remains PT-109. I think all you'd need to do to prove it is ask the average person on the streets if they know of any PT boats. I'm willing to lay odds that very few of them have heard of PT-41 but many will have heard of PT-109 whether because of the book, the movie or the song.
What really matters though is that both of these boats captured the public's attention through the gallant and daring deeds of their crews.
Those of us who model *ANY* PT boat also help to keep alive the memories of the gallant men who crewed them and the daring deeds they accomplished in them.
Cheers from Peter
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QM
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Posted on: Jan 15, 2010 - 6:22pm
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Sorry but I still disagree. The facts are on my side. Perhaps some on this panel could help by acknowledging reality. It was not the 109 story that that provided incentive for men to sign up for PT's. Maybe we need someone with a lot of money to engage a publication relations firm. It only required about one hundred years for Tesla to be recognized in the last year or two for his accomplishments.
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TGConnelly
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Posted on: Jan 16, 2010 - 6:27am
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QM,
Even though I really hate to admit this; PT-109 is the most famous PT boat. And, that's just because of WHO commanded her at one time.
If you were to walk down a street and ask random people if they knew of PT-109, you'd get either a blank stare or this; "oh, yeah, JFK's boat."
Now, if you asked them the same question of who was John D. Bulkeley and what did he do while in command of the 41 boat? All you'd get would be blank stares and shrugging of shoulders.
Other than those who know (a) WW2 history and (b) PT history, no one has ever heard of the 41 boat. I'm sorry, but that is a fact.
Garth
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Jan 16, 2010 - 6:54am
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QM is certainly correct in that PT-41 was the most famous boat. Now, this holds true during WWII only. It was Bulkeley's 41 boat and the saga of MacAthurs's excape that did get many men to join the PT BOAT SERVICE. I have clippings in my collection to prove that. However, after the War, and to this day PT-109 does remain the most famous of all of the boats, as far as the public is concerned. To those of us that know PT BOAT HISTORY, there is no doubt that PT-41 would be the most famous of all the PT BOATS during the War.............
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29navy
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Posted on: Jan 16, 2010 - 6:57am
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It's all going to be based on your perspective...your age mainly. From the WWII generation, PT 41 may be the boat. From those who came later (baby boomers) ...it's either PT 109 or PT 73. For us PT aficionados and other history nuts, we could probably name a half dozen others. For the younger group (last 20 years) most don't even know what a PT boat is or who JFK even was...as Tim pointed out.
Trying to figure out which boat did the most...you'll get arguments about that til the cows come home...then the cows will start arguing.
From a PR perspective, during WWII, PT 41. From the 1960's perspective...PT 109 (first) and PT 73 (the McHale's Navy one, not the real one - second).
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TGConnelly
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Posted on: Jan 16, 2010 - 9:08am
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Agreed, ... but would you consider McHale's 73 as a real PT? I don't think I would. True, there was a real PT-73, but it was not the one in McHale's Navy.
True Frank, during WW2 from a PR and War Bond Drive perspective - the Navy did splash the 41 boat throughout the printed media and news reels and movies. Thereby making her famous - as she should have been - but, now? No one knows of her significance ... and no one knows anything about her - outside of the PT community.
Even the 109 has lost some of her fame, although Ballard did help to bring some of the fame back.
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Wayne Traxel
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Posted on: Jan 16, 2010 - 9:14am
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I have to agree with QM, the PT Boat Legend began with the exploits of Bulkeley, PT-41 and Squadron 3 in the Philippines during the dark days of WW-II. Many of the men including Kennedy were drawn to and volunteered for the PT service because of these exploits.
The Country became aware of PT-109 and Kennedy's wartime service when JFK entered Politics after the war. This Baby Boomer did not learn about PT-109 and Kennedy's wartime service until the presidential campaign in 1960 at the age of 12. As my parents would not take me to see the movie PT-109, I really had no Idea what a PT even looked like until the Revell version appeared at the local stores after the JFK's passing in late 1963. From that time on it seemed that PT-109 became an legend for the next 35 years.
In 2000, the last year I displayed any of my PTmodels publicly, it was noticed that the 20 something people I met did not know what a PT Boat was, had never heard of PT-109 or who JFK was, and was unaware that he was the 35th President.
Last fall I encountered a 30 something gentleman while operating my RC PT-34. He had recognised my model as a PT Boat but had never heard of PT-109 or Kennedy.
Fortunately we have this message board that brings together the people who wish to learn and share Information about the PT and have a desire to learn from the people who were there.
Wayne Traxel |
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TGConnelly
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Posted on: Jan 16, 2010 - 9:46am
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Did not know that JFK was the 35th President? THAT worries the bejesus out of me.
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Drew Cook
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Posted on: Jan 16, 2010 - 1:03pm
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When I made the comment "PT 109 is the most famous PT boat of all time," I didn't qualify it by saying "with the public during World War II," "with guys who joined the PTs," "with PT boat historians or enthusiasts," "on television," "in the movies," or anything other than to mean it's the PT with the most name (or more properly, number)-recognition -- with the general public.
To this specific point -- PT 41? The PT boat more people (meaning the general public) know of, or about, than any other PT in the U.S. Navy? You've got to be kidding.
Frankly, I don't understand the controversy over this simple statement. It wasn't meant to cause a discussion or debate.
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