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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: JFK / PT 109 Online Archive
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2069

Not many photos but lots of info. One of the (mislabeled) images:

[url]http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKPOF-132-012-p0059.aspx[/url]

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jan 16, 2011 - 4:05am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Jeff;
This photo of PT 61 was taken from the forecastle of 109, notice the port forward torpedo tube and depth charge in the foreground. The Chief is Burney Fisk, the shirtless guy in the Khaki pants is (then Ens.) Ken Prescott. This is Searlesville, in the Russell Islands, May 1943.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 16, 2011 - 7:37am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Ahhh, cool Ted and thanks. I was trying to figure out which one was Kennedy.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jan 16, 2011 - 1:46pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Has anyone reached out to the Kennedy Library to let them know about the error?
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Jan 16, 2011 - 8:25pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

T. Garth and I have argued mightily in the past over the photo of PT 61 being discussed. If I remember correctly, he wasn't convinced that the photo was taken from the foredeck of PT 109, or that it was at Searlesville, or that the 61 was the 77-footer to port in the famous "JFK in the cockpit" photos, or that the photos were probably taken at the same time... I believe that all of the above points are true.

I'll repeat again how close forward of the forward torpedo tube the depth charge is in that photo. While it's at a somewhat oblique angle, it shows it wasn't way out ahead along the edge of the deck, as presented in many a drawing and model of the 109.

I sent the JFK Library & Museum an email advising them of their mis-captioning of that photo. Hopefully they'll change it, and hopefully they'll post more photos from JFK's personal album in the future. There was one in particular of JFK and another man standing in front of a couple of docked, bow-forward PTs I'd like to see clearly enlarged.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jan 17, 2011 - 8:41am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

I guess the big thing (and I have the photo) is what proof is there that this was taken from PT-109. The only way to prove this is by one of the three people in the photo. Ted might have this information to back up these claims..............

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 17, 2011 - 8:58am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank;
Yes, you are correct. Ken remembers when these photos were taken, as these are all ar of the same time frame. Most were kodachrome color photos, but some were black and white photos all taken between 20-30 May 1943.
take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 17, 2011 - 4:40pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am