The Search for Kennedy's PT 109

Celebrated seagoing archaeologist Bob Ballard and his consultants believe that they have established the location of the hull of JFK's motor torpedo boat that sank in the waters of the South Pacific during World War II. This excellent documentary is for anybody who wants to learn more about the celebrated exploits of our 35th president. Of course, the filmmakers generate a modicum of suspense about the search for the plywood hull. Surely, you'd think that this is a foregone conclusion. Of course, they are going to find it. Ballard's first objective was to chart the route that the Japanese 'Tokyo Express' plied. Ballard suspected if he found the 'Tokyo Express' that he would have a better chance finding PT-109. Eventually, after he discovers a sunken Imperial Japanese destroyer, Ballard comes across the grave of PT-109. Unfortunately, the U.S. Navy didn't want the site of the wreckage disturbed so on the basis of nothing more than a torpedo tube launcher to support their findings, Ballard and his experts--a naval historian--declare their positive findings. Happily, "The Search for PT-109" is more than a straightforward potboiler. We meet the natives who located Kennedy. Kennedy promised to meet them again, but Lee Harvey Oswald kept this reunion from occurring. They interview one of the surviving PT skippers. He tries to explain that everybody figured Kennedy had his crew had perished when the PT-boat exploded. They re-enacted the disaster, and you get a real feeling about what Kennedy did when he swam out into the sea to attract help. The underwater photography of the Kennedy re-enactor being buffeted by the waves is cool. Memorable!

The Search for PT 109 (2003)

*** (out of 4)

What should Bob Ballard do after finding the Titanic shipwreck? Why not go after the historic PT 109, which of course was the boat John F. Kennedy was on. Everyone should know the story but the small boat was hit by a Japanese ship, exploded and everyone was thought dead. Kennedy ended up getting the survivors to a small island but with no help coming he turned into a legendary figure with what he did in order to get discovered. The documentary tells that story but also follows Ballard as he and his crew try to locate where the ship went down. Also interviewed are two of the men who eventually discovered Kennedy and helped them reach safety. Overall, this is a pretty good documentary, although it lacks the drama of the original search for the Titanic. Perhaps there's just not as much mystery or poetic hauntings of Titanic but there's no question the search for this was entertaining. There's a false discovery that puts Ballard on the right track that was also interesting to see as was everything that's in the sea where these ships were found. The underwater photography was extremely good and we got some terrific images of the sunken ships. The re-enactment footage was also well-done and shot.

Given his chronic back problems, John F. Kennedy could have avoided combat in World War II. However, he pleaded with his very influential father to find a doctor willing to certify him healthy enough to serve in a combat role. After his basic officer training, Kennedy was given command of a patrol-torpedo (PT) boat with the designation PT109.

Their assignment was to patrol the area that was known as the "Tokyo Express," where fast convoys of Japanese ships traveled down to the Solomon Islands at night to reinforce and resupply the Japanese garrison there. One night, a Japanese destroyer collided with PT 109, cutting it into pieces, killing some of the crew and sinking it.

Left for dead, the crew of the PT 109 had to fend for themselves. Swimming to an island, they managed to survive until they encountered some natives of the Solomons. After some communication, the survivors of the PT 109 were rescued. Decades later a search time utilized high tech gear to search the area for the remains of the PT 109 and they managed to identify a torpedo tube on the sea floor as from the PT 109.

This video has two main tracks. The first references the events leading up to the destruction of PT 109 in August of 1943 as well as the aftermath. Later footage is of a meeting between two of the Solomon Islanders that rescued the PT 109 survivors with a member of the Kennedy family. The other track follows the research team as they try to locate the wreckage of PT 109.

It is an interesting story, for the destruction of PT 109 and the conduct of Kennedy in the aftermath likely transformed him into presidential material. Edward Kennedy, brother of John Kennedy says as much when interviewed. This is a worthy item for viewing in history classes through all educational levels.