Dec, 2017 sixty years later, the story of pt 109 still captivates. While writing this book, donovan interviewed the president and several of the 109 s survivors. Sorry, but im not shipping these boats for any price for any reason. Pt 109 william doyle paperback harpercollins publishers. An american epic of war, survival, and the destiny. He makes a strong argument that kennedys heroism in the aftermath of getting his boat run over by a japanese destroyer was his key, if not only, qualification in getting elected to the house. In fact, kennedy stumbled early in his administration.
Pt 109 robert donovan john f kennedy hardcover 1961 book club edition. Illustrated beige cloth, title printed in blue on spine, blue illustration of pt 109 boat on front panel. Kennedy cliff robertson congratulates his crew on passing inspection then, with ensign thom ty hardin takes the boat our for its first test, in pt 109, 1963, from the book by. It is a game with great depth of options, realism, accuracy of simulation and enriched with an outstanding documentation.
Dubbed little boy, the bomb would be dropped on hiroshima, precipitating the end of the war. Every page sparkles with keen insight and fresh research. Donovan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Assigned to battle in the solomon islands, he leads his crew on treacherous. Kennedys naval service in world war ii, particularly of the rescue of his crew after his pt. Kennedy captains a pt boat and takes it into battle. While jfk did excel in boat handling in noncombat situations in rhode island, it is neither unfair nor unjust to scrutinize his actions with the pt 109.
Slightly more than three months later, on the night of august 2, pt 109 would be destroyed, cut in half by the japanese destroyer amagiri. Unfollow lindberg pt 109 to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Navy junior grade lieutenant received his first command, pt 109. This 40th anniversary edition of pt 109 reminds us once again of the courage of. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. Inside back cover featuring six photos from the movie. Ill say nothing more except if you appreciate an honest discussion based on. Kennedy, and the subject pt109, a comic book based on the film.
The new afterward gives some detailed information on the history of american pt boats and jfks time as skipper of the pt59 after the pt109. Pt109 was a pt103 class motor torpedo boat built for the us navy in 1942. With cliff robertson, robert culp, ty hardin, james gregory. Kennedys path to power hailed as a breathtaking account by james patterson, masterfully written by historian douglas brinkley, and the finest book ever written on the subject by lt.
Kennedy, future united states president, in the pacific theater during world war ii. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. However, one could argue that this is a book focusing on jacks time with the pt109, only. Revell pt109 finescale modeler essential magazine for. Kennedys path to power hailed as a breathtaking account by james patterson, masterfully written by historian douglas brinkley, and the finest book ever. The ships keel was laid 4 march 1942, as the seventh motor torpedo boat mtb of the 80footlong 24 mclass built by elco, and was launched on 20 june and delivered to the navy on 10 july 1942 to be fitted out in the new york naval shipyard in brooklyn. Find great deals on ebay for pt 109 book when you shop the largest online selection at. Bob donovan has written the definitive story of my brothers heroic efforts to save his crew in 1943 after their torpedo boat was cut in half by a japanese destroyer, near the. Pt 109 was sliced in half by a japanese destroyer on the early morning of august 2, 1943. An american epic of war, survival and the destiny of john f. Donovan, a war correspondent and political reporter who covered the 1960 campaign, and adapted to the screen by navy veteran turned screenwriter richard l. Entering service later that year, it served in the pacific theater of world war ii. Landmark books are perhaps the most sought after out of print childrens books by homeschooling families.
Rhys bowen and terry shames joined fellow bay area mystery writers cara black and catriona mcpherson on july 31 for a special edition of the bee book club. Kennedy during world war ii pt 109, a 1963 biographical film about the commander, john f. Motor torpedo boat 109 pt109 was laid down 4 march 1942 by the elco works naval division of the electric boat company in bayonne, new jersey. Cliff robertson plays jack kennedy, a young officer who pulled strings to. Bob donovan has written the definitive story of my brothers heroic efforts to save his crew in 1943 after their torpedo boat was cut in half by a japanese destroyer, near the solomon islands in the south pacific. John fitzgerald kennedy library it is arguably the most famous smallcraft engagement in naval history, and it was an unmitigated disaster. Sixty years later, the story of pt 109 still captivates.
The series originally published from 19511970 consisted of 122 volumes in the american history run and 63 in the world history run. It has a note from the person who bought the book originally in 1962 as a gift. Free shipping on due to covid19, orders may be delayed. Kennedy cliff robertson is a lieutenant, junior grade, in command of a pt 109 boat during world war ii. This book tells how the ship that he was lieutenant on was sunk in enemy waters and how he led his men through a three mile swim to an enemy island that they took shelter in. The influence of pt109 on kennedys journey to and life in the white house will be the central component of the authors talk, which is based on his most recent book, pt 109.
Published by crest books, greenwich, connecticut 1962. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. Lieutenant kennedy is instrumental in saving crew on this day in 1943, a japanese destroyer rams an american pt patrol torpedo boat, no. The game lets you take the helm of one of the most daring vessels of the world war ii era. In 43 they set to sea men and kennedy aboard the pt 109 to fight the brazen enemy on the isle of ol lusana in the strait beyond nehru a. Kennedy, with cane in the pacific, 1943, would later downplay his pt 109 role. Inside jfks heroic origin story william doyle, author of pt 109, talks about john f. Estado afundado por abalroamento por contratorpedeiro da marinha imperial japonesa.
In the final days of world war ii, the uss indianapolis had completed delivery of components of the atomic bomb to the island tinian. His actions to save his surviving crew after the sinking of pt 109 made him a war hero. Kennedys experiences as a pt boat commander and the heroic tale of jfk in world war two long before the day a sniper would take his life in dallas texas. Kennedy kept a unique inauguration gift on his white house desk. A thrilling, momentbymoment account of one of the most famous events of world war ii the sinking of pt109 and john f. The book was later turned into an epic motion picture. The new foreword and new preface to this 40th anniversary edition help put things in perspective. As a historian, i believe in neither indiscriminate bashing of peoples reputations, nor do i believe in unquestioning hero worship. Pt 109 was the first commercial theatrical film about a sitting united states president released while he was still in office. Electric power keeps it simple and quiet to run anywhere. Breen, the film is a profile in courage in miniature. This book is not a combat, actionpacked wartime epic but instead about jack kennedy and other navy men and how they got into the pt boat service and their experiences in the pacific war. Pt109 model, model kits based on the ship pt109 song, a 1962 song by jimmy dean about the subject. In publishers dust jacket, near fine condition with bright illustrations, light wear at edges, list of publishers books on verso of dust jacket.
Pt 105 bluejacket books series by dick keresey, paperback. Pt 109 joined mtb squadron five and shifted to panama, replacing. Kennedys stunning encounter with disaster as a young naval officer. An american epic of war, survival, and the destiny of john. Kennedy biopic pt 109 was hardly smooth sailing 1963 cliff robertson starrer had input from an involved white house, suffered a backbreaking snub. An american epic of war, survival, and the destiny of. Remembering pt109 a carved walking stick evokes ship commander john f.
Contains numerous pencil notations and corrections, likely by dr. Pt 109 is a 1963 american technicolor biographical war film, filmed in panavision, which depicts the actions of john f. The extraordinary world war ii story of shipwreck and survival that paved john f. Italeri 5 scale pt 109 near the end of april 1943, a young u. Pt 109 is a revolutionary naval sim for its time that went by largely unnoticed, although it attracted a minor following on the macintosh, the games original release format. Pt109 earned famed under the command of lieutenant junior grade john f. It came out in june 1963, just five months before kennedy was.
Published by mcgrawhill book company, new york 1961. Pt 109 is a classic torpedo boat simulation, set in the world war ii. Kennedy 19171963, the 35th president of the united states, is a particularly revered figure of the 20th century, less for his deeds while in office than the fact that his presidency was tragically cut short. The seventh 40ton motor torpedo boat mtb built there, she was launched on 20 june, delivered to the navy on 10 july 1942, and fitted out in the new york naval shipyard at brooklyn. Pt 109 was a pt boat patrol torpedo boat last commanded by lieutenant junior grade john f. The tale of that coconut is the heroic story of pt 109. Jfks night of destiny, william doyle makes the case that john f kennedy would not have reached the presidency without the the pt 109 incident.
Kennedy jfk as an officer of the united states navy in command of motor torpedo boat pt109 during the pacific war of world war ii. Kennedys heroic actions that saved his crew and a fascinating examination of how that extraordinary episode shaped the future pr. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite reads in more than a. Kennedy cliff robertson congratulates his crew on passing inspection then, with ensign thom ty hardin takes the boat our for its first test, in pt 109, 1963, from the book by robert j. Dec 18, 2005 they just were not planked as grossly as the revell model shows them. William doyles pt109 is a masterfully written book on john f. Commander william liebenow, the man who rescued jfk and the pt 109 crew in august 1943. It was published in 1961 and was the book upon which the movie pt 109 was based. Pt 109 belonged to the pt 103 class, hundreds of which were completed between 1942 and 1945, by elco, in bayonne, new jersey. President kennedy wrote its author a journalist and washington, dc reporter a letter of appreciation telling him that he had read it with great interest and find it to be a highly accurate account of the events of the war.
Travel aboard our pt 109 boat patrol on the upper dells of the wisconsin river. Aug 01, 2012 to suggest that the pt 109 was sunk merely as an act of fate, diminishes the role of the captain and crew in the protection of their boat. Martinsons dramatization of the future presidents war efforts, kennedy uses his family name to put himself in the action instead of shirking his duties. Pt 109 robert donovan john f kennedy hardcover 1961 book. As captain of pt 105, the author was in the same battle. The author traveled to the south pacific to the location where the ramming of kennedys pt boat patrol torpedo by a japanese warship split his ship in two and started the whole ordeal of life and death for lieutenant kennedy and his crew. Patrol torpedo boat pt109, the boat commanded by john f.
Other photos in victor chuns excellent book on us pt boats during wwii seem to show canvas applied over the fore deck and painted down. In 43 they put to sea thirteen men and kennedy aboard the pt 109 to fight the brazen enemy and off the isle of olasana in the straight beyond naru a jap destroyer in the. Admittedly small and vulnerable, pt boats were, nevertheless, fastthe fastest craft on the water during world war iiand dick kereseys account of these tough little fighters throws new light on their contributions to the war effort. Pt 109 by robert john donovan was published as john f. Pt 109 john f kennedy in world war ii powells books. The book pt 109 is about jfk before his presidency. Kennedy when it was rammed by the japanese destroyer amagiri on august 2, 1943. The account of the harrowing days after the sinking of the pt 109 that best and most accurately captures jfks heroics can be found in the chris matthews book. An american epic of war, survival, and the destiny of john f. Pt 109 by robert john donovan goodreads share book. This is an actual 1st printing first edition not book club edition book of pt 109. Pt 109 by robert donovan abebooks passion for books. Sixty years later, the story of pt109 still captivates.