Into the Dark Water: The Story of Three Officers and Pt-109
Made famous by her final commanding officer, John F. Kennedy, PT-109 is one of the most celebrated naval vessels in American history. Behind the familiar account of the future president and the boat's violent demise is its little-known record under two previous officers during the swirling battles around Guadalcanal. In these battles, America's small, fast-boat flotillas would sally out to probe the Imperial Japanese Navy's strength, vying with opposing destroyers whose larger armaments were able to blast a PT boat to pieces. It was a constant hit-and-run and dodging between searchlights across Iron Bottom Sound as the PT boats darted in among the enemy convoys, like a "bar-room brawl with the lights turned out."
The actions of commanders Bryant Larson and Rollin Westholm with PT-109 and its crew hold second to none in the chronicles of US Navy daring. They battled against the Japanese troop-carrying barges and stealthy seaplanes trying to catch the PT boats' wakes from above in this most deadly game of hide-and-seek. Under its third and final commander, John F. Kennedy, PT-109 met its end as a Japanese destroyer suddenly emerged from a dark mist and rammed it in half. Kennedy was able to shepherd his crewmen to refuge, only losing two men. His unsurpassed gallantry and perseverance can not resist retelling.
| ISBN/SKU | 9781612007120 |
| Imprint | Casemate Publishers |
| Language | English |
| Format | Paperback |
| Pages | 288 |
| Year of Pub. | 2019 |
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