JFK's WWII era patrol boat is raised from Harlem River
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- čas přidán 14. 06. 2020
- From the mud and muck of the Harlem River, a piece of American history has been uncovered.
The MTA recently discovered the main hatchway from a World War II-era warship believed to be the remains of PT-59, a patrol boat captained by a young naval officer named John F. Kennedy.
"This is the patrol boat that an American president served on for three months in combat in World War II," said William Doyle, Author of PT-109. "Not only that, but John F. Kennedy rescued at least 10 Marines under fire on this boat. It's an astonishing archaeological find."
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#JFK #KENNEDY #history
This is truly the PT-59 JFK's second and final command in the Navy. Very sad that when she was sold off in the 70s, history wasn't on anyone's minds. Many people knew about it for the last 46 years, no one did a thing until it got "in the way" of the MTA. Sad she was forgotten about all these years.
I wonder if Aristotle bought it just to sink it.
If I remember right, it was a clerical error, where it was mistakenly identified as PT-95, or something, for a long time. Otherwise, I think it would have been taken care of, over the years.
I bet MTA wished the secret never came to light so it didn’t delay their project
Actually, PT-59 was Kennedy's third boat. At Melville, Rhode Island, where he served briefly an an instructor at the PT boat school, he commanded PT-102, a Huckins built PT. Then when he went to the South Pacific, he was given command of the 109, then after the loss of that boat, he asked for and was given the 59.
@@ronaldrobertson2332 we learn something everyday!
I lined my yard with pieces of shipwrecks that washed up during storms which is technically a federal crime on the Outer Banks but I kept a notebook with time, date and how far I was from a ramp. I started that after many pieces were burned in beach fires by tourists that didn't know better. Because of them I started researching what I could, before internet, because the different ship building techniques are very interesting to me.
Commend the spirit if not legality.
@@cap5856 National Park for one and something something historic relics something something.
@@cap5856 Of course.
@@cap5856 Its like container ships which
lose cargo overboard due to storms.
Which if people ashore access the
shipping containers their content
is still owner by those who paid for its
transport. And that applies to derailed
railroad boxcar content, air cargo that
crashes, interstate commerce that an
accident might spill, your personal
jewelry plucked-off by thieves if you
are found senseless in a car wreck..
Do unto others as you would have
others do to you.
Right there with you! We found the wooden hub of a wagon wheel with partial spokes along Lake Superior shore. We were near Temperance State Park.
Used to watch PT-109 at my grandfathers house. He was in the Korean War. Being born in the eighties, it didn’t really make sense till much later in life. Their sacrifice, our complacency…
Fishermen were always getting hung up at a certain place at the end of my favorite fishing dock, so we'd warn new guys when we could. One of those guys was an old shrimp boat captain who told us the hangup was probably pieces of the old shrimp boat that sank there in the 60's. He explained that the dock was used by lots of shrimpers to offload their catch and berth their ships. The spot at the end was reserved for an extra large shrimp boat that would go out for a month or more at a time. The captain of that boat died and his family, who didn't fish, fought over his possessions. While they fought for years in court the old ship slowly took on water and sank while still tied to the dock. No one wanted it after that and the bay in that area was too shallow for newer bigger boats, so the dock was used by locals for fishing. Eventually time and weather beat the old boat down below the waterline and it was forgotten until this old gentlemen told us the story. He even had a picture that he brought back, showing the old boat in all it's glory, tied up at the end of the dock. I lived nearby and the day after Hurricane Ike blew through the tide went out a lot further than normal. I walked to the end of the dock and there in the mud was the old boat engine with lots of fishermen's lines wrapped around it. There was a few boards left, but mostly it was just the old motor. I took several pictures from different angles, thinking I'd give the old captain some copies if he ever came back. But, he never did come back that I know of. Stories like this abound and many are never told until someone old brings it up or some construction project discovers the remains. I'm glad they're retrieving JFK's old boat, as history is a thing to remember...not something to cancel or tear down just because you didn't like something about it. History doesn't care about your feelings, it just is what it is!
I could not agree with you more Sir!........May I!......."history is a thing to remember...not something to cancel or tear down just because you didn't like something about it. History doesn't care about your feelings, it just is what it is"! Absolute Fact right here!! If it is erased and forgotten, it could be repeated. This includes the atrocities!
Very well put. Thank You
Thank you for sharing this. Times change, but history never will.....
Uhhh that's not mud....Props to the divers that jumped into that water.
Currently in Fall River, MA undergoing conservation measures at Battleship Cove.
Appreciate the information.
I doubt they find much that was original to the boat outside of the basic hull itself. The three Packards were likely swapped out and driven by two screws instead of three. The cabin was probably enlarged and interior reconfigured. It certainly is historical but the bits and pieces that are authentic might take up a small display in the local maritime or war museum.
She was called 'Sea Queen V' in 1970 as some kind of tour boat
Good luck putting that thing back together.
It looks like 'Walsh' got PT109/PT59 details mixed up. PT109 is deep in the Pacific. PT59 is deep in- whatever that is.
PT-109 is in less than 100 feet of water and there is actually a fair amount of it left. After getting sliced in half the stern sank almost instantly. The front half sank the next day less that a half mile from the stern. Seriously, I've seen the pictures of PT-109 and she's in better shape than this rotted pile of garbage.
@@Easy-Eight You are in error, sir. The 109 sank in about 2,000 feet of water and was almost intact. It was the starboard side that was sliced off by the "Amigiri". Robert Ballard, who found "Titanic", found and video taped the remains of the 109; you can barely make out the chart house and the forward .50 cal turret shoved into the after turret. The wreck is heavily encrusted with sealife. They also found and identified one of the boat's torpedo tubes.
@@ronaldrobertson2332 you're right. It's deeper.
@@Easy-Eight For a complete story on the discovery, National Geographic did a special on one of the cable channels a few years ago. They even interviewed one of the natives who helped rescue Kennedy and led him to a waiting PT (157?) to pick up the rest of his crew.
PT boats and their war record is a hobby of mine. They're the unsung heroes of WW II.
@@ronaldrobertson2332 I've been to Plum Pudding Island one of the most beautiful locations in the Solomon Islands chain. This was back in 2004 whilst with RAMSI on Guadalcanal. I remember they had an information board with pictures taken on the sea floor, and yes the torpedo tubes were the only thing really recognizable in the wreckage. What struck me was how deep it is around the island this was explained to us by some of our tour group who snorkelled of shore in the crystal clear shallow water which just seemed to dropped away into darkness. From standing on shore you could see the change in colour from clear to an almost inky blue/black colour. Just an hour before we had been to the final resting place of a Grumman Hellcat fighter in shallow waters which you could see from the surface.
It was so important it was under water encased in mud for 46 years.
“Things don't just happen. They are made to happen.” -J.F.K.
How'd it get in the river? Did he let Teddy drive it?
A carpenter named Frank who worked for my father told me he once owned an old PT boat near NYC that sank while at anchor. Probably sank in the late 60s or early 70s.
*You remember where Frank's boat sank or where it was moored? Thanks Wes!*
@@1nvisible1 All I remember is that he built some kind of superstructure on it and it was moored in a river when it sank. He lived in NYC so I imagine it was somewhere around there. I also believe that he may of mentioned that he replaced the engines and put in diesels. That's about all I remember.
A friend of mine's father had one on the Mississippi gulf coast that he had bought surplus and made into a yacht. It was destroyed in Hurricane Camille.
i dont think that how the individual bits being hauled up and just put in a container is going to help rebuild it. they should of placed a coffer dam around it. pumped out the water and then cataloged where each bit is found. its just making the renovation far worse than it could be.
Ballard found Kennedy's PT 109 somewhere else some years back.
Off Gizo, solomon islands
As a sailor, I'm offended by calling a boat a ship.
Yeah I agree. It's basically a dingy with torpedoes. I served on a sub. We didn't call them ships. We called them boats.
Have to admire the effort but really wonder if what was left of the original after likely modifications and then the subsequent years of neglect and decay will result in much of value.
This historic vessel under the command of LT. Kennedy is a worthy historic vessel for restoration, or reconstruction, this boat under Kennedys command saved over 75 marine raiders , at night in heavy weather from three disabled LCVPL's from the windward side of a Japanese held Island . The boats ( GB.-59) history is incredible.
Ahh, yes! Thank you. Kennedy and his crew had converted the 59 into a gunboat, as well as PT's 60 and 61.
Very cool!
Glad to see Battleship Cove involved, spent many overnights there with the Scouts on the USS Mass. They have two preserved PT Boats and are prob one of the few experts at this type of restoration. But it seems ittle will be recovered for a complete resto. Prob enough for some type of display.
The waterfront museum in Buffalo is also restoring a PT boat, the older version I believe.
The 59 was a PT-20 class 77-ft Elco.
The battleship Massachusetts huh? Want to be really impressed? If you get the chance take a tour of an Iowa class battleship, I suggest the battleship Missouri. I spent 3 years on her as a 16 inch gunnersmate. Keep one thing in mind though. The surrender plaque you see on the Missouri today is a copy of the original.
National PT Boat Museum is part of Battleship Cove. Part of the museum is actually located aboard the Massachusetts.
@@samuelschick8813 Shipmate, all the fast battleships are impressive. Although the Iowa Class were bigger and faster than their predecessors, both the North Carolina and South Dakota Classes had a much more extensive combat history than any of the Iowas. I have been aboard New Jersey and Iowa during their reactivation and I was impressed. However, I was more impressed with the visits to Massachusetts and Alabama that have been preserved in their original World War II configuration. OSCS(SW) USN RET'D 1978-2002
@@patrickmccrann991, Senior chief. I started out on an LST which at the time was considered a joke ship in the navy. Spent 3 years on that ship out of 32nd st. When I stepped aboard the Missouri the quality of the build between the older ships and the LST/modern ships was clearly visible.
While in Long Beach on the Missouri the Jersey was in dry dock and the Peleliu was moored a few docks over. Had a running joke about the Jersey:
" What is the Jersey?"
" The spare parts bin for the Missouri."
But the Peleliu ( LHA 5)was the butt of jokes for both the Jersey and the Missouri and known as building 5. Three years on the Missouri and never once did the Peleliu get underway, something was always broken. Then comes the day the Peleliu is to leave port and word spreads through the Missouri. That day the Peleliu was in her regular spot next pier over and we were moored on the other side of our pier so the side toward Peleliu was empty.
So there we stand watching the Peleliu get ready and listening to the orders over the 1MC:
" Prepare to get underway."
" Single up all lines."
" Take in all lines."
" Underway shift colors."
then it happened deep inside the Peleliu BOOM.
The tugs switched sides fast and pushed the Peleliu to the empty side of our pier:
" Moored, shift colors"
One of the new boiler had exploded with no injuries. Years later after the Missouri was decommed we had a ships reunion in Pearl and what did we see at the base across the harbor? To our amazement there sat the Peleliu, start the jokes about an expensive tow to get her there. " Look, it's building 5!!!!"
THANK YOU.
Somehow I was expecting to watch a *"JFK's WWII era patrol boat being raised from Harlem River"*
*Some assembly required :-)*
@@1nvisible1 Batteries not included.
So sad that they didn't protect this PT boat for posterity knowing its history
I doubt there is much left of it, PT boats were mostly made of plywood. Probably only steel fittings are left.
It was truely sad on what happened to the entire PT Boat fleet and the end of World War Two. Burned! All lined up and torched!
You have to remember that the US Navy never has been known for being the brightest bulb in the lamp. Those boats could have been sold to private owners for quite a bit of money as they were so unique.
@@richardcline1337 They would have been a good tool for the River Boat in Vietnam. And yes, they could have sold them to private owners. My dream one day is to build one completely, Yes I know it will take a lot of time and money but in the end? It will be worth is
Alot did end up In private hands. Turned into pleasure craft.
The Canada and USA forces responsible for
building military roads to Alaska buried all
their construction vehicles to speed return
of their users to a more friendly climate.
Two small hills mark the burial sites.
Not quite all. My dad did a conversion job on a decommissioned PT boat, turning it into a yacht for a local businessman.
PT 59 was a 77’ S-class Patrol Torpedo Boat originally laid down as PTC-27 (Submarine Chaser) and reclassified as BPT-11 to be transferred to Britain under the Lend-Lease agreement. This particular order was cancelled and the boat was reclassified as PT-59.
Thank you for the clarification since the title of this video is very misleading.
This is a fantastic find.. I have to also say that it's a bit sad as well.. Had it more or less not gotten in the way of progress, the chance of the 59 being found would have been slim to none. I myself had never heard of this boat.. I was lead to believe that after the 109 was sunk , and J.F.K. had an on going back injury acquired in that wreck. I didn't know he went on to Captain another boat.. I seen the 109 movie a few times. Built many PT 109 models kits. A read a book or two about Mr. Kennedy U.S.N. as well as Kennedy The President.. And still never heard one thing about the 59.. I'm glad it's been found and recovered , so now more people will know about this important piece of forgotten history.. I'm certainly glad I found out.. 🇺🇸
Great find to a legendary war hero and later president
Fantastic!
Stop referring to it as a ship....
WOW 😯. That’s amazing!
Hahahahaha he wearing a mouth cloth outside.
Another PT boat is by the coney island creek in Brooklyn
Very cool to see this. Glad they didn't just raise it for scrap and care about it's history.
It's not a SHIP, it's a BOAT. Even as an "Earwitness," he still gets it wrong.
PT-Boats are, as the name suggests, boats. The phrase that “if it can be carried on a ship, it’s a boat” works for this since PT-boats were carried into theater on larger cargo ships.
WAAAAAAY COOL !!!
Geez, this boat should have recovered and restored years ago.
This pile of scrap won't be restored. There's nothing left to restore.
@E-Curb
Really? You can't just buff it out? Just get a can of compound and some rivets ...???
That's why I said "should have been".
(well I left out the word "been")
Amazing there is any thing left. Mud may have helped.
Why?
Great job guys! You are helping the legacy of John F Kennedy live on .he was one of my favorite presidents. His speeches were legendary. Awesome 👍.
Why...
It doesn’t look like they new how to get out mud they just ripped it a part that’s a same😞
A little hot melt glue and it should be ship-shape again!
Can you imagine if all of those PT boats had been brought home and converted into pleasure fishing boats. You can run out to the reef and no time have your lines down all the while telling stories about PT boats. And then have everybody back for dinner time. Instead they destroyed all of that artwork from Americans and all those trees
They were made of glued up marine grade plywood? There can't be much left of the wood bits. . .
Exactly.
@@filster1934 Thank you for the correction. I am *slightly more 'up' on the Commonwealth small patrol craft such as the various marks of the Fairmile boats (LCS, etc.) These boats are also extremely rare in today's world.
Actually, double planked mahogany.
The boat most associated with John Kennedy will always be PT-109
It was cut in half and sunk in the south Pacific!
How did it get in the Harlem River?
Was being used as a fishing and party boat after the war, caught on fire in the 1970s and sunk in the Harlem river
Yes
@@Legitcar117 Thanks.
Sounds like it may have been sunk because it was eating the owner financially. Those boats were very high maintenance. Most were busted up.
some ghetto guy probably stole it
Thought his boat was "PT 109?
Cool
Was JFK PT boat ever docked at Tremont Ave West between GW bridge and 207 th St bridge
I'd keep looking to raise what's also in the Harlem River.
That will buff out.
Why was it allowed to sink in the first place?
You gotta be kidding me...doesnt look like theres anything left to save, still, it'll be interesting to see what comes out of the mud, good luck to them and whatever they can find.
Bums me out it’s in pieces.
Sweet
It's not a ship! It's a boat! A PT boat. Later, they converted it to a gunboat.
Higgins or ELCO?
good question.
the drawing shown is a higgins, but they called it an 80 ft boat, which would be an elco.
maybe they need a couple ww2 geeks to help them sort it out.
PT-59 was a 77-ft Elco built boat. The 109 was an 80-ft Elco of a later class.
I thought PT 109 was blasted away out in the ocean!
Nope, just sliced into two parts. After the IJN destroyer cut it in half by ramming the stern caught fire and almost instantly sank. The front half of the boat lingered and sank from flooding inside of 24 hours later. You can find pictures of it.
More of our WWII equipment should have been preserved in general. Everything.
Cut up and scrapped, not just allowed to rust into oblivion.
That water must be super polluted.
Yeah, that’s not “Mud”.
It looks pretty rough shape too me!
Ran when parked
I thought it was sunk in the Pacific?
Why do reporters wear masks outside when the cameraman can be standing 20 feet away using its long lens. and other people are also 20 feet away.
I have a coin in my pocket with Kenndy's name on it...
T^he rescue they mentioned was done aboard the PT 109 before it met it5's fate!!! Kennedy commanded 59 after the 109 incident!!!
The movie PT-109 shows the rescue by Kennedy using the PT-109. However this rescue occurred after the sinking of the 109 and during the 3 months that Kennedy commanded the PG-59. (It was designated PG for Patrol Gunboat. They replaced the torpedo tubes with a lot of heavy caliber guns for use in hunting down and destroying the Japanese supply barges that plied the waters in and around the Solomon islands.) Kennedy was sent to recover the Marines because his boat was armed for bear and could lay down covering fire for the landing craft going in to pick up the marines. When one of the landing craft was disabled, Kennedy positioned his boat between the landing craft and the beach and picked up the survivors. He was able to clear the immediate area before running out of fuel... The navy had sent him out on this mission short of fuel, promising to send along other boats to help out and provide fuel once they had themselves been refueled. Fortunately, the boats arrived before the incoming tide caused the PG-59 to drift back within gun range of the Japanese on the beach. They then tossed Kennedy a line and towed him back to base.)
History
He was on another PT boat other than 109??
His second combat command. He was responsible for converting the PT boat into a heavily armed gunboat. (PT's 59, 60, and 61, to be exact.)
Its a boat, not a ship.
Glad I’m not one of those divers. That is some nasty Haz-mat infested water and mud. Had be worst than a sewer all the heavy metals,raw sewage that in that river at the time.
Jimmy Hoffa is down there too!!
JFK was on the PT 109
Sorry, but if you really think that you need to wear a mask while outdoors then I don't want to hear anything you have to say. Get help.
spending money on this??? unbelievable !!!
I have a rusty old can opener that once was used at the Kennedy house in Brookline, MA-is it worth anything?
It's fitting it sunk.
Intelligent comment.
Who funded this recovery and why did it happen. Really it was a wasted effort.
Why did it get in this condition if so historical ...cant fix stupid
Wow, so interesting and a valuable part of history, but for 46 year no one cared?
How do they know it's PT 59?? I'm not impressed
Not much good now, a bit late is it not?
Its so important, they waited 45 years to raise it. 🤣😂
It’s cool, but pt 109 is where the money is. Now that would be cool if someone raised her.
i dont remember this
GOD BLESS JFK...ask not............................
Love the outdoor rated masks.....
Really boat? Be honest and say “hatchway”
Too bad the rest of the city didn't sink into the mud.
I wouldn't go near that putrid hellhole river.
looks like a few pieces of rotted lumber.
What was the PT-109? Oh I spoke too soon 😉
I believe the boat’s designation was PT-109, not PT-59
Nope
Try watching the video
The 109 was sunk in the Solomon Islands; the 59 was Kennedy's 2nd boat.
his first boat...pt-109....marooned kennedy on an island.....suffice it to say....kennedys should NOT have been on the water
What makes you say that? The 80-ft Elco PT boat was a well built vessel. The 109 was sunk by a Japanese destroyer when they rammed her slicing off the starboard side and killing two of his crew. Kennedy rescued injured crewmembers and the spent the night floating on the slowly sinking remains of the boat. The next morning the swam to a tiny island and began a 9-day ordeal to survive and keep from being captured by the Japanese until rescued by PT-159.
@@filster1934 I know about Teddy and the Mary Jo incident..I haven't the time right now, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Are you kidding there is nothing left !!!
All the parts are not even original,the boat itself is worth nothing.
The Navy. burned most of the wooden WW2 boats.
Lol love how they were “wearing” masks.
🐑
@@normanalvarez5751 great response!!!
Looks like a waste of dough to me
its completely obliterated, its gonna be one of those jobs that losses funding like 70% of other restorations sadly
Hey genius you’re outside you don’t need the mask on!
Incredible waste of time, money and energy! Better off left laying where it was. This is not a boat, it is debris and nothing more.