P.T.109
John C Mabbett (cactusjack@JUNO.COM)
Sat, 23 Nov 1996 11:00:44 PST
Reference Jack McKillop's statement about P.T.109. MacArthur was in
command
of all forces in this area at this time. Earlier and later we were under
Admiral
Halsey.
A formal investigation was held on the loss of P.T.109. (Derived from
Intelligence
Officer Memo to ComMTB Flot One of 22 August 1943, by Lieutenants (jg)
Byron
R. (Wizzer) White and J.C. McClure both of USNR, on the basis of
interrogation
of the survivors. Made available by the Office of Navel History,
Department of the
Navy.) Rather strange thing as loss of aircraft, tanks, and other minor
weapon
systems was normally ignored. Only Battleships, Carriers, Cruisers and
major
weapon systems were investigated. Board of Inquiry headed by a Naval
Officer
by the name of Byron White, who years later was appointed to the Supreme
Court by President Jack Kennedy.
Jack Kenney was to be charge with Cowardice in face of the Enemy,
Desertion of
his Command and a number of other charges. President Roosevelt
intervened as
Joe Kennedy was Roosevelts chief fundraiser. Jack Kenney was returned to
the
U.S. and cashiered out of the navy.
Any soldier or sailor knows a basic rule of command is you don't leave
your
post, you send someone else. Especially if you have a collegiate
swimming
champion in your command.
P.T.109 had search radar.
Name of Japanese ship was Amagiri (Hibiki type destroyer of the Fubbuki
class)
and was commanded by Commander Katsumori Yamashiro (b? died January
1986).
Destroyer Flotilla led by Capt. Tameichi Hara in the Shigure. Two other
destroyers named Gizo and Hagikaze. They were on a freighter mission
loaded
with 900 troops and 120 tons of supplies.
"CactusJack" (Cactus was the code-name for Guadalcanal.) And the name
originally was Guadalcanar but some newsman misspelled it. There was no
canal
on the Island, just Japs and headhunters.
CactusJack@Juno.com