Hi
As far as plastic model kits are concerned, John F. Kennedy must be the most popular US President of all time. Figure kits, as well as ship models, have been made.
As the President, and his rocking chair, have already appeared a few times on Moonbase Central, I thought this set of PT-109 crew figures might be of interest - although JFK is not mentioned by name on the box or the instructions.
During WW2 the US Navy operated a large fleet of small, fast PT Patrol Torpedo boats. One of these, the PT-109, was commanded by a young Lieutenant (Junior Grade), named John F. Kennedy. This boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer on 2nd August 1943. Kennedy and most of his crew survived, and were eventually rescued, Kennedy winning the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for this action, as well as a Purple Heart for the injuries he received.
The PT-109 became famous, and over the years was the subject of a film (PT-109, released in 1963), and several model kits. Revell produced a 1/72nd scale kit in 1963, and a new version in 2018.
Other firms also released kits in various scales. Fine Molds even did a 1/350th scale double kit of the PT-109 and the Amagiri, the Japanese destroyer that sank her.
Italeri produced a massive 1/35th scale PT boat in 2006, and the PT-109 in 2012 - I am not sure if this is basically the same kit or a different model, as the Italeri box says NEW Moulds.
Back in 2008 Italeri released a general set of 1/35th scale US Navy crew figures for their WW2 PT boat kit. The PT Boat Crew set, No.5606, contained 10 figures in action poses, and wearing helmets, etc.
In 2014 they released another set of figures, this time the PT-109 Crew, No.5618, with 7 figures. These were in non-action poses, with two officers, and five Enlisted Men. One is swabbing down the deck with a broom, one is painting, and another is smoking a pipe.
The figures are all on a single sprue, moulded in light grey. The instructions are photographs of the assembled models (identified by the letter A to G), with a listing of which parts make up each figure. A photograph of the models also appears on one side of the box. Painting instructions are on the back of the box, in colour. There are some extra parts, such as different hats, so the figures can be given some variety. The arms can also be switched around.
Lt (j.g) Kennedy appears to be Figure A, the officer standing with his left hand in his pocket (second from left on the box top). The box art shows him bare-faced, but the figure is moulded wearing sunglasses. He comes in seven parts: head and body; two arms; two legs; cap; and pistol holster. The rest of the figures are similar.
This set adds to the 1/35th and 1/48th Tamiya Famous Generals set, which includes a model of General Eisenhower - another future US President.
This figure is much smaller than the famous Aurora model of President Kennedy sitting in a rocking chair, in the White House. That kit was to 1/12th scale, while the 1/35th scale Italeri model is around 2 inches tall.
Apart from kits of President Kennedy himself, and the PT-109, there are also kits of the aircraft carrier named after him - the John F. Kennedy, CV-67 (1968-2007). A second John F. Kennedy, CVN-79, is due to commission in 2024, and doubtless there will also be kits of this vessel.
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Paul Adams from New Zealand
Fascinating Paul. All new to me. I wonder what injuries JFK sustained? My Dad was on boats like these in the British Navy in WWII too. A teenager. Thanks for sharing Paul.
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