A rare pair of relics from the ill-fated PT-44, destroyed Dec. 12, 1942 by the Japanese destroyers KAWAKAZE and SUZUKAZE resulting in the loss of all but two crewmen - including two who had transferred to the vessel only a few weeks earlier from the famous PT-109 which would later be commanded by John F. Kennedy. The relics include a shredded commissioning pennant from the vessel, now consisting of only the hoist, four stars, and a small section of one original red stripe. Also present is an almost equally tattered one-piece 48-star American flag that undoubtedly flew aboard the vessel, 21 x 14 in., a printed design with a sturdy cotton loop and tie sewn to the hoist. This flag, smaller than the regulation size issued to PT boats, may have flown from the stem or may have served as a temporary flag at some point in time. Also included is a snapshot of PT-44 in drydock, and a small printed felt souvenir: 'Join the Navy & Ride the Waves'. These relics emanate from the untouched footlocker of Navy Lt. Charles M. Melhorn, an officer aboard PT-44. PT-44 was commissioned on July 31, 1941 and served in Florida, the Caribbean, and off Panama until late 1942. She was then shipped to Tulagi, where she was active in the Solomons Campaign, especially in interdicting the Tokyo Express supply operation. On Dec. 12, 1942, PT-44 and other PT boats engaged Japanese destroyers and offloaded barrels of supplies while underway. The Japanese destroyers KAWAKAZE and SUZUKAZE opened up, and PT-44 was blown to pieces. PT-109 was involved in the same action, and picked up one survivor, while PT-40 picked up Lt. Charles M. Melhorn from the waters off a tiny islet. These two men were the sole survivors - nine others were lost, including Captain Freeland and an ensign who had transferred from PT-109 to PT-44 only two weeks earlier. We know that these relics could only have come from PT-44 as that was the sole vessel upon which Melhorn served prior to leaving for Navy flight training and further exploits aboard the USS COWPENS. It is doubtful that these were flying aboard the ship when she was sunk, for obvious reasons - they possibly originate from the ship's shakedown cruise or most likely from her service in the Caribbean and off Panama. Melhorn would later become a Navy aviator, leading the torpedo bomber attack that sunk the battleship HARUNA and earning him the Navy Cross.