This Day in History: 1943-08-02

Lt. John F. Kennedy’s PT-boat 109 sinks after being rammed in the middle of the night by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri off the Solomon Islands. (The future President was credited with saving members of the crew; he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism, and also received the Purple Heart for injuries he had received.)  British RAF Sunderland seaplanes sink German submarines U-706 & U-106.  Around 300 Jewish prisoners at the Treblinka Concentration Camp in Poland escaped after their attempt to take over the camp failed.  Two-thirds of the prisoners were eventually executed by the Nazis.  Surviving prisoners were ordered to dismantle the camp, and upon completion, they were executed by the German SS and Police authority.