In April 1943, Kennedy was assigned to Motor Torpedo Squadron TWO, and on April 24 he took command of "PT-109", which was based at the time on Tulagi Island in the Solomons. On the night of August 1–2, in support of the New Georgia campaign, "PT-109" was on its 31st mission with fourteen other PTs ordered to block or repel four Japanese destroyers and floatplanes carrying food, supplies, and 900 Japanese soldiers to the Vila Plantation garrison on the southern tip of the Solomon's Kolombangara Island. Intelligence had been sent to Kennedy's Commander Thomas G. Warfield expecting the arrival of the large Japanese naval force that would pass on the evening of August 1. Of the 24 torpedoes fired that night by eight of the American PT's, not one hit the Japanese convoy. On that dark and moonless night, Kennedy spotted a Japanese destroyer heading north on its return from the base of Kolombangara around 2:00 a.m., and attempted to turn to attack, when "PT-109" was rammed suddenly at an angle and cut in half by the destroyer "Amagiri", killing two "PT-109" crew members.