Theresa Mitchell Webster photo:
SOUTH YARMOUTH – The Coast Guard commander who led the massive search operation following the 1999 plane crash that killed John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and her sister will share his firsthand account during a special book presentation and signing in South Yarmouth next week.
Thirwood Place will host Captain W. Russell “Russ” Webster and maritime historian Theresa Mitchell Webster on Thursday, November 12, at 1 p.m. for a discussion of their new book, The Last Flight: The Untold Story of the Search for JFK Jr. and the Race Against the Atlantic.
The event is free and open to the public and will feature a multimedia presentation and book signing.
The book, published by Harper Select, provides a detailed account of the federal search operation launched after Kennedy’s aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Martha’s Vineyard on July 16, 1999.
Kennedy was piloting the plane from New Jersey with his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, aboard when the aircraft disappeared. The tragedy sparked a massive search involving the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy and other federal agencies as the nation watched for developments.
Captain Webster, who directed the search operation, offers a behind-the-scenes account of the mission, including the challenges faced by rescue personnel, the coordination among federal agencies and the intense public scrutiny surrounding the disappearance.
Theresa Mitchell Webster photo
“Every treatment of JFK Jr.’s life ends when his plane crashed off Martha’s Vineyard the night of July 16, 1999, and this is where our book begins,” Webster said.
The authors describe the operation as the largest and most expensive search conducted for private citizens involved in a small airplane crash in American waters.
Drawing on firsthand accounts, official reports and previously uncovered information, the book examines the logistical and emotional challenges of locating the missing aircraft and recovering its passengers.
It also explores the experiences of Coast Guard personnel, Navy divers, sonar operators and other individuals involved in the mission, along with the political pressures and difficult decisions faced by those overseeing the search.
Theresa Mitchell Webster said the book is intended to document both the historical significance of the operation and the dedication of those who participated.
“The Last Flight is a work of contemporary maritime and aviation history. But it’s also the story of how humans in public service rose to their highest levels of professional abilities and humane compassion to respectfully recover and lay to rest three people who perished in the prime of their lives, including a son of a beloved slain president,” she said.
The book also examines lingering questions surrounding the crash and provides a historical perspective on an event that drew international attention and renewed public interest in the Kennedy family’s history.
The November 12 presentation at Thirwood Place will give attendees an opportunity to hear directly from both authors about the search and the research behind the book.
Admission is free, but seating is limited. Reservations can be made by calling 506-760-9631. Copies of The Last Flight will be available for purchase at the event, with cash or check accepted
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