The PT-796, nicknamed Tailfeather, is a historic Higgins-designed motor torpedo boat built for the United States Navy at the very end of World War II. Commissioned in July 1945, this 78-foot vessel was constructed primarily of spruce and mahogany, engineered for blistering speeds and quick maneuverability rather than heavy armor. Armed with a lethal combination of four torpedoes, depth charges, automatic cannons, and machine guns, the PT boat was designed for stealthy night attacks against enemy shipping and coastal targets. While the war in the Pacific ended before Tailfeather could see active combat, she served a critical post-war role in a development squadron, testing experimental equipment, evaluating specialized weapons systems, and occasionally taking part in high-profile naval ceremonies.
Following her decommissioning in 1970, PT-796 achieved lasting historical distinction as one of the extremely rare surviving artifacts of the Navy's wartime mosquito fleet. Her post-service legacy includes a notable appearance in 1961 during the presidential inauguration parade of John F. Kennedy, where she was towed through the streets of Washington, D.C., painted with the hull number "PT-109" to honor the President's wartime command. Recognizing her immense heritage value, the vessel was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Today, she is preserved inside an enclosed, air-conditioned exhibit building at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts, serving as a meticulously restored tribute to the courage and legacy of the PT boat crews of World War II.