IntheaftermathoftheJapaneseattackonPearlHarbor,themembersofaPTboatsquadronpatrolPhilippinewatersandattackJapaneseshipsThePTboatinitiallyhadlittlerespectfromseniorNavyofficersbuttheirmaneuverabilityandspeedhoweverquicklychangetheirmindsAstheJapaneseadvanceacrossthePhilippines,thePTboatsbecomeessentialinevacuatingtheseniorpersonnelincludingGeneralMacArthur