The Coast Guard Mission of a Generation
The Coast Guard Mission of a Generation
On July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr.’s aircraft crashed into the Atlantic off Martha’s Vineyard. In the five days that followed, the U.S. Coast Guard led an exacting search and recovery operation involving NOAA, the Navy, and a range of federal partners.
Retired Coast Guard Captain W. “Russ” Webster, who served as Incident Commander for the operation, and historian and journalist Theresa Mitchell Webster share the story behind their book, The Last Flight: The Untold Story of the Search for JFK Jr. and the Race Against the Atlantic.
Drawing on firsthand experience and extensive research, they will explore the science, technology, coordination, and judgment required to carry out a complex mission at sea. This program moves beyond celebrity and speculation to focus on the people who did the work and the lasting lessons it offered for maritime safety, search and rescue, and ocean research.
Books will be available for purchase and signing before and after the talk. Join the authors at First Light Café from 4–5 p.m. before the program.
MVM Members: $15; Non-Members: $25
DETAILS
| Date | November 18, 2026 |
|---|---|
| From | 5:00 pm |
| To | 6:00 pm |
| Type | Talk |
| Venue | Martha’s Vineyard Museum |