In the summer of 1944, as Allied forces pressed forward on the Western Front, Navy Lieutenant Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. completed his 50th mission—double the requirement for a full tour of duty. Rather than returning home, he chose to volunteer for a clandestine operation ominously named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
In a letter to his parents, Joe Jr. mentioned his new assignment with an air of mystery. “I am going to do something different for the next three weeks,” he wrote. “It is secret and I am not allowed to say what it is, but it isn’t dangerous, so don’t worry.” His father, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., who had reservations, replied cautiously, advising his son not to push his luck.
Tragically, just three days after his father’s reply, Joe Jr.’s mission ended in disaster. The plane he was piloting, hollowed out and packed with explosives, exploded mid-air over England, killing both him and his co-pilot. The mission, part of Operation Aphrodite, aimed to convert battle-worn bombers into uncrewed, radio-controlled missiles—an early precursor to modern drones. The operation’s failure was a devastating blow to both the war effort and the Kennedy family.
The Impact of Joe Jr.’s Death
Joe Jr.’s untimely death at just 29 years old shattered his father’s dreams of seeing him rise to the presidency. Groomed for political greatness from birth, Joe Jr. had already made his mark as a delegate at the 1940 Democratic National Convention and had plans to run for Congress after the war. His death forced his younger brother, John F. Kennedy, to step into the spotlight. John famously remarked, “Now the burden falls on me,” acknowledging the weight of family expectations.
Previously dismissed as too carefree and physically unfit for a political career, John would go on to secure seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, ultimately becoming the 35th President of the United States. Reflecting on his path to the presidency, John later said, “Just as I went into politics because Joe died, if anything happened to me tomorrow, my brother Bobby would run. And if Bobby died, Teddy would take over for him.”
The Early Life of Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.
Born on July 25, 1915, Joe Jr. was the firstborn of Joe Sr., a wealthy businessman and prominent Massachusetts politician, and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, the daughter of a Boston mayor. As the eldest of nine children, Joe Jr. displayed leadership qualities from an early age. His mother, Rose, noted in her memoir that he possessed a natural forcefulness that marked him as a leader. Joe Jr.’s younger siblings looked up to him, and he set a strong example by excelling in both academics and athletics.
Despite his accomplishments, Joe Jr. was not immune to the mischief of youth, often teaming up with his younger brother John for pranks. The brothers attended Choate, a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut, where Joe Jr. played football and edited the yearbook. Before attending Harvard, his father’s alma mater, Joe Jr. spent a year at the London School of Economics, where he studied under the renowned Jewish political scientist Harold Laski.
Joe Jr.’s Complex Views and Military Service
During his time in Europe, Joe Jr. witnessed the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. He observed their policies, including the forced sterilization program, and expressed disturbing support for some of these measures, praising them as a way to rid the world of “disgusting specimens.” Despite his close relationship with his intellectually disabled sister, Rosemary Kennedy, Joe Jr. held conservative views on disability and expressed antisemitic sentiments in letters to his father, reflecting a darker side of his character.
Joe Jr. graduated from Harvard in 1938 and joined his family in London, where his father served as the U.S. ambassador. He briefly traveled to Madrid during the Spanish Civil War, sparking concern from his family, who feared for his safety. Back in the U.S., Joe Jr. made headlines as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention, where he courageously voted against incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt, believing no president should serve more than two terms.
In 1941, Joe Jr. decided to leave law school and enlist in the Navy, motivated in part by his father’s opposition to the U.S. entering World War II. John followed suit, joining the Naval Reserve despite back issues that could have disqualified him. As the war escalated, both brothers completed their naval training and prepared for active duty.
A Legacy of Bravery and Sacrifice
Joe Jr.’s military career was marked by bravery and a determination to prove himself. While his younger brother John was celebrated as a hero after his PT boat was destroyed by a Japanese destroyer, Joe Jr. felt a deep need to make his mark. His intense focus on taking on dangerous missions earned him the admiration and respect of his peers.
By May 1944, Joe Jr. had completed 25 missions, enough to return home, but he chose to stay in Europe and continue fighting. He volunteered for Operation Aphrodite, a top-secret mission to destroy German bunkers in occupied France. The mission required piloting a bomb-laden aircraft to a designated altitude before parachuting to safety, leaving the aircraft to be guided by remote control to its target.
On August 12, 1944, Joe Jr. took off on what would be his final mission. Eighteen minutes into the flight, the plane exploded, killing him and his co-pilot instantly. The accident was described as the largest explosion seen until the atomic bomb, leaving no trace of their bodies.
Conclusion
The tragic death of Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. was a turning point in the Kennedy family’s history. His sacrifice during World War II not only marked the loss of a promising political figure but also reshaped the destiny of his younger brother, John F. Kennedy, who would go on to become one of the most iconic presidents in American history. Joe Jr.’s story is a powerful reminder of the personal costs of war and the unfulfilled potential that can be lost in its wake.
