Patton's schooner built by John G. Alden

In 1939, then Colonel George S. Patton commissioned the sailing schooner When and If, a private vessel designed by naval architect John G. Alden as Design No. 669. The boat was built by F.F. Pendleton in Wiscasset, Maine, and completed shortly before the outbreak of World War II in Europe. Patton reportedly chose the name When and If to reflect his intention to sail the world with his wife Beatrice when and if he returned safely from the coming war. The schooner measured approximately 63 feet in length and was constructed as a wooden gaff rigged cruising vessel suitable for long distance voyages. The schooner was delivered in 1939 and used by Patton and his family for sailing along the U.S. East Coast before American entry into World War II. With Patton’s increasing military responsibilities after 1940, the vessel saw limited use during the war years. After Patton’s death in December 1945, ownership passed within the family, and the schooner remained a notable personal artifact associated with his life outside military service. The When and If later underwent restoration efforts decades after the war and has continued to operate as a sailing vessel, preserving its original design and historical connection to Patton. Its commissioning in 1939 stands as one of the last major personal projects he completed before entering senior wartime command.