Burton Island (1955) -- Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination

[Michael]

Saturday September 10

69 43N, 141 14.1W

They're towing USS Gammon through ice and their towing wire parted once yesterday, and twice so far today.

1155 Received word by voice radio that USNS Miller developed 8' by 8" crack in hull. 5' of water in engine room. CTU 5.1.3 directing assistance.

2135 Released Gammon, returning to assist Miller on Course 120.
2320 Returned to vicinity of Merrick and Miller maneuvering to come close aboard to USS Merrick.
2330 Lying to.

The next day Burton Island patrols the anchorage which has 4/10 ice. At 0910 she's underway with Northwind who has Miller in tow. It takes 30 minutes before the tow wire needs repairs. At noon they're underway and she's escorting them to Barter Island. At 1550 Oschner, Earl F., ENC is transferred from USS Deliver for medical aid and diagnosis of a bleeding peptic ulcer, and who is admitted to sick bay.

At 1945 they reach Barter Island.

I haven't counted all the ships in the area, but it's probably around 15 or so. They're setting up the DEW line stations (Distant Early Warning). They are having their problems! As well as Northwind, "our" ship Storis is here, too.

[Michael]

These are the 46 ships seen in July, August and September on our mission to support/install DEW Line stations in Northern Alaska and Northern Canada:

Anchor Hitch
Arcadia Victory
ARS 23
Bittersweet
Clove HItch
Clover
Coastal Crusader
Coastal Nomad
Coddington
Honda Knot
Jumper Hitch
LST 561
LST 602
LST 618
LST 692
LST 742
LST 742
LST 742
LST 822
LST 827
LST 914
LST 922
LST 1072
LST 1146
Reef Knot
Rose Knot
Sailors Splice
Sorrel
Timber Hitch
USCGC Northwind
USCGC Storis
USNS Gammon
USNS Miller
USNS Pvt. Mann
USS Andromeda
USS Belle Grove
USS Current
USS Deliver
USS Grapple
USS Merrick
USS Merrill
USS Mount Olympus
USS Requisite
USS Safeguard
USS Staten Island
Valentine

[Randi]

What percentage of those did you tow?

[Michael]

116%

[Hanibal94]

What percentage of those did you chortle at the name?

[Randi]

Did you Deliver Mount Olympus, decorated with a Rose Knot, to your Valentine as Requisite despite the Current?

[Michael]

I did but, in spite of taking a Safeguard, I had to Grapple with a Bittersweet response!

[ggordon]

I believe several of those are Alaska Steamship Company ships for which the logs appear to be stored at the University of Washington library. Many of their ships were named after sailor's knots.

[Randi]

I did but, in spite of taking a Safeguard, I had to Grapple with a Bittersweet response!

[Michael]

23 October 1955
Pier 1, Berth 12, Long Beach Naval Shipyard

1312 Away fire and rescue party. Fire on USS Helena (CA75). Moored astern at bert 14.
1325 Secured from fire and rescue quarters.

[Michael]

Saturday, January 1, 1955
Pier 1, Berth 12, Long Beach Naval Shipyard

00 to 04 Moored starboard side to Pier 1 starting off this new year. Most of the crew is ashore and full of good cheer. Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach California is the place where the ship is moored and resting in all her grace with six standard mooring lines all doubled. Which are to hold her steady in case of trouble. All facilities from the pier we are receiving. To have the duty on the start of this new year is beyond believing. Now SOPA is RADM R. N. SMOOT, COMINPAC and is at the U. S. Naval Station to boot. Ships present are various units of the U. S. Pacific Fleet, harbor and district craft which seldom do we meet. The Captain is ashore, the Executive Officer is enjoying himself, too. The Navigator has the duty but wishing he was ashore too. To all good Sea-fearing men far and near we say calm seas throughout the year.

[Randi]

[An attempt at] The traditional New Year's Day poem!

[Michael]

I know it wasn't up to some of the better ones, but ...

[Michael]

Friday, January 7, 1955
Pier 1, Berth 12, Long Beach Naval Shipyard

1420 BLAIR, Donald T., 462 52 60, SA, USN while attempting to remove rat guard from mooring line, fell approximately 20 feet into water, striking floating camel.
Injuring himself as follows: Diagnosis, undetermined, possible fracture left wrist, abrasions left hip with possible fracture, contusions nose. Patient sent to Naval Station Infirmary, Long Beach, California for treatment.
1535 BLAIR returned aboard accompanied by ships doctor having been examined, x-rayed and given first aid at infirmary. Placed on binnacle list for approximately 24 hours.

It's not funny, but I love the line about striking a floating camel. It should be in Shipopoly.

From Wikipedia

A Ship camel is an external flotation tank that can be fitted to a ship to increase her buoyancy or reduce her draught. Its inner walls are concave and curve as to espouse the lines of the hull of the ship. The ship camel is partially sunk using ballasts, installed on ship, and water is then pumped out. The increased volume provided by the camels allow the system to float in a reduced draught.

[Randi]

[Michael]

Monday, April 11, 1955
54.97 -131.78

1318 Explosion in number one engine room.
1319 Sounded general quarters.
1319 Lost all power.
1328 Power back on.
1335 Fire out in number 1 engine room.
1339 All engines ahead two thirds, course 196 T, with number 3,5,6 engines in use. Number 2 engine out of commission.
1340 Secured from general quarters.
1414 Casualties in above noted explosion as follows: McCARTY, Edgar L. EN3, 388 69 86 USN, contusion right side of abdomen, rendered first aid and returned to duty. HARDY, Edward C. FN, 499 19 76 2^nd degree burns left forearm, treated and returned to duty. EMBRY, Edward B., ENFN, 288 56 95 USN, 2^nd degree burns left forearm, treated and returned to duty.

[Michael]

April 29, 1955
Bearing Sea, 62 31N, 175 23W.

1330 STAFFORD, Thomas J., 749 54 12, EN3, USN-Ul, was admitted to sick list this date for emergency surgery diagnosis - Appendicitis acute N.E.C. Diagnosis No. 5501.
1448 All engines stop lying to in ice for appendectomy in sick bay.
1717 Underway ...

[Michael]

Friday, May 20
64 18N, 168 18W

0834 sighted one dead sled dog in harness on medium ice floe.

[Michael]

Sunday, 5 June 1955
Latitude: 34 20N, Longitude: 120 12.5W

1115 A homing pigeon, serial no L-54-AU-52-Compton 601 landed on board. Visibility 500 yards.

You have to wonder how the pigeon found Burton Island in that fog. I also wondered where it started from. If it was flying back to Compton, California, it's 100 miles from home.

[Randi]

Homing Pigeons for Naval Communications