(click on picture with blue border
for a larger view) |
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1945
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April 30, 1946 |
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While the following pictures and information is not
specifically about the Great Sitkin, the incident took place while the ship
was pier side Naval Ammunition Depot, Earle, NJ during cargo operations.
It shows how dangerous our job of handling ammunition was. |
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On April 30, 1946, USS Solar
(DE-221) was berthed at Leonardo Pier 1 to discharge ammunition.
Shortly after 11:30, three explosions blasted the ship near her Number 2
upper handling room. Her Number 2 gun was demolished and the bridge,
main battery director and mast were all blown aft and to starboard.
Both sides of the ship were torn open and her deck was a mass of flames.
One officer and six enlisted men perished and another thirty men were
injured, some very seriously. These pictures are posted to honor the
memory of the ship and her crew. |
Pulling into NAD Earle just prior to the
explosion |
Port side looking bow to stern |
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Starboard side from the water. Picture shows
the extreme destruction of the ship. The explosion folded the forward third
of the ship over at more than a 90 degree angle. |
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Jun
'46 - Dec '47 |
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Jan '47 - Atlantic cargo exchange
Caribbean ports visited were Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama City & Balboa
and Trinidad. |
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Last
updated on: 06/01/07 |
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