USS Iowa -- BB-61

Turret #2 Exploded & killed 47 Sailors. April 19th, 1989.
The USS Coral Sea was involved in the same joint training exercise, and sent EOD & Corpsmen to clear the turret.
The month previous, they [the USS Iowa] had given us a firepower demonstration, and I captured photos of one of the last times the guns were fired. I didn't even know it until a year later, when I developed all of my 'cruise' photos from the last "Med Cruise" the Coral Sea ever made.

My "Tributes" section on my website is:
http://www.dotzen.org/tributes/index.html

Fair Winds and Calm Seas ever after. God Bless the US Veterans.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Battleship
• Aircraft
• Carrier
• Navy
• Iowa
• Military

[teller121]

The ugly truth is that with everything/one blown up/dead, NCIS couldn't prove the "scorned gay lover suicide" theory even if true. Therefore, navy apologized not because theory was "debunked," but because it was politically incorrect, esp. in light of not having overwhelming evidence...EVEN IF IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE BEST THEORY.

[mtnmark]

@teller121 -- Myself and many of the crews of both ships will tell you - HOGWASH. It was caused by very old gunpowder and a spark... please read all of the previous notes, and you will see this is NOT TRUE. Debunked a LONG time ago.

[teller121]

@mtnmark 1) Nothing in previous notes proves anything.

2) I'm not research expert but it seems strange that something you say is "Hogwash" was the theory put out by the navy at first. Why? They wanted to bash gays, or was there evidence of this being the cause? 3) As far as 40 y.o. powder, it seems incredible the navy wouldn't have prevented this when Iowa was recommissioned by issuing NEW powder, esp., on material so sensitive that gunners had to where special clothes to prevent sparks.

[mtnmark]

@teller121 -- You've obviously haven't served in the USN, your point 3 proves this. This video is a tribute to the brave men who DIED serving our country.

You are missing the entire point of the video.

Go "gay bashing" somewhere else, or I will have to block you & delete your posts...

God Bless America.

[mtnmark]

@ttrompeter11 You have been blocked for your disrespect to this country's Military. Those were brave men that died, to protect YOUR freedom.

[rock7829]

@teller121 i agree with mtnmark..you don't know your elbow from your butt-hole dude. my best friend was killed in that explosion. and i saw both of the videos that the USN put out and all of the paperwork and everything else. it was clearly a naval mistake that should have never happened. God rest the IOWA 47 and all other service men and women. and btw get your facts STRAIGHT pal before you get your tail out of joint. your are a freaking idiot. sorry mtnmark for blowing my top. i apologize.

[THOMAS81Z]

they were brave men !!!! they should be honored !!

[teller121]

@fuelman524 Years after this incident, two of Pres. Reagan's refurbished Iowa-class BBs pumped 1800+ 16" shells'' into the target zone without incident in the '91 Gulf War. (They had missiles mounted on them, as well.) Prior to the Iowa incident, I can't find record of an incident even during WWII where an Iowa-class BB had a cataclysmic explosion in a main gun turret. I'm just saying these things had a pretty good track record and a lot of navy brass with BB experience signed off on them.

[43sabastin]

I was aboard the Coral Sea when that was occuring. It was a very sad and somber time.

[Tralgit]

@mtnmark Found it thanks, 40 years old powder bags? It's a crime.