Thursday, April 24, 2024

USS Bonefish (SS-582) Fire: Remembering The 20th Anniversary

There are stories behind the stories, and it usually takes awhile for the stories to get told. The internet is very good at this, and in the context of Naval History, the internet is excellent for telling stories like this:

Today is the 20th anniversary of the fire in the battery well aboard USS BONEFISH (SS-582), approximately 160 miles east of Mayport, FL, while the USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67), the USS CARR (FFG-52) and the BONEFISH were conducting training operations together.

As a result of the posting before, the aircrewman aboard the SH-3 Sea King from the KENNEDY has met with me and described the initial chaos from about 30 feet above the water, as he hoisted submariners to safety. He left a comment letting me know the record of the reports I had heard almost 20 years ago were not completely accurate. I was able to find and contact the then XO of the BONEFISH, who graciously spent his time typing up and forwarding his recollections.

Seven great reads in one place, Bravo Zulu xformed. Additional pictures available here.

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