1945 — Jan 2, Sun Oil Tanker Sunoco Fire and Explosion, off Sandy Hook, NJ — 10

–10 AMMW. U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged on Eastcoast of U.S., and Gulf of Mexico…WWII.
–10 Chester Times, PA. “Two Killed, Eight Missing in Sun Tanker Explosion,” 1-2-1945, p. 1.

Narrative Information

American Merchant Marine at War:
“Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
“01/02/45 Sunoco Tanker Explosion Sunk & salvaged East coast Crew 10.”

Newspaper

Jan 2, Chester Times, PA: “Two men were killed, six were injured and eight are listed as missing following a fire and explosion aboard the Sun Oil motorship Sunoco, shortly before dawn this morning off Sandy Hook. There was a 16-man crew aboard…

“Carrying 15,000 barrels of liquid benzol, loaded at the Barber Asphalt Company dock, in Perth Amboy, the Sunoco was en route to the Point Breeze plant of the Atlantic Refining Company when the fire was discovered.

“First accounts said the ship was docked at Leonardo, N. J., and that it blew up while being towed away from the pier. Later dispatches reported that it was being towed from Perth Amboy to Philadelphia. The Sunoco was a diesel powered ship, and Charles R. Innis, Sun Oil Marine executive, said it may have tied up at Leonardo to await favorable weather conditions before starting its coastwise run to the Delaware Bay.

“Survivors were rescued from the water by Navy and Coast Guard craft patrolling the area. Two injured crewmen and the body of a third were found on a rubber life raft floating nearby. The bodies of two crew members, picked up at sea, were taken to the Army morgue, at Fort Monmouth. Two of the injured men were taken to the Army Sick Bay, at Sandy Hook, and four others are at the Earl Naval Dispensary, near Leonardo. N. J. Coast Guard vessels are continuing their search for other survivors.

“The New York City fireboat ‘Fire Fighter’ with Navy and Coast Guard fireboats, poured tons of water into the tanker as it floundered in flames some 4000 yards off shore in Sandy Hook Bay. By 9 a. m. the blaze was under control and the smoking hulk of the tanker was floating in the bay….

The Sun Oil Company operates, a number of motorships similar to the Sunoco in coastwise delivery service from the Marcus Hook and Delaware River refineries. They were built in the Chester yard of the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.” (Chester Times, PA. “Two Killed, Eight Missing in Sun Tanker Explosion,” January 2, 1945, p. 1.)

Sources

American Merchant Marine at War. U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged on Eastcoast of U.S, and Gulf of Mexico During World War II Eastcoast of U.S. (175 ships). Accessed 4-19-2021 at: http://www.usmm.org/eastgulf.html

Chester Times, PA. “Two Killed, Eight Missing in Sun Tanker Explosion,” January 2, 1945, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=95224036