1948 — May 31, US Navy Carrier Kearsarge launch swamped, Hampton Roads, VA –30-31
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard Sep 26, 2023 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–30-31 Blanchard estimated death toll. The Navy notes 28 deaths in one place and approximately
31 in another. Other non-newspaper sources we cite below note 30. The AP of June 10
notes 30 bodies had been recovered as does the UP of June 13. I have only been able to
find the names of thirteen victims. Not knowing how the Amarillo News-Globe of June
20 derived 32 fatalities, which we have not been able to verify through other sources, we
choose not to use. We thus choose to show a range of 30-31 fatalities.
— 32 Amarillo News-Globe, TX. “Carroll Aboard Carrier Which Lost 32…” 20 June 1948, 45.
–~31 US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”
— 30 Daily Capital News, Jefferson City MO. “Recover 30 Bodies in Navy Disaster,” 6-11-‘48
–>30 Robertson, Dave. Brown Shoes Project. “Reflections: Air Group Three Med Cruise.”
— 30 The Historical Marker Database. USS Kearsarge Marker. 10-15-2011, 2-1-2023 revision.
— 30 UP.” Find Three More Bodies.” The Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 6-13-1948, 3B.
— 28 U.S. Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command. Kearsarge III (CV-33) 1946-1973.
Narrative Information
Robertson, Dave. Brown Shoes Project. “Reflections: Air Group Three Med Cruise.” —
“We got off to a “rocky” (actually, choppy) start from Norfolk. The previous day (May 31)… the Kearsarge and escort DDs moved out from the pier to anchorages to facilitate getting underway promptly the next day. Everyone not on duty headed ashore (of course) for a final fling. The Bay was extremely choppy. Seawater was sloshing in over the stern of the launch in which I rode ashore. I said to myself, “Hope it calms down before we ride back out tonight”
“The last launch was to depart at 2400, so we left a nightclub at 2300 to return to the pier. When we arrived, there were still hundreds of sailors waiting for boats. The Bay was even choppier. An overloaded launch had swamped and rescue operations were in progress; they continued all night. Liberty launch and regular boat operations were suspended; tugs were used to transport personnel back to ships. The fatality count from the swamped launch was over 30. (Some sailors who had missed sailing claimed that they were in that swamped launch; had been swept out to sea; and washed ashore elsewhere…But after we got underway, it turned out to be a great cruise….”
U.S. Department of the Navy: “Navy launch approaching an aircraft carrier sank off Norfolk, Virginia. [For casualty list see 2 June 1948 New York Times, page 58, column 4.] Approx. 31 died on approx. 1 June][1]” (US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”)
U.S. Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command. Kearsarge III (CV-33) 1946-1973:
“As she prepared to deploy to the Mediterranean, however, a 50-foot open launch carrying 90 men back to the ship from liberty capsized in heavy surf off Hampton Roads, Va., on 31 May 1948. At 2000 Liberty Call expired and launches began to shuttle men from ashore to the anchored ship, but at about 2045 the pounding swells swamped the boat not far from the carrier. The Officer of the Deck sounded general quarters, and the signalmen used searchlights to illumine the exceptionally dark night. Few of the passengers wore life vests, and although many men bravely attempted to battle the swells and reach the ship’s gangway, the strong current swept some of them away. Rescuers saved 68 men from the tragedy, but altogether 18 sailors and ten marines died.”
The Historical Marker Database. USS Kearsarge Marker. 10-15-2011, 2-1-2023 revision:
“Inscription
USS Kearsarge, scheduled to depart for the Mediterranean Sea on June 1, 1948, was anchored off Naval Station, Norfolk in anticipation of an early morning departure.
Sailors and Marines returning to the ship the night of May 31 encountered heavy seas caused by high winds. A boat carrying over 90 men to the ship was swamped and sunk.
Thirty dedicated USS Kearsarge Sailors and Marines drowned in the waters within sight of their ship and the Naval Station, never to sail again.
This plaque is dedicated in their memory by C. Lloyd Johnson
“….Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in West Freemason. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Brooke Avenue and Harbour Street, on the left when traveling west.”
Ellwood email:
“Subject: Re: USS Kearsarge, May 31, 1948
“I definitely remember that night very, very well as I was the quartermaster of the watch on the quarterdeck with the Officer of the deck (OOD). I had traded duty for that day with my good buddy, named Dollard. We both had just passed our seaman 1st class exam and he wanted to go ashore to buy our seaman’s stripes and call his girlfriend long distance as the ship was going to the Mediterranean Sea and would be gone for 6 months. So I had the 8-12 watch at night on the quarterdeck.
“The ship was at anchor in Hampton Roads, it was stormy and the sea was very choppy. Liberty was up at 10 pm and some of the liberty launches were having a difficult time making it to the gangway to off load the men, Marines & sailors, because of the seas & strong winds. It was very dark.
“On the quarterdeck, I could see that this particular launch was heavily loaded with men, none of whom had life vests/jackets. The launch, because it had more passengers in it than I personally thought it should have, was having the bow of the launch not riding up over the oncoming wave, but plowing thru it more often than not. Suddenly, when the launch was about 100 yards off the gangway there must have been a larger wave going over the bow and it swamped the launch which altho didn’t sink it, it caused panic and the men started jumping off the boat and tried swimming to the ship. The current in Hampton Roads is very strong and many didn’t make it.
“When we on the quarterdeck saw the boat in distress, the OOD sounded General Quarters, I was directed to phone the Captain and the Admiral about the situation. I started recording the events in my QM logbook, the Boatswain’s Mate was ordered to get a boat off to pick up survivors. The duty signalmen were phoned to turn on the searchlights to assist locating swimmers. Not all men in the boat jumped overboard as the wooden craft was still barely afloat off the ship. The Boat Officer was a young Ensign who didn’t know that you can’t load more men in the craft than safety allows. I think that what happened was that this was the last liberty boat to come back to the ship and lot of sailors & Marines waited until that last boat. I imagine that the Boat Officer didn’t want to leave anyone behind.
“Admiral Spruance [Sprague?] came down to the quarterdeck to learn from the OOD just what the heck happened and what was being done to rescue the men. I don’t remember much more about that night as to what I did. I do know that many men drowned that night in trying to swim to the ship, some were swept out to sea by the strong current.
“The next morning every man regardless of what his watch station was, had to muster down on the hanger deck for a visual muster. Those who could not be there was checked visually by a petty officer who personally knew them. The Red Cross came aboard to let those who wished to send messages to loved ones to let them know that they were alive, did so. My close friend, Dollard was among those who drowned.
“It was the following day that the ship got underway for the Med. Sea. There was a Court of Inquiry about how & why did this happened. The young Ensign who was the Boat Officer was punished for ignoring the number of bodies a launch could carry safely. Other officers were also given reprimands.
“So I will remember that dark stormy night until the day I die….
“Don Ellwood.” (Ellwood Email. Monroe County [OH] Obituaries, 1948.)
Newspapers
June 1: “Norfolk, Va., June 1 (AP) – Twenty-two men – nine Marines and 13 Navy men—perished in Hampton Roads last night [May 31] when a Navy launch swamped in choppy waters while, returning 90 men to their ship after Memorial day liberty.
“Rear Admiral C. A. F. Sprague, commander of a 12 ship task force whose sailing for the Mediterranean was delayed by the tragedy, issued this statement to newsmen at. 9 a. m. today from his flagship, the aircraft carrier Kearsarge:
“Preliminary report of loss of life or missing personnel may be placed at 22, nine Marines and 13 Navy. Report considered accurate and includes best estimate of possible stragglers” (men absent over leave). Further checking now in progress.”
“The 50-foot open launch was swamped in a wind and rain storm at 8:45 p. m. as it was returning a liberty party to the Kearsarge, anchored two miles off the Norfolk Naval station. The launch, which was attached to the carrier, was swamped when only 200 yards off the Kearsarge’s port beam.” (Lowell Sun, MA. “13 Sailors and 9 Marines Drown as Boat Overturns,” June 1, 1948, 1.)
June 1, NYT/UP: “Washington, June 1 (UP) – The Navy Department tonight released the names of twenty-eight persons ‘unaccounted for and believed missing’ as a result of the swamping of a Liberty launch from the aircraft carrier Kearsarge in Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Va., last night. The launch was carrying ninety-two men. The 50-foot craft was swamped in a rainstorm 250 feet from the Kearsarge as it returned a load of men from shore liberty. The carrier had been expected to sail soon after dawn today as part of a Mediterranean task force.
“Some of the men swam for hours to reach shore and others were picked up by boats. Rescue was difficult in the driving rain and heavy seas. Nearby ships turned their searchlights on the scene, but the rain cut down the visibility. Survivors told of seeing one unidentified Marine Corps man clinging to the swamped launch, using his jacket to flash SOS signals from the boat’s running lights. They said they had not seen him among those save.
“The official Navy list included eighteen Navy and ten marine enlisted men. They next of kin have been notified. Among them were: [We reorder the names alphabetically and add numbering.]
Navy
- Allen, John Jr., Machinist’s Mate, 2d class, Box 318, Cheshire, Conn.
- Caparelliotis, Arthur, Seaman. 22 Belvidere St., Boston
- Dollard, M. M., Seaman, 1709 Jefferson St., Buffalo, N.Y.
- Fall, W. D., Fireman, 1620 St. Peters Ave., the Bronx, New York.
- Haiss, William E. Metalsmith, 3rd 2020 East 178th St., the Bronx, N.Y.
- McTighe, J. T. Airman, 838 Grant St., Jersey City, N.J.
- Michaud, Floyd P., Seaman Apprentice. 1427 Columbus Ave., Boston.
- Murray, R. T., Machinist’s Mate, 3d class, 2599 Briggs Ave., New York City.
- Podpolucha, Alexander J., Metalsmith, 3d class. R.F.D. No. 2, Shelton, Conn.
- Smith, Grady L. Seaman apprentice, Canton, NC [not on UP/NYT list]
Marine Corps
- Ascenzio, R. E., Private 1st 4224 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.
- Hagan, Darrell Hagan, Pvt. Jerusalem, OH. [Not on UP/NYT list.][2]
- O’Prey, J. H. Sargeant. 7218 Third Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.
(United Press. “Navy Gives Names of 28 Boat Victims. Swamped Launch at Norfolk Was Carrying 92 – No Charge Lodged Against Officer.” The New York Times, 6-2-1948, p. 58.)
June 2: “Norfolk, Va. (AP) – Stunned by swift-striking night tragedy that drowned 28 of its men, a 12-ship naval task force sailed late yesterday for the Mediterranean. Eighteen navy men and 10 marines, all enlisted personnel, perished Monday night when choppy seas swamped a launch returning a liberty party of about 90 men to the task force flagship, the aircraft carrier Kearsarge….
“Several…launches and picket boats sped to the scene of the accident, which was witnessed from the carrier, and rescued 65 men. Three other men swam the two miles of cold, rain and windswept waters to shore, making a total of 68 accounted for. No bodies had been recovered yesterday afternoon….The wind was 15 knots at the time but got up to 21 knots later…
[Kearsarge skipper, Capt. C. S. Smiley] “…said the swamped launch was seaworthy in every respect and was not overloaded. The launch has a rated capacity of 120 persons, including a five-man crew, he said.” (Post-Standard, Syracuse. “12-Ship Task Force Sails After 28 of Crew Drown,” 6-2-1948, 1)
June 3: “The loss of 28 lives when a Navy motor launch capsized in Hampton Roads, off Norfolk, Virginia, may have some strong repercussions before the full story and explanation are on record….
“The skipper of the Kearsarge made this naïve comment: “‘We are completely puzzled as to the
cause of the swamping,” and with that he scuttled back into his quarters and gave the sailing orders.
“Well, the skipper isn’t the only one who is puzzled. The next-of-kin of the 28 men will not only be puzzled, but also the people throughout the United States are wondering how such a tragic event could take place literally within the shadow of the big ships of the task-force that was about to sail.
“But the men in command of the different divisions of the armed forces have a peculiar way of expressing themselves when they find circumstances are not wholesomely in their favor. They become studiously evasive and there have been times when they have been reluctant to answer straightforward questions asked by Congressional investigating committees.
“Assuming that it was necessary to send this task force to sea without delay for the relief of forces in the Mediterranean, it would have been wise to replace the skipper and other ranking officers of the Kearsarge temporarily so that they would be available immediately to answer questions concerning this tragedy, which, on the surface at least, appears to have been so avoidable.” (Lowell Sun, MA. “Ask The Skipper” (Editorial), June 3, 1948, p. 8.)
June 10: “Norfolk, Va., June 10 – (AP) – The Navy announced today that 30 bodies of drowning victims have been recovered following the swamping of a Liberty launch returning to the Aircraft Carrier Kearsarge in the harbor here on the night of May 31. The bodies recovered included those of three men not on the original list of 28 missing but one reported missing turned up later at Joplin, Mo. All but three of the bodies have been identified.” (Daily Capital News, Jefferson City MO. “Recover 30 Bodies in Navy Disaster,” 6-11-1948, 10.)
June 11. “Norfolk, Va., June 11 – (U.P.) – Fifth naval district headquarters today identified three more bodies of the men drowned when a navy liberty launch foundered in rain-laced Hampton Roads last week. Thirty bodies have been found and the navy called in surface searching parties.
“The three identifications completed the list of 30. They were:
Grady L. Smith, seaman apprentice, Canton, NC…not on the original casualty list…
- . Ascenzio, private first class, USMC, Brooklyn, N.Y.
William E. Haiss, electrical, the Bronx, N.Y.
“The sailors and marines were lost when a 50-foot liberty launch bound for the carrier Kearsarge nosed under a wave and threw its 92 occupants into the dark, tossing bay.” (United Press.” Find Three More Bodies.” The Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 6-13-1948, 3B.)
June 20: “….The swamping of the launch took place about 11:30 o’clock…It was raining and stormy, making rescue difficult. Two sailors were picked up about eight miles out at sea….Thirty-two men out of 90 aboard the launch were lost. Memorial services were held aboard the USS Kearsarge on June 7.” (Amarillo News-Globe (TX). “Carroll Aboard Carrier Which Lost 32 Men,” 20 June 1948, 45.)
Sources
Amarillo News-Globe, TX. “Carroll Aboard Carrier Which Lost 32 Men,” 20 June 1948, p. 45. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=78356146
Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO. “Recover 30 Bodies in Navy Disaster,” 11 June 1948, p. 10. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=93669726
Ellwood, Don. Email. Monroe County [OH] Obituaries, 1948. Accessed at: http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~harringtonfamilies/1948.htm
Lowell Sun, MA. “13 Sailors and 9 Marines Drown as Boat Overturns,” June 1, 1948, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=55807473
Lowell Sun, MA. “Ask The Skipper” (Editorial), June 3, 1948, p. 8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=55807552
Monroe County History and Genealogy Website. Monroe County Obituaries 1948. Accessed 9-26-2023 at: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~harringtonfamilies/history/1948.htm
New York Times. “Navy Gives Names of 28 Boat Victims; Swamped Launch at Norfolk Was Carrying 92 – No Charge Lodged Against Officer,” June 2, 1948, p. 58. Accessed at: http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0C14F73F5F167B93C0A9178DD85F4C8485F9&scp=1&sq=Norfolk+Va+June+2+1948&st=p
Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. “12-Ship Task Force Sails After 28 of Crew Drown,” June 2, 1948, 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=17979073
Robertson, Dave. Brown Shoes Project. “Reflections: Air Group Three Med Cruise.” Accessed 9-26-2023 at: https://thebrownshoes.org/story/dave-robertson
The Historical Marker Database. USS Kearsarge Marker. 10-15-2011, 2-1-2023 revision. Accessed 9-26-2023 at: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=65543
United Press.” Find Three More Bodies.” The Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 6-13-1948, 3B. Accessed 9-26-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kannapolis-daily-independent-jun-13-1948-p-17/
United Press. “Navy Gives Names of 28 Boat Victims. Swamped Launch at Norfolk Was Carrying 92 – No Charge Lodged Against Officer.” The New York Times, 6-2-1948, p. 58. Accessed 9-26-2023 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1948/06/02/issue.html
United States Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center. See “Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action.” Washington, DC: Washington Navy Yard. Accessed at: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/accidents.htm
U.S. Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command. Kearsarge III (CV-33) 1946-1973. 7-28-2020. Accessed 9-26-2023 at: https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/k/kearsarge-iii.html
[1] Correct date is May 31, 1948. (BWB)
[2] Monroe County History and Genealogy Website. Monroe County Obituaries 1948. Accessed 9-26-2023.