Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-5-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

— 17 Moran. Explosive Accident Summary: [WW] II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, 1992, p130

— 17 North Adams Transcript, MA. “Fear 17 Sailors Die in Explosion.” 5-13-1944, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Moran: “Lighter at Sea…Boston Harbor, MA…05/13/44…Disposal…Ammunition…Lighter, 132 Foot…17 [dead]…0 [injured].”[1] (Moran, Edward P. Jr. Explosive Accident Summary: World War II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, Aug 1992, p. 130.)

Newspaper

May 13: “Boston, May 13 (AP) – A naval court of inquiry today began investigating cause of an explosion and fire aboard a navy lighter about 14 miles northeast of Boston harbor Thursday afternoon which is believed to have cost the lives of 17 United States sailors. First naval district headquarters said that an enlisted man died of burns and that 16 others were reported missing. Thirteen officers and men were rescued.

“The lighter was dumping old and condemned ammunition from the Hingham depot when a ‘terrific whoosh’ shook the 132-foot self-propelled vessel.

“Survivors said the blast came without warning after the crew had dumped about two-thirds of the cargo, and that there was no chance to control the resulting fire. The vessel sank 35 minutes after the first explosion. Search was started immediately for the missing men and air and surface craft swept the area Thursday and Friday.

“Chief Boatswain’s Mate Lewis B. Tremblay of Marblehead, Mass., said he had ‘just finished chow and returned to the bridge and had just turned to my chart when there was a terrific whoosh.’ There was no time to cut life rafts loose. But as flames scorched the shattered lighter a navy weather vessel 2,000 yards away started to the rescue. Half an hour later Lieutenant Douglas C. Bird, of Oakland, Calif., the vessel’s skipper, had 13 survivors aboard.

“Most seriously hurt was Machinist’s Mate First Class William J. Bradley, of Newport, R.I., who died yesterday of third degree burns. All other survivors apparently suffered only shock and immersion.

Naval authorities said only four of the lighter’s regular crew were rescued and one was the enlisted man who died.

“Of the five officers and 16 enlisted men who composed a work crew from the Hingham ammunition depot, 11 of the enlisted men were missing….

“Tremblay…said he sent out an SOS, tossed all the life preservers he could find into the water and made his way to the stern. ‘One of my men, badly burned, was climbing from below deck,’ he related. ‘I got him into a life jacket and lowered him over the stern.’ Then as the explosions continued and the fire gained headway, he jumped into the ocean himself.

“Lieutenant Herman W. Doering, Springfield, Mass., who was checking the method of disposing projectiles, said there was a ‘flash and an explosion’ and that when he turned around he found himself ‘standing in the middle of a mass of burning ammunition.’ He said he abandoned ship with two seamen ‘and swam underwater to avoid the fire around.’

“Survivors said visibility at the time of the first explosion was about 3,000 yards in the area, but that by the time the last blast was heard fog had set in so think it was impossible to see more than 100 yards. Throughout the rescue operations, the weather vessel was about 200 yards from the burning craft, her deck peppered with debris sprayed by the explosions….” (North Adams Transcript, MA. “Fear 17 Sailors Die in Explosion. Naval Court of Inquiry Begins Investigation of Tragedy Aboard Lighter About 14 Miles Northeast of Boston Harbor Thursday Afternoon. 13 Survivors Listed.” 5-13-1944, p. 1.)

Sources

Moran, Edward P. Jr. Explosive Accident Summary: World War II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, Aug 1992. Accessed 4-19-2013: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA507027

North Adams Transcript, MA. “Fear 17 Sailors Die in Explosion.” 5-13-1944, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=62279929&sterm=explosion+boston

[1] Moran has an incorrect date.

1944 — May 11, Hingham Depot boat explosion at ammo. dump at sea ~Boston Harbor, MA-17