wow....I had read about this in the history books but it was just 'there was a huge explosion' sort of description. The details make all the difference....holy COW. Poor people....!
Thanks, Kim. Seriously.
PA
From: "californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com" <californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com>
To: californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2016 9:55 PM
Subject: [californiadisasters] 1944 Port Chicago Disaster, Monday, 18 July 2016
"1944 Port Chicago Disaster" reminderWhereContra Costa County - Suisun BayNotesAt 10:18 PM this day in 1944 a mishap involving boom or winch loading ordnance on one of two Liberty ships being loaded simultaneously on opposite sides of a dock at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine triggered a smaller explosion and resulting fire. Several seconds later a catastrophic explosion featuring a 3-mile diameter fireball rose from the site killing all 320 personnel on the docks and ships and injuring 390 others nearby, many of whom were seriously burned. The SS E.A. Bryan where the disaster began was completely destroyed while the adjacent SS Quinault was torn in pieces and thrown in various directions several hundred feet away. The US Coast Guard fire boat CG-60014-F was lifted 600 feet into the air and dumped into the bay sinking immediately and killing its 5-person crew. Chunks of glowing shrapnel were thrown 12,000 feet into the air. Due to work conditions at the time of the disaster and in the aftermath, the infamous Port Chicago Mutiny would occur a few weeks later.Fromcaliforniadisasters Calendar
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Posted by: Pamela Alley <rnrq@att.net>
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