The Mighty Mo

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Harry,

Interesting that you should mention the Chincoteague.  There is a local fellow out here who was a crewmember of the Chincoteague in WWII, and wrote a book about the Chinc's service in WWII.  Can't give you the title of the book right now as I am out of town, but if interested, drop me an email off-line and I will give you the details when I get home.

Cheers,
Kert Peterson
Fircrest, WA
kertp at comcast.net 

-------------- Original message -------------- 

> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 08:09:57 EDT 

>  

> Regarding ammo for BB-63, the Missouri -- between Windsor and Zuni, VA 

> on the 52-mile tangent is a relatively unknown station - Dwight. At one time 

> it had been a coaling station. During World War II, it became a dispersal 

> point for ammunition. Switchers were assigned to assemble explosives for 

> movement to Tidewater on a just-in-time basis. Why ? Because Dwight was 

> beyond the range of a naval bombardment. So it is possible N&W provided 

> ammunition for BB-63. 

> 

> After my return to civilian service, the Coast Guard cutter I was assigned to 

> got into a scrap with one of the Iowa-class battleships. The USCGC 

> Chincoteague was commissioned in 1943. Formerly a seaplane tender, 

> the 311-foot ship was a hand-me-down from the U.S.Navy. The 40-mm 

> guns had been removed and the only armament left on the "Chink" was a 

> turret-mounted 5 inch 38. 

> 

> On weather patrol in the North Atlantic, the "Chink" picked up a huge blip 

> on radar. More out of curiosity than anything else, a message was 

> sent for the blip to identify itself. Minutes ticked by. No response. A 

> second message was sent demanding identification. Still no response. 

> Now the Coast Guard was livid. CIC (Combat Information Center) became 

> alive and a third message was sent "Identify yourself or be fired upon". 

> 

> That's when the cutter received this reply - "Fire when ready. We'll spot 

> for you. BB-62". The USS New Jersey fresh from refit for the Viet Nam 

> conflict was attempting to maneuver through the Atlantic undetected. 

> Harry Bundy 

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