Port Chicago disaster
Posted: Sat May 13, 2017 3:28 pm
Thanks for Derek for the tip on this one.
Wikipedia gives the following intro: "The Port Chicago disaster was a deadly munitions explosion that occurred on July 17, 1944, at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Port Chicago, California, United States. Munitions detonated while being loaded onto a cargo vessel bound for the Pacific Theater of Operations, killing 320 sailors and civilians and injuring 390 others. Most of the dead and injured were enlisted African-American sailors." In response, a mutiny of hundreds of "servicemen" occurred, leading eventually to 50 convictions.
Data: July 17, 1944,10:17 PM, Chicago, IL (specifically 38°N03′27″122°W01′47″)
The SS E.A. Bryan, already carrying over 5,000 barrels of fuel oil, was loaded with munitions (4,600 tons of explosives by the time of the incident: it was 40% full at that point, so more than twice that much was expected to be carried). Nearby were 16 rail cards holding about 400 tons of explosives. Through a series of intersecting circumstances, an explosion occurred on the pier and started a fire, which triggered a much larger explosion ("a fireball which was seen for miles") of most of the ordnance within and near the Bryan. The fireball was reportedly 3 miles in diameter. (The Wikipedia article describes the actual damage in detail.)
the mutiny occurred August 8, 1944 - if I get time, I'll check on this separately.
Wikipedia gives the following intro: "The Port Chicago disaster was a deadly munitions explosion that occurred on July 17, 1944, at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Port Chicago, California, United States. Munitions detonated while being loaded onto a cargo vessel bound for the Pacific Theater of Operations, killing 320 sailors and civilians and injuring 390 others. Most of the dead and injured were enlisted African-American sailors." In response, a mutiny of hundreds of "servicemen" occurred, leading eventually to 50 convictions.
Data: July 17, 1944,10:17 PM, Chicago, IL (specifically 38°N03′27″122°W01′47″)
The SS E.A. Bryan, already carrying over 5,000 barrels of fuel oil, was loaded with munitions (4,600 tons of explosives by the time of the incident: it was 40% full at that point, so more than twice that much was expected to be carried). Nearby were 16 rail cards holding about 400 tons of explosives. Through a series of intersecting circumstances, an explosion occurred on the pier and started a fire, which triggered a much larger explosion ("a fireball which was seen for miles") of most of the ordnance within and near the Bryan. The fireball was reportedly 3 miles in diameter. (The Wikipedia article describes the actual damage in detail.)
the mutiny occurred August 8, 1944 - if I get time, I'll check on this separately.