Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
The Nome Nugget
Nome, Nome County, Alaska
What is this article about?
More than 100 sailors died and 220 were injured in two explosions and a fire aboard the USS Bennington aircraft carrier during routine training off Rhode Island's eastern shoreline. The ship docked at Quonset Point for evacuation, with helicopters shuttling injured to Newport hospital. Navy launches investigation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
And 220 Injured In Explosion, Fire
Aboard U.S. Carrier Bennington
QUONSET, R.I., (AP)--The Navy suffered its worst peacetime disaster in history early today when more than 100 men died and 220 were injured early today in two explosions and a fire aboard the aircraft carrier Bennington as she cruised along the eastern shoreline.
The huge craft came into this port shortly after noon today, her decks lined with tired crewmen, their faces blackened by smoke.
Ensign Robert Grant of Brooklyn, N.Y., his own ankles bleeding, told newsmen "All I can say is, God, I'm lucky to be alive."
He was directing the evacuation of the casualties as he spoke.
As the Essex-class craft, which had an illustrious record in World War II, came into this naval air base, helicopters conducted a shuttle service carrying injured to the naval hospital in nearby Newport.
Greatest previous loss of life suffered by the Navy was 48 aboard the battleship Mississippi off California in 1924.
The Bennington with a crew of 2,800 was engaged in what the Navy called routine training when the unexplained fire occurred.
When the Bennington docked crewmen relayed the information that the fire started in the forward portion of the ship, apparently below decks. Twenty-four ambulances including truck carriers were standing by.
Meanwhile the White House announced an immediate investigation is being started by the Navy.
The Bennington is 27,100 tons of the Essex class, the 11th of her class built since Pearl Harbor. In April 1953, while on a shakedown cruise in Cuban waters 11 men were killed in a boiler explosion.
The carrier participated in sinking an entire Japanese convoy off Okinawa and shared credit in the sinking of the battleship Yamamoto.
During World War II action, the Bennington escaped serious damage but her flight deck was buckled in a typhoon in 1945.
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Quonset, R.I.
Event Date
Early Today
Key Persons
Outcome
more than 100 men died and 220 were injured
Event Details
The Navy suffered its worst peacetime disaster in history early today when more than 100 men died and 220 were injured early today in two explosions and a fire aboard the aircraft carrier Bennington as she cruised along the eastern shoreline. The huge craft came into this port shortly after noon today, her decks lined with tired crewmen, their faces blackened by smoke. Ensign Robert Grant of Brooklyn, N.Y., his own ankles bleeding, told newsmen 'All I can say is, God, I'm lucky to be alive.' He was directing the evacuation of the casualties as he spoke. As the Essex-class craft, which had an illustrious record in World War II, came into this naval air base, helicopters conducted a shuttle service carrying injured to the naval hospital in nearby Newport. The Bennington with a crew of 2,800 was engaged in what the Navy called routine training when the unexplained fire occurred. When the Bennington docked crewmen relayed the information that the fire started in the forward portion of the ship, apparently below decks. Twenty-four ambulances including truck carriers were standing by. Meanwhile the White House announced an immediate investigation is being started by the Navy.