USNM Interview of John Benton Part Six Collision Between the USS John F. Kennedy and USS Belknap
Вставка
- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- To support our program, please click here: www.navymemori...
The United States Navy Memorial’s mission is to Honor, Recognize, and Celebrate the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present, and future; and to Inform the public about their service. For more information please visit: www.navymemori...
My dad was a HM on the Kennedy. He tears up everytime he talks about it. He loves telling about his days in the navy, but this story is so painful for him. Thank you all for your service and God Bless.
I remember this event… being on the Saratoga, we had to modify our flight deck edge lights after this. I had a friend who was an electrician on the Kennedy…. We would talk about that from time to time.
The CO of Belknap was my CO aboard a 542 Class LST in 1959-60 and taught me a valuable lesson as OOD. (I was a fresh Ensign) He quizzed me about the courses "down the chute'' in San Diego. Needless to say, I knew them the next time I had the Con " heading to the barn."
I was shocked when I heard about the Belknap\Kennedy tragedy. I felt he was firm and fair.
As memory serves ... the young sailor on our ship (Kennedy) who lost his life was a YN3 assigned to VF-14 admin. He was overtaken by smoke trying to escape their admin office on the 0-3 level up forward in the angle deck.
I was an OS3 working in CIC. The bridge ordered a turn to port and we relayed the order to the Belknap. She was to turn port and take up the life guard station (for aircraft) 1,000 yds astern of us. But the OD on the Belknap misinterpeted the signal and turned to starboard, thus running into us. As soon as the collision happened, we grabbed all the radio logs and locked them in the safe because we knew they would be a legal record.
As memory serves ... it was the last recovery for the evening ... both Skippers, JFK/Belknap, decided the OOD could handle this event, so neither Skippers were on their bridge at the time of the collision. Belknap, initially did not respond to the 30 degree turn to port order from Kennedy. There was some confusion on JFK as all other ships in the BG rogered up! We initiated the turn to port without hearing from Belknap! When the Kennedy finally noticed the closure of the Belknap, someone on JFK's bridge retransmitted ... Belknap 30 degree turn to port ... Belknap responded with an, aye-aye 30 degree turn to starboard. Oops. Belknap's superstructure sliced off a JP-5 pumping station in the catwalk at the forward part of the angle deck. JP-5 was gushing all over Belknap and a bunch of it went down the stack! I was in hangar bay one with another Ordie, moving a skid of 4 each live Shrike missiles that came up from upper stage 2 elevator, we were supposed to put them on upper stage 4 FFT to the flight deck. Fuel was pouring down Kennedy's hull from the now missing JP-5 pump and our outer hull was ablaze from the O-3 level to the water line. We were also taking fuel inside the sponson from a huge gash at the 0-2 level as Belknap sliced us open like butter! We fought fires on JFK until after 1000 the next morning. To this day I sum it up best by saying, "There is no more hopeless a feeling than when your home is on fire and you're in the middle of the ocean. I was an AO2 working in G Div Hangar Deck shop.
I worked in 1st division with a BM2 who served on the Belknap. It's odd the Navy would double or triple down on aluminum ships.
I served on Belknap after she was rebuilt. 81-84. R division. HT.
The BELKNAP was towed back to port by The BIDDLE , which was later struck by The J F CAN OPENER ( I was on the bridge of The USS LUCE and observed the collision ) and towed back to Port by The BOWEN .
We would radio them to be careful as the The JFK hated B's .
Who was OOD aboard USS Kennedy at the time of the collision? I was told a name, but I sure would like to know for sure.
He was the Gun Boss ... though, after all these years I cannot remember his name. His career was ended.
The BELKNAP was towed back to port by The BIDDLE , which was later struck by The J F CAN OPENER ( I was on the bridge of The USS LUCE and observed the collision ) and towed back to Port by The BOWEN .
We would radio them to be careful as the The JFK hated B's .