Is the USS North Carolina haunted?
BACKGROUND
The battleship USS North Carolina is now docked in Wilmington, North Carolina at Eagle's Island. It is open to the public for self-guided tours during designated hours.
On October 27, 1937, the keel of the USS North Carolina (BB-55) was laid down by the New York Naval Shipyard. She was launched on June 13, 1940 and commissioned April 9, 1941, Captain Olaf M. Hustvedt commanding. It was the first of the Navy's modern battleships to be commissioned and received so much attention during her fitting out and sea trials that she was nicknamed "Showboat". The USS North Carolina completed her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean prior to the attack on Pear Harbor and entered the Pacific on June 10, 1942.
The USS North Carolina's primary role was protecting aircraft carriers and she served in every major Pacific battle during the war including Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, Tarawa, the Marshalls, Iwo Gima, and many more. During her illustrious war career, she won a total of 15 battle stars. With a crew complement of 1880 men, nine 16" guns, twenty 5" guns, sixteen 1.1" machine guns, and twelve .50-cal machine guns, she was one of the most formidable weapons of any naval arsenal.
She was decommissioned in June of 1947, after serving as a training ship for midshipman. Then in 1958, she was placed in the Inactive Reserve Fleet in New Jersey. Like so many other ships, she seemed to be destined to be scrapped when, in 1961, the citizens of North Carolina launched the Save Our Ship Campaign which ultimately succeeded and she arrived at her present home of Wilmington, NC. On April 29, 1962, she was dedicated as a memorial to North Carolinians of all services killed in World War II.
GHOSTS
Only 10 men were lost during battle. But it's said that one or two still remain with the ship. A young blond man has been seen in the passageways. A different one peers out of portholes occasionally. One has hitched a ride with an unsuspecting guest. Hatches and doors open or close themselves, televisions and lights turn themselves off or on. Things move by themselves in front of witnesses. And they don't hesitate to make themselves known by talking (or even yelling). And of course there are cold spots, footsteps and other eerie experiences.
It may go months or even years between experiences. Several experiences may happen in a short amount of time. But when the ghosts of this battleship become active they certainly appear to make themselves heard very loud and clear.
BACKGROUND
The battleship USS North Carolina is now docked in Wilmington, North Carolina at Eagle's Island. It is open to the public for self-guided tours during designated hours.
On October 27, 1937, the keel of the USS North Carolina (BB-55) was laid down by the New York Naval Shipyard. She was launched on June 13, 1940 and commissioned April 9, 1941, Captain Olaf M. Hustvedt commanding. It was the first of the Navy's modern battleships to be commissioned and received so much attention during her fitting out and sea trials that she was nicknamed "Showboat". The USS North Carolina completed her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean prior to the attack on Pear Harbor and entered the Pacific on June 10, 1942.
The USS North Carolina's primary role was protecting aircraft carriers and she served in every major Pacific battle during the war including Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, Tarawa, the Marshalls, Iwo Gima, and many more. During her illustrious war career, she won a total of 15 battle stars. With a crew complement of 1880 men, nine 16" guns, twenty 5" guns, sixteen 1.1" machine guns, and twelve .50-cal machine guns, she was one of the most formidable weapons of any naval arsenal.
She was decommissioned in June of 1947, after serving as a training ship for midshipman. Then in 1958, she was placed in the Inactive Reserve Fleet in New Jersey. Like so many other ships, she seemed to be destined to be scrapped when, in 1961, the citizens of North Carolina launched the Save Our Ship Campaign which ultimately succeeded and she arrived at her present home of Wilmington, NC. On April 29, 1962, she was dedicated as a memorial to North Carolinians of all services killed in World War II.
GHOSTS
Only 10 men were lost during battle. But it's said that one or two still remain with the ship. A young blond man has been seen in the passageways. A different one peers out of portholes occasionally. One has hitched a ride with an unsuspecting guest. Hatches and doors open or close themselves, televisions and lights turn themselves off or on. Things move by themselves in front of witnesses. And they don't hesitate to make themselves known by talking (or even yelling). And of course there are cold spots, footsteps and other eerie experiences.
It may go months or even years between experiences. Several experiences may happen in a short amount of time. But when the ghosts of this battleship become active they certainly appear to make themselves heard very loud and clear.
Amazing ! I would be very scared alone on that ship... and certainly at night !
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda:)
ReplyDelete