50 Years Ago Today – Mullinnix Dodges Hurricane

Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood

On 19 September, Mullinnix left D&S piers for Chesapeake Bay Hurricane Anchorage amid fog, mist, and low visibility. AT 2000, she set the special heavy weather anchor detail. The storm, hovering in the low gray clouds all day, broke in earnest. The wind was shearing the tops off the swells and laying lashes of spray across the heaving glossy backs of the swells. By the midwatch on 20 September, engineering department was on 15 minutes notice ‘for getting underway’. Heavy weather plan was in put into effect. Weather reports indicated possibility of winds up to 40 knots by 0500. The ocean began to turn a color of glassy iron. A vast swell began to move vertically, like the rocking of the sea’s cradle.

At 0215 on 21 September, verbal orders were received COMDESFLOT 4 to return to Norfolk. Undamaged, the ship returned to D&S at 0805.

To be continued...
Woody