50 Years Ago Today – As Cuban Situation Heats Up, Mullinnix Anchors in Concepcion Bay, Chile
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
12 October: Mullinnix is steaming at 12 knots with Task Group 86.8 composed of USS Lester DE-1022, Williams DD-19, Riveros DD-18, and USS Picuda SS-382 enroute from Punta Arenas to Valparaiso, Chile in accordance with CTF 86 Op Order 5-62. What was more that just normal protocol, during the daily inspection of magazines samples were taken of the smokeless powder and the magazine sprinkling and flooding systems were also inspected to satisfaction. At 1300 the ship went to GQ, setting material condition ZEBRA and commenced Damage Control exercise.
---
13 October: State Department Ambassador-at-Large Chester Bowles has a long conversation with Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin. Bowles, after having been briefed by Thomas Hughes of the State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, tells Dobrynin that the United States “had some evidence” indicating that Soviet nuclear missiles were in Cuba. Dobrynin, who had not been told of the missile deployment by the Kremlin, repeatedly denies that the Soviet Union harbored any intention of placing such weapons in Cuba.
---
1205 13 October: Mullinnix anchored in Concepcion Bay, Chile in 33 fathoms of water.
After shipmate R.G. Torns, Jr returned to the ship after being AWOL for 2 ½ hours, the ship pulled up anchor and continued steaming towards Valparaiso, Chile.
---
Author’s Note: On 27 February 2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake would strike the city of Concepción, killing more than 521 people and injuring thousands nationwide. Following the earthquake, geologists relying on global positioning satellite (GPS) data concluded that the city had been displaced roughly 10 feet to the west as a result of the event. Fortunately, the city avoided the tsunami that followed. [authors note: I worked in Santiago, Chile in the spring of 2010 and witnesses first hand some of the damage from the Concepción earthquake.]
---
13 October: The Second Marine Air Wing deployed elements of Air Groups 14 and 32 to the naval air station at Key West. The U.S. Army and Air Force pre-positioned supplies to bases and ports in the southern states. The Air Force moved selected squadrons and consumables to Florida bases.
To be continued... Woody
12 October: Mullinnix is steaming at 12 knots with Task Group 86.8 composed of USS Lester DE-1022, Williams DD-19, Riveros DD-18, and USS Picuda SS-382 enroute from Punta Arenas to Valparaiso, Chile in accordance with CTF 86 Op Order 5-62. What was more that just normal protocol, during the daily inspection of magazines samples were taken of the smokeless powder and the magazine sprinkling and flooding systems were also inspected to satisfaction. At 1300 the ship went to GQ, setting material condition ZEBRA and commenced Damage Control exercise.
13 October: State Department Ambassador-at-Large Chester Bowles has a long conversation with Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin. Bowles, after having been briefed by Thomas Hughes of the State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, tells Dobrynin that the United States “had some evidence” indicating that Soviet nuclear missiles were in Cuba. Dobrynin, who had not been told of the missile deployment by the Kremlin, repeatedly denies that the Soviet Union harbored any intention of placing such weapons in Cuba.
To be continued... Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 17:08
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home