(No one on the Capricorn was harmed.). US Coast Guard photo. It was the Capricorns 13,500-pound anchor that sealed the Blackthorns fate. 10 Tampa Bay 263K subscribers Subscribe 10 Share 822 views 1 year ago Exactly 42 years ago, 23 crew members aboard the U.S. In 2000 he was posthumously awarded the Coast Guard Medal, the service's highest award for heroism in peacetime. Eighteen is how old Flores nephew Bobby Flores is now. USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) was a 180-foot (55m) seagoing buoy tender (WLB) which sank in 1980 in a collision near the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge, resulting in 23 crew member fatalities. - I/ For more detailed information read, "Marine Accident Report--Collision of USCGC BLACKTHORN and U.S. Tankship CAPRICORN, Tampa, Florida, Januarv 28, 1980 (N TSR . On Thursday, January 28, 2010, Lodge Member Tom Allor represented Detroit Lodge No. Before Mondays ceremony, Bobby Flores read about the Blackthorn on Wikipedia. Twenty-three Blackthorn crew members were killed in the accident, the worst peacetime disaster in Coast Guard history. Having just been overtaken by a brightly lit cruise ship, the Blackthorn had maneuvered into the center of the channel to allow the passenger ship to pass. Ensign John Ryan had the conn. Twenty-seven crew members working on Blackthorn were rescued during the incident, while 23 others died that day. Every day, the members of DHS face inherent risk in their missions. One of the 23 crew members lost that day was 19-year-old Seaman . On 28 January 1980, while leaving Tampa Bay after the overhaul, she collided with the tanker SS Capricorn. USCGC Mackinaw (WAGB-83) 282' Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) [ edit] USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC-39) USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC-39) 270' Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) [ edit] Main article: Famous-class cutter USCGC Thetis (WMEC-910), a Famous-class cutter USCGC Bear (WMEC-901) USCGC Tampa (WMEC-902) USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC-903) USCGC Northland (WMEC-904) Today we remember and honor his sacrifice and all the lives lost during this terrible accident. -Copyright (C) 2003-2011 TogetherWeServed - SA Flores, who had been out of boot camp just one year, opened the life jacket locker as Blackthorn capsized, securing its hatch open with his belt, and made sure that his shipmates were able to access and use the life jackets. And each of them is indelibly stamped into the fabric of our Department. Looking for U.S. government information and services? [4] The cutter was raised for the investigation, and was scuttled in the Gulf of Mexico after the investigation was complete. He talked with his family about the account of Larry Clutter, who served with his uncle on the Blackthorn. Twenty-three of the Blackthorn's 50 crewmembers lost their lives during the Coast Guard's worst peacetime disaster. The BUCKTHORN works two seasons buoy trips that consist of the most buoys of any unit in the Ninth District. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $876,403. USCGC Blackthorn (WAGL/WLB-391) was a n Iris-class, 180-foot (55 m) seagoing buoy tender (WLB) which sank in 1980 in a collision near the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge, resulting in 23 crew member fatalities. The USCG Cutter Blackthorn (WAGL-391) was a 180-foot Iris Class Seagoing Buoy Tender. Additionally, Admiral Hayes pointed out that attempts to establish a passing agreement by using only radiotelephone communications failed to be an adequate substitute for exchanging proper whistle signals. The captain, LCDR George Sepel was on the bridge, but ENS John Ryan had the conn. [5][6] By kjfitz @ 2010-12-06 12:05:55. The Blackthorn lost 23 of its 50 crew . Momentum from the two vessels caused the Capricorn's port anchor chain to be stretched, capsizing Blackthorn. Capricorn subsequently ran aground north of the channel and Blackthorn sank in the channel. Blackthorn, Axe: Bullock, John: 12/3/17: Tamaroa: 86-91: Burton, Darrell: 9/10/18: Ojibwa : Byer, Howard: 3-26-18: Ojibwa: 75 . Example video title will go here for this video. After two land assignments, he was assigned to the USCGC Blackthorn, a buoy tender. [9] In May 2021, Flores was awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor for his actions on USCGC Blackthorn.[10]. Visit http://www.blackthornclub.com/ for more information. A freak set of circumstances led to catastrophe on the evening of Jan. 28, 1980. At least one of the passing Capricorn and Blackthorn ships was too close to the center of the channel near the Sunshine Skyway bridge. The Blackthorn, which was homeported in Galveston, Texas, lost 23 of its 50 crewmembers in the Coast Guard's worst peacetime disaster. This would be the worst. Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the Blackthorn Cutter colliding with the tanker vessel Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 28, 1980, resulting in the deaths of 23 of the 50 Blackthorn crewmembers. Bobby Flores knows how deep service runs in his family. Meanwhile the tanker Capricorn was standing into the bay. [4] The cutter was raised for the investigation, and was scuttled in the Gulf of Mexico after the investigation was complete. And 23: the number of lives lost aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn after it collided with a passing 605-foot oil tanker in the waters of Tampa Bay. An Iris class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. Having just completed her overhaul at the Gulf Tampa Drydock Company, which included overhaul of the main propulsion generators, Blackthorn was outward bound from Tampa Bay on the night of 28 January 1980. For years after the accident, Clutter pushed for the Coast Guard to honor Flores. Blackthorn's preliminary design was completed by the United States Lighthouse Service and the final design was produced by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth. On January 28th, 1980, the USCGC Blackthorn was outbound from Tampa Bay, having just completed a total refit, as the tanker Capricorn was inbound. Thirty years ago tonight, having just completed a 3 month overhaul, the Blackthorn was outward bound from Tampa Bay. From the official U.S. Coast Guard history on Blackthorn: "Blackthorn was outward bound from Tampa Bay on the night of 28 January 1980. Official website This page was last edited on 21 July 2021, at 17:41 (UTC). On 21 May 1943 the keel was laid, she was launched on 20 July 1943 and commissioned on 27 March 1944. The vessels collided nearly head on, and as a result, Capricorn's port anchor became embedded in Blackthorn's port side. A freak set of circumstances led to catastrophe the evening of Jan. 28, 1980. Length: 180ft (55m) Meanwhile the tanker Capricorn was standing into the bay. Blackthorn Wreck Tampa Wiki USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) was a 180-foot (55 m) seagoing buoy tender (WLB) which sank in 1980 in a collision near the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge, resulting in 23 crew member fatalities. Hes going to take care of him.. Capricorn began to turn left, but this course would not allow Capricorn and Blackthorn to pass port-to-port, as the rules of navigation generally required. Currently, the Blackthorn is broken into two pieces and is a very popular dive and fishing site. George was fresh out of basic training and the USCGC Blackthorn was his first assignment. On Monday, it was the number 40. Even given all of those factors, the initial collision between the two ships wasnt catastrophic. Some contend that the brightly lit passenger vessel obscured the ability of the crews of Blackthorn and Capricorn to see each other. Shortly after the collision, Blackthorn capsized, killing 23 of her crew. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - On January 28, 1980, the Coast Guard buoy tender Blackthorn passed under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the black of night. Blackthorn sunk at the mouth of Tampa Bay, 28 January 1980. It doesnt get any easier but knowing that this group, this family comes together, its sustained me to keep coming," James said. Though 27 crewmen survived the collision, 23 perished. An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The momentum of the two vessels caused Capricorn's anchor chain to become taut which resulted in the Blackthorn's capsizing. It tragically sank at 8:20PM on January 28, 1980, at the entrance to Tampa Bay in Florida, near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. All but one of the original tenders, USCGCIronwood(WLB-297), were built in Duluth. In October 2010, it was announced that the third new Sentinel-class fast response cutter, a 154-foot patrol boat, would be named for Flores. On January 28, 1980, the USCGC Blackthorn collided with a tanker in Tampa Bay, Florida.Seaman Apprentice William Flores, just eighteen years old and a year out of boot camp, stayed on board as the cutter sank, strapping the life jacket locker open with his belt, giving his own life jacket to those struggling in the water, and giving aid to those wounded on board. The following crew list identifies those individuals who have yet to be awarded the Purple Heart for their sacrifice. Having just been overtaken by a brightly lit cruise ship, the Blackthorn had maneuvered into the center of the . Twenty-seven of the 50 Blackthorn crew members were rescued. 223K views 2 years ago #Disaster #History On the 28th of January 1980 the USCGC Blackthorn collided with the SS Capricorn and would go down with nearly half her crew. Meanwhile, the tanker Capricorn, owned by Kingston Shipping Company and operated by Apex Marine Corporation of New York, was standing (traveling with right-of-way) into the bay. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $876,403. Class & type: Iris She served in World War II, . She served in San Pedro for several years before being brought into the gulf coast region to serve in Mobile, Alabama then transferred to Galveston, Texas for the final years of her service until the accident. Seaman Apprentice William "Billy" Flores was originally from Carlsbad, New Mexico and a graduate of Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas. Shortly after the collision, Blackthorn capsized, killing 23 of her crew. WASHINGTON Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf and U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Karl Schultz delivered remarks at the United States Coast Guard memorial service for the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn in St. Petersburgh, Florida. His father, Richard, served in the Air Force. Range: 8,000nmi (15,000km; 9,200mi) at 13kn (24km/h; 15mph) She was used as an ice breaker in the Great Lakes. On January 28th, 1980, the USCGC Blackthorn was outbound from Tampa Bay, having just completed a total refit, as the tanker Capricorn was inbound. All of that is according to two government reports. Ironwood participated in the Fleet Week celebrations in Portland, Oregon in 2017. The collision occurred in the evening of 28 January 1980, near the junction of Mullet Key and Cut "A" Channels approximately three-quarters of a mile from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay. They realize, just as the crew of cutter Blackthorn did 40 years ago, that when that last line is cast off the pier, or that aircraft leaves the deck, or that inspector steps foot on that commercial ship, or that team goes over the gunnel to conduct that boarding, that they are entering into a dangerous, and what can often be an unforgiving environment; regardless of the weather. USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) was a 180-foot sea going buoy tender (WLB). His actions saved a number of lives during the accident. Official websites use .gov Blackthorn was one of 39 original 180-foot (55m) seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942-1944. Blackthorn was initially assigned to the Great Lakes for ice-breaking duties, but after only a few months, she was reassigned to San Pedro, California. The Blackthorn sank, taking 23 crewmen with her. USCGC White Sumac (WLM-540) at anchor as Coast Guard and Navy divers assemble on the deck of the buoy tender to prepare to dive on the sunken cutter USCGC Blackthorn. Additionally, Admiral Hayes pointed out that attempts to establish a passing agreement by using only radiotelephone communications failed to be an adequate substitute for exchanging proper whistle signals. But I put it in Gods hands. No grave photo. Concurring with the marine board's determination of the cause, the Commandant emphasized in his "Action" that the failure of the persons in charge of both vessels to ascertain the intentions of the other through the exchange of appropriate whistle signals was the primary contributing cause. (LockA locked padlock) One of 40 180-foot buoy tenders built during World War II, Blackthorn was commissioned in 1944. The cutter eventually sank into the water.\r\rTwenty-seven crew members working on Blackthorn were rescued during the incident, while 23 others died that day.\r\rEvery year on Jan. 28, different communities and groups come together to remember the lives lost after the collision in Tampa Bay. (Please note the red text denotes those Purple Hearts already awarded or in progress.) The U.S. Coast Guard held a service Friday to honor the lives lost at the Blackthorn Memorial site in St. Petersburg. Vote 1 comment Best Add a Comment USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) was a 180-foot (55 m) seagoing buoy tender (WLB) which sank in 1980 in a collision near the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge, resulting in 23 crew member fatalities. Our Coast Guardsmen and women know this reality very well. The Alexander Hamilton was one of the newest ships in the service. LCDR George Sepel, the captain [] Six off-duty personnel who had mustered when they heard the collision alarm were trapped inside the ship. His family was presented with the Medal on 28 January 2000, the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. USCGC Blackthorn memorial. However, on 28 January 1980, while leaving Tampa Bay after the completion of the overhaul, she collided with the tanker SS Capricorn. As a result of the impact, the port anchor of Capricornbecame imbedded in Blackthorn'sport side. I was 9 years old. Blackthorn was one of 39 original 180-foot (55m) seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942 and 1944. He allowed even more jackets to float to escaping crew members by propping open a locker door with his own belt. Then as the two ships backed away from each other, the chain became taut. USCG Blackthorn. Blackthorn was initially assigned to the Great Lakes for ice-breaking duties, but after only a few months, she was reassigned to San Pedro, California. In 2000, the service heeded Clutters calls, awarding William Flores posthumously with the Coast Guard Medal, the forces highest peacetime service award. (Some contend that the brightly lit passenger vessel obscured the ability of the crews of Blackthorn and Capricorn to see each other.). Capricorn began to turn left, but this would not allow the ships to pass port-to-port. [1][2][3] About 2021 E.S.T., on January 28, 1980, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter BLACKTHORN and the U.S. tankship CAPRICORN collided in Tampa Bay, Florida. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Coast Guard crewmembers, survivors, family members, and community members from around the Tampa Bay area commemorated the 38th anniversary of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn tragedy, Sunday, at Liberty Baptist Church in St. Petersburg. Their commitment and dedication, we will never forget," Keynote speaker VADM Steven D. Poulin said. A Coast Guardsman salutes in front of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn memorial during the ceremony Jan. 27, 2023, in St. Petersburg for the 43rd anniversary of the ship's sinking. In fact, he is the epitome of the motto Semper Paratus, and I am proud to serve our Nation with him. Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the USCGC Blackthorn colliding with the tanker vessel Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 28, 1980. Sort By. Its still in service today. The anchor of the CAPRICORN became snagged and embedded in the port side of the BLACKTHORN. U.S. Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice William R. Flores was among those killed in the 1980 accident in the waters of Tampa Bay. Its a surreal fact made stranger by Bobby and Billys striking resemblance. The crew of USCGC JOHN SCHEURMAN continues the streak of excellence in the Arabian Sealeading yet another U.S. Coast Guard interdiction of illicit Liked by Fernando Gutierrez Exactly 42 years ago, 23 crew members aboard the U.S Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn lost their lives after colliding with a tanker in Tampa Bay.\r\rThe U.S. Coast Guard held a service Friday to honor the lives lost at the Blackthorn Memorial site in St. Petersburg.\r\rAt approximately 8:21 p.m. on Jan. 28, 1980, USCGC Blackthorn collided with the U.S. tankship Capricorn in Tampa Bay waters near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the Coast Guard explains.\r\rThe port anchor of Capricorn was then reportedly lodged into Blackthorn's port side as a result of the collision.\r\rMomentum from the two vessels caused the Capricorn's port anchor chain to be stretched, capsizing Blackthorn. The port anchor of Capricorn was then reportedly lodged into Blackthorn's port side as a result of the collision. [1] [2] [3] An Iris -class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. Bruce Lafond was drowned when the Blackthorn capsized. Killed in a Coast Guard accident, aboard the USCGC Blackthorne, United States Coast Guard Cutter, WLB-391, in Tampa Bay, Florida. James has been coming to the remembrance ceremony for 42 years. There are numerous privileges that come with this post Im toldbut none is greater than being Service Secretary to the 41,000 active duty, 7000 reservist, 8,600 civilian, and 29,000 auxiliary members of the Coast Guard. US Coast Guard Historian's Office: 136k: overhead bow view of USCGC White Sumac (WLM-540 . 1 May 1948 - 28 Jan 1980. 1989- USCGC Northwind decommissioned. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla Exactly 42 years ago, 23 crew members aboard the U.S Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn lost their lives after colliding with a tanker in Tampa Bay. Tampa, Florida (FL), US. Propulsion: 1 electric motor As our nations Coast Guard, you secure our ports and waterways, interdict drug smugglers, lead search and rescue missions, and respond to national emergencies. Earlier the cutter had been overtaken by the Kazakhstan, a Russian passenger ship. Blackthorn's captain, Lieutenant Commander George Sepel had departed the bridge to investigate a problem with the newly installed propulsion shaft. Though 27 crewmen survived the collision, 23 perished. These matters were referred to the commanders of the Seventh and Eighth Coast Guard Districts for further investigation and appropriate action. Shortly after the collision, Blackthorn capsized, killing 23 of her crew. Displacement: 935 long tons (950t) Early in my tenure as MCPOCG, I attended the memorial gathering for the USCGC BLACKTHORN on January 28, 2000, which commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the tragic accident. James Rovolis' brother George was among the crew who lost their lives in the tragedy. Several crew members who had just reported aboard tried to escape and in the process trapped themselves in the engine room. There were similar findings on the part of Blackthorn's commanding officer and officer of the deck. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla Exactly 42 years ago, 23 crew members aboard the U.S Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn lost their lives after colliding with a tanker in Tampa Bay. Blackthorn was initially assigned to the Great Lakes for ice-breaking duties, but after only a few months, she was reassigned to San Pedro, California and served in San Pedro for several years before being brought into the Gulf Coast region to serve in Mobile, Alabama then Galveston, Texas. Wartime: 1 3"/50 caliber single mount Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 . Blackthorn was one of 39 original 180-foot (55m) seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942 and 1944. 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