Post by HotelMike on Feb 11, 2005 17:29:21 GMT -5
I worked for the Navy as a civilian. During that time I met a retired Navy Chief that told of leaving a port in Puerto Rico on a ship that was out..., "monitoring". This was back during the cold war days. (Early 1970's)
They made several passes through the Triangle Area taking ocean floor reading for depth, etc. He indicated they sailed one direction during the day, doing a 360 and retracing their identical route at night.
Who knows what they were really looking for back then but on each pass the depth readings were different.
He also tells of a brand new Bell Helicopter they had on board that lifted off the deck and flew around a bit. Upon returning they landed and the thing split right in half. Not in two individual pieces but rather, from nose to tail the outer skin had split apart. Around the entire aircraft.
After reporting this situation they were ordered to dock at Norfolk where Bell and Naval Officials were waiting.
Can anyone confirm this incident? I do trust this old Salt but just curious if anyone else has heard a similar story.
They made several passes through the Triangle Area taking ocean floor reading for depth, etc. He indicated they sailed one direction during the day, doing a 360 and retracing their identical route at night.
Who knows what they were really looking for back then but on each pass the depth readings were different.
He also tells of a brand new Bell Helicopter they had on board that lifted off the deck and flew around a bit. Upon returning they landed and the thing split right in half. Not in two individual pieces but rather, from nose to tail the outer skin had split apart. Around the entire aircraft.
After reporting this situation they were ordered to dock at Norfolk where Bell and Naval Officials were waiting.
Can anyone confirm this incident? I do trust this old Salt but just curious if anyone else has heard a similar story.