[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

Don't think I ever posted this but back in 1969 when I was on the USS Enterprise we were moving from Newport News Shipyard/Norfolk NS out west to Alameda Naval Air Station, we had to go around South America as the carrier was too wide for the canal. As we were going through Cape Horn the weather got terrible, really, really terrible and we had to make sure everything was really well secured! About 0200 (2:00 AM for the civilians) we heard the 1MC start to say something, all that came out was "brace...." and the carrier STOPPED DEAD from 15 knots! It appears we hit a huge wave, the bridge watch standers said it was at least 30 feet higher than the flight deck, maybe more. I was just going into the enclosed operating station (EOS) and got my right side and side of my head really banged hard, slight concussion I found out later, our throttle valve watch had his face smashed with a broken nose and about 250 crew were hurt it seems. There had been some guys on the flight deck looking at lights along the "end of the world" and they flew 50+ feet on non-skid which had to have really hurt. Captain Peterson was on the bridge and actually had his safety belt on so he stayed in his chair but other watch standers flew everywhere. But we made it to California thank goodness!
John

WOW- incredible. Thank you for sharing.