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TEXAS TOWER # 4 TRAGEDY
As recalled by Ralph Sutton, RDSN, USN, 1958-1961
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Below information is the actual wording from the USS Lloyd Thomas DDE 764 logbook. Note that we left Newport on the 9th and the first entry into the log book showing any relevance to the TT incident is on January 15th with the notation of the wave height. The information listed prior to the incident in the log book deals mainly with water and air temperatures, different screens we were forming with other ships (most of the time the names of the ships were not mentioned when we changed screens), etc. Monday, January 9, 1961 to Monday, January 28, 1961 Sunday, January 15 - seas from 4 to 17 feet
19 Days At Sea
Sunday, January 15 - 2031 - proceeding at highest safe speed to close Texas Tower #4 which was reported breaking up.
2140 arrived at navigational position. No lights sighted and radio contact not gained. Commenced searching the area while searching for survivors.
Monday, January 16 - still searching for the remains of Texas Tower #4 along with personnel - waves back to normal 1 foot.
Tuesday, January 17 - looking for survivors are Fred T, Berry and Norris
Tuesday, January 17 - arrived Newport, refueled
Wednesday, January 18 - underway from Newport (shortly after midnight)
Thursday, January 19 - transferred personnel by boat to USS Scorpion SSN 589
Friday, January 20 - seas at 4 to 15 feet
Monday, January 28 - arrived Newport, RI
The earliest recall of this incident I have is leaving Newport and the weather was miserable. It was raining, cold, and the water was rough before we even got near the open sea. After that it must have been the usual routine as I do not recall anything until the night of the incident. In my mind I recall leaving Newport in miserable weather and immediately rendezvoused with the USS Wasp with no recollection of the preceding seven days. The main reason I recall what actually happened on the 15th is that I was on the 4-8 shift in CIC and I was working the radar scope when the tower went down.
Regardless whether we rendezvoused with the USS Wasp or we were already operating with her, we headed south to operate off of Cape Hatteras.
We passed Texas Tower #4 on our starboard side. I don't recall how far we were but it had to be fairly close, maybe 10 to 15 miles. Although the media states the waves were anywhere from 25 to 50 feet high, our logbook states the waves were 17 feet high. Keep in mind that this was a subjective opinion logged into the logbook, as we had no equipment on board that measured wave height that I know of. With the high winds, the waves were washing over our ship.
When we had traveled south of the tower the USS Wasp received the emergency call put out from the Texas Tower. Task Group Bravo was ordered to turn around and proceed back to the tower at the highest safe speed possible as the tower was in danger of collapsing. I do not recall the exact time we received the call (log book entry is wrong in stating the time as 2031, more than likely 1731 hrs) or how far out we were ( 24 miles is stuck in my mind) but I do recall the radio traffic going back and forth between the Wasp and other ships. The USS Wasp stated they were unable to launch helicopters or planes due to the severe winds and waves. We were ordered to proceed to the tower and give whatever aid we were capable of. At approximately a minute or two after 8:00pm, as I watched the tower on the scope, the image started to break up. After two to three sweeps the image was gone completely. I imagine the image appeared to be breaking up because of the different angles the radar was picking up as the tower tilted and slid into the waves. We were 18 miles out from the tower.
Eventually we arrived at the location were the tower had stood and looked for any possible survivors. The McCaffrey was the first ship to go over the site and picked up noises coming from the wreckage. Shortly after this it was decided to send a signal in case any survivors were trapped in the structure. The classic ‘Shave and a Haircut’ was used. The McCaffrey stated they got a response back from the structure. Later on we made a pass over the structure and all we heard were noises that were caused by objects shifting and rubbing against each other. We stayed on station looking for survivors until late Tuesday morning.
We then broke off and steamed back to Newport, arriving at Newport around 4:00pm, to refuel. We left to go back on station a little after midnight. I know because I had the first watch. We continued past the TT site and proceeded to Cape Hatteras and continued the ASW exercises.
Ralph Sutton
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