When I worked at the Naval Underwater System Center in Newport, one of my co-workers was supposed to ride Thresher on that last dive. He was bumped by a “VIP”. After that, he would never ride again.
Few times was offered and went on what was a kind of PR “trip” was all I could tolerate. High admiration for our submarine force crews. Pretty sure they don’t do those anymore, not after the Greeneville collision with the Ehime Maru, while demonstrating to VIPs an emergency blow surfacing.
I know a guy that was on 652, he never rode again and was forever named “Wimpy”
I know a guy that was on 651, he never rode again and was forever named “Wimpy”
Funny when disasters hit you always hear of the what ifs..
I went to New London in May 62 as RM2 and ‘flunked’ the free ascent test, basically blowing up my sinuses.
It happened on the way down and I was first in line to step into the ‘tank’ and the instructors(2) wouldn’t let me go.
I washed out and it may have turned out to be the ‘luckiest’ moment of my young life as, when at the Pentagon I ‘copied’ the message about the accident and recognized a few names as classmates - not close, just in same class.
The thing is that is the type of boat I requested so my ‘incident in the tank’ worked out well.
RIP USS Thresher (SSN-591) and all those committed to the deep. There but for the Grace of God....etc...etc