Paul Allen and the Vulcan Inc. folks have had a very productive year. Most recently they announced the find of the USS HELENA CL-50, one of the light cruisers that accompanied STRONG as part of  Desron 21 during the engagements in the Kula Gulf in July of 1943. HELENA went down on July 6th, just 25 hours after STRONG. To read about this and see articles on all the ships recently located by the RV PETREL and its crew, see: ​https://www.paulallen.com/category/conservation-exploration/

In other news, the date and hotel location for the 2018 STRONG Association Reunion has been announced. The dates are Tuesday September 4th through Saturday September 9th. The hotel is the Best Western Plus just northeast of the Baltimore airport and 30 minutes from Annapolis. Our Wednesday trip will be to the US Naval Academy. Friday will be a tour of downtown Annapolis and a 40 minute river cruise. As soon as I have other details on the agenda and when to make reservations I'll post them and send a note around to you all. Looks like there are good public transportation options there and I look forward to a possible trip into D.C. to visit the WW2 Memorial. 

And, just in case there is anyone in the Los Angeles area who might be working on scripting The Castaway's War (had some website hits from that town), feel free to contact me for back stories and information. Haven't heard much since the film was optioned, but just so someone knows I'm open to help out in any way I can. Just sayin'. 

Tammi

If you follow Paul Allen and his world-wide fleet of ships that go seeking lost shipwrecks, then you've already heard about the recent find of the USS Lexington CV-2, an aircraft carrier lost during the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8th of 1942. If you haven't yet caught up to the news, then you can follow the images and some video here on Paul Allen's website: https://www.paulallen.com/uss-lexington-wreck-located-rv-petrel/

​Facebook is a great place to keep up with the actions of the RV Petrel. Click on the ship name to visit the page and see the latest images released. They will continue to offer these intriguing images of ships long lost. Save the page to keep up with their work.

-Tammi

​Today was a huge breakthrough in the development of this project. Thanks to David Mearns, shipwreck hunter extraordinaire, I am now in direct contact with a key crew member of the RV Petrel research ship, submarine and ROV pilot Paul Mayer. The Petrel is one of the many ships in the arsenal of Paul Allen and his Vulcan, Inc. company. It's the most recently acquired and has been fitted out for the work of searching the sea bottom for lost WWII shipwrecks and other projects as required. In the search for Strong, this is the most likely vessel. Paul Mayer and the group performed a preliminary search in the Kula Gulf in 2015, but the equipment they had on hand didn't reveal the ships location. They have a superior scanner now and plan to try to use it at some time this year. Future projects will take them close to the area and the plan is to swoop in and do a quick scan. Once found, they will notify me and we will see what transpires from there. He is aware of what I'm trying to accomplish for my uncle Billy and for the family members of the Strong. 

Being able to have some time with a professional in his position was amazing and I understand how rare it is to have such an opportunity. These guys work long hours at what they do, even though there is fun and triumph in the work. There are times when things break down or go wrong. Most of this gets edited out of any broadcasts, but the mishaps always add a human dimension to the stories they tell of the loss of the ships and their men. Paul tells me there is another research team also interested in searching for Strong this year. This group has manned submersibles to test run and want to dive the Strong wreck for practice. The Kula Gulf is a small enclosed area, nicely contained and good for this type of exercise. The wreck of the Strong provides them with a good test subject free from large ship traffic. Paul is friends with these folks and will advise them that I would like to be notified if and when they get to work. I'm withholding the name of this group for now, but they have also worked with David in the past. So if we are successful in this the 75th anniversary of the sinking of Strong, in getting her found - David is the man to thank for helping me put all the pieces together either way. And I might just owe him a nice bottle of some good Kentucky bourbon and a lot more.  

Same to you Paul, for giving me access to your expertise and knowledge!  To see Paul and his cohort Rob Kraft and the team at work, check out the live shot video of the USS Indianapolis wreck: https://www.paulallen.com/watch-live-tour-uss-indianapolis-wreck/

I'm completely humbled and amazed that this has gotten this far. Beyond expectations, so I guess I need to set up some new ones!

Back in March of 2016 I posted a couple of blogs about the location of part of Vasco da Gama’s fleet off the coast of Oman by David Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries, LTD working for the Ministry of Heritage and Culture. Da Gama’s uncles, Vicente and Bras Sodre were responsible for the fleet. The ships found were the ESMERALDA and SAO PEDRO, both Portuguese naus. Naus were 3 or 4 masted sailing ships developed during the 14th and 15th centuries. They were used primarily to sail the African coasts before branching out to India and the Americas. Both were lost in a violent storm in May 1503 at Al Hallaniyah island with much loss of life including Vicente. In the first week of January (3rd-6th) after the new year David and the archaeological team from the expedition attended the Society for Historical Archaeology Conference in New Orleans. A paper detailing the history of the fleet, the process of the expedition and the artifacts found was presented by David and his team and can be downloaded and read on the website at this link: http://esmeraldashipwreck.com/archaeology/

Not only can you read the paper, but there are some amazing video links at the bottom of the page. Watch how they move huge heavy boulders from the site under water. Hear and see David as the Omani military helicopter delivers a new air compressor to the group.  He takes a pretty good pelting from rocks and sand trying to video the event!

For more videos of other parts of the expedition, follow this link: http://esmeraldashipwreck.com/videos/

To me, it’s fun and fascinating to watch them work underwater, to see the equipment they use and to make some amazing discoveries of rare artifacts. Many of the videos are narrated by David and his excitement in the work is palatable. Personally, I’d love to be on the deck of the ship hunkered over a screen pulling out artifacts and working on a little sorting and cataloging. I have some experience with this being my degree is in anthropology and archaeology (hint, hint). Just sayin’.  :o)
While David was in New Orleans he had the pleasure of a couple of meetings with Kevin Wheeler, son of Lt. Jg. Virgil Wheeler, a gunnery officer on STRONG. My husband Greg and I met Kevin in December and were able to help set this up. Anytime we meet a new family member it reinforces what we’re trying to do here. We’re honored to add Kevin to the STRONG family, and to have helped him meet David.

If we do manage to get to STRONG one day, David will be the guy.  Our goal this year, the 75th anniversary of the sinking of STRONG is to be more pugnacious in pursuing some funding and sponsorship of the expedition. Anyone with ideas or connections to philanthropic organizations who might want to help out, let me know.  We have some ideas and connections that may be helpful, but any new input is welcome. Perhaps when David comes over to promote his book The Shipwreck Hunter in mid-summer, we can make some good connections.

Enjoy the videos and reading about this amazing expedition!

​-Tammi

Map below from ESMERALDA expedition website.
Photo of Portuguese nau from Wikipedia.
​

 Sometimes it takes a while to get your thoughts together. It's easy to get distracted by other things once you are back from a memorable vacation, too. With that said let me just say New Orleans was eye opening. We arrived December 4th to 78 sunny degrees and took a long stroll through the French Quarter. A lovely lunch at Pere Antoine's and dessert at Cafe du Monde topped off the first day there. The next day we visited the reason we even went.
 
The National WWII Museum (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/) takes up several city blocks off of Magazine Street a stone's throw from the Mississippi River.  Doors opened here in June of 2000 and in 17 short years the facility has grown like proverbial weeds. Now, it's the #2 museum in the country and #2 in the world. It clearly earns every accolade. The exhibits are built in the quality of Hollywood sets and are so completely realistic you feel as if you're there. It would take days to view all the film reels and movie clips they have secreted in walls, panes of glass, projected on table tops and inside suitcases. Reading all the storyboards from the various exhibits inside the multiple buildings would be many more days. Inside the entrance above your head hangs a C-47 Skytrain airplane. A Howitzer and Higgins boat are underneath. A passenger train provides space to introduce you to a solider, sailor or other person from the WW2 era and to follow their history throughout the exhibit. There is a 4D film presentation produced by actor Tom Hanks, "Beyond All Boundaries". You will experience the sensation of bomb blasts, snow falling from above and the movement of bomber planes in action as you watch the engrossing film.
 
Active exhibits include: the D-Day Invasion of Normandy; Arsenal of Democracy; the John E. Kushner Restoration Pavillion where the PT 305 Higgins boat was fully restored; BB's Stage Door Canteen where the Victory Belles perform; Ralph
E. Crump Merchant Marine Gallery; US Freedom Pavillion: The Boeing Center; the USS Tang Submarine Exhibit; the Road to Berlin and the Road to Tokyo. We spent two days there, even attended the Pearl Harbor Day ceremony. Needless to say we
need to go back as we missed a few things. The museum is constantly adding on and currently building a new exhibit space. A canopy will cover the entire complex and protect visitors from the sun and inclimate weather. Across the street they have broken ground for a hotel complex that will open in May of 2019. As soon as I'm able, I'm booking a room!
 
If you have artifacts, oral histories or any documents/photos from your man or woman who served in any capacity during WW2, the museum would love to take donations of original items or copies for their archives. The person to contact to discuss any donations is Toni Kiser at [email protected]. Toni is also available to help with any research. At present, I've given her some STRONG documents for their archives, as they had none. I plan on giving her more in the future. Many of you have shared information with me that includes documents and photos. If I may have your permission to share this with the museum, please let me know.
 
By the end of the week it was 40 degrees with rain. They even had to de-ice our wings on Friday as we were heading home! In spite of the dramatic weather change I wouldn't have missed this trip for anything and can't wait to go back. If you plan on heading to New Orleans and need recommendations about the museum or places to stay, pop me a note. And remember, Kevin Wheeler is ready to be your host and meet any and all STRONG family members who come to visit. Contact him at [email protected].

Tammi​

Hi families,

On Monday we're off to New Orleans, mainly to visit the National World War 2 Museum. I've long wanted to visit and now seems the right time. I'll be meeting with a person on the curatorial staff and doing a bit of recon work at the museum, checking out how a researcher gets access to their collections and artifacts. Should be very moving and lots to learn at the #2 museum in the world! We'll also be meeting for the first time the son of Lt. Jg. Virgil Wheeler, a gunnery officer on STRONG. Kevin, we're so looking forward to meeting you!

A friend has had a particular honor bestowed upon his family and it's something I feel needs sharing. I've known Yale Goldman for many years now, as we both also have a hobby dealing with amber, a natural and semi-precious stone. As Yale travels to the Dominican Republic to replenish his amber stock from time to time, it was he I enlisted to help me track down the daughter of Captain Wellings a few years ago (hello Anne!), and this he did excellently. I had no idea though, of Yale's WW2 history regarding his own father, Robert Goldman. Robert was a pharmacist's mate with the Coast Guard on the LST 66 and involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines on November 12th of 1944. Though severely injured, he managed to tend to his fellow wounded and dying after the ship took a kamikaze hit. In his honor, the Navy recently notified the family that a ship is to be named in his honor. How could I not share this wonderful and touching story? To read about Robert and his bravery, visit this link: http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2017/07/tlbl-robert-goldman-lst-66-kamikaze-crash/

Yale lost his Dad years ago and is sad he's not around to realize what's happening. My feeling is, he knows. 

​-Tammi

UPDATE!  March 8, 2021:  ​A welcome update! The ship to be named for Robert Goldman will be commissioned this Friday March 12 at 10:00 am EST. For a link to the ceremony please click here: USCGC Robert Goldman

UPDAT E 3/18/2021: Gallery photos from commissioning of USCGC Robert Goldman​

Those of you who have visited my website know I have a page dedicated to resources that can help you research your veteran and their time in the military, Navy Links & Research. Recently the National WW2 Museum in New Orleans (a fantastic and wonderful place that I will be visiting soon!) released a guide in PDF available to any and all who need help in researching their men and women who served in WW2. The link to the guide asks you for your name and email address, then the name of your veteran. Once you hit the submit button, an email with a link to download the 19 page guide is sent to you. Click the link and download the guide to your hard drive. The link: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/research-veteran

Also, the museum has an extensive archive of information on all things WW2. When we visit in December, I hope to learn more about how they make materials available to individuals and researchers. I've made a contact in the curatorial department who has agreed to meet with me. I hope she's up to answering all my questions! For more information on what they have, here's a link to their Center for Collections and Archives: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/about-us/notes-museum/center-collections-archives?tm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social

​-Tammi

​Today David Mearns is giving a talk in London at a forum called Icons Interviewed. I so wish I could be there to hear him answer questions and listen to him discuss his work in shipwreck hunting. Here's hoping there might be a link to share of a recording of the appearance! Congrats David and hope you have a great time!

In the meantime, here's a link to a recent BBC article on the finding of an ancient astrolabe in the wreck of the Esmeralda: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41724022?SThisFB

There will be so much more news to come as the time approaches for his book release here in the US next year. Also holding out for news from Stephen Harding on the latest about The Castaway's War and any possible screenplay. He's looking forward to the beginning of production for The Last Battle in Europe next year. 2018 could prove to be very interesting for the STRONG family and beyond!

​-Tammi

Photo courtesy of Icons Interviewed website: ​https://spark.adobe.com/page/oTJ7CAhOAASZP/?w=3_3106