U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office
2703 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20593-7031


U.S. Coast Guard Museum
Coast Guard Academy - Waesche Hall
15 Mohegan Ave
New London, CT 06320-8100

Contacting us:  U.S.C.G. Historian's Office

Ships & Aircrafts

The Revenue Steamer Perry

The U.S. Revenue Steamer Perry, circa 1890

 

Please search the image and resource galleries at the bottom of the page for images, articles, reports and publications on Coast Guard cutters, vessels, boats, icebreakers, lightships, buoys, planes, etc.

 

The Coast Guard maintains and has used a variety of assets and vessels to achieve the multi-faceted missions of the service.  Included on this page of Historic Ships and Aircraft are all images and documents for Coast Guard Assets including ships, cutters, icebreakers, vessels, boats, and aircraft as well as aids to navigation (ATON) including lightships, buoys, lighthouse and buoy tenders, and Loran.

 Photo of the USCGC Cheyenne homeported in St. Louis. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Ayla Kelley.

 

                                                                

CGC Boutwell's aviation detachment from AIRSTA Barber's Point off Iraq in March of 2003

 

Aircraft

Types of Fixed Wing Aircraft, Serial Numbers, and Histories (click on aircraft type for information); Index is chronological and lists aircraft designation, manufacturer, and first year of acquisition by the Coast Guard (Unless otherwise indicated the aircraft are land monoplanes):
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 Aircraft

Aeromarine Model 40F Flying Boat, 1920

Beechcraft JRB-4/5 Expeditor, 1943

Beechcraft BE-65 Queen Air, 1980

Boeing PB-1G Flying Fortress, 1945

Bombadier CL-604 Challenger

Chance-Vought O2U-2 Corsair, 1934

Consolidated N4Y-1, 1932

Consolidated Vultee PB4Y-1P Liberator, 1944: (Flight Manual)

Consolidated Vultee PBY-5A / 6A Catalina, 1941: (Flight Manual)

Convair HC-131A Samaritan, 1976: (Flight Manual)

Convair PB2Y-3 Coronado, 1944 PB4Y-2G [P4Y-2] Privateer, 1945

Curtiss "BT" Flying Boat (twin propellers) 1916

Curtiss "F" Flying Boat, 1915

Curtiss HS-2L Flying Boat, 1920

Curtiss MF Flying Boat, 1925

Curtiss R5C-1 Commando, 1943

Curtiss R-6, 1917

Curtiss SO3C-1/2, 1943

Curtiss SOC-4, 1938

Dassault-Breguet HU-25A / B / C Guardian, 1977

Douglas O-38C, 1931

Douglas R4D-5, 1943

Douglas R5D-3/4 Skymaster, 1945

Douglas RD-1/4 Dolphin, 1932

Fairchild C-123B Provider, 1958

Fairchild J2K-1, 1937

General Aviation (Fokker) PJ-1 / PJ-2 Flying Boat, 1932

Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, 1987

Grumman J4F-1 / 2 Widgeon, 1941

Grumman JF-2; J2F-5 / 6 Duck, 1934

Grumman JRF-2/3/5 Goose, 1939

Grumman UF-1G/2G (later HU-16E) Albatross (or Goat), 1951; History; Photo Gallery

Grumman VC-4A Gulfstream I, 1963

Grumman VC-11A Gulfstream II, 1965

Gulfstream Aviation C-20 B Gulfstream IV, 1983

Gulfstream Aviation C-37A, 2002

Hall PH-2/3 Flying Boat, 1938

Howard GH-2/3 Nightingale, 1944

Lockheed HC-130 B/H/J Hercules, 1959; also EC-130E

Lockheed R30-1 Electra, 1936

Lockheed R-50-1/4/5 Lodestar, 1940

Loening OL-5, 1926

Martin P5M-1G/2G Marlin, 1954: (Flight Manual)

Martin PBM-3C/3D/3S/5, 1943

Martin RM-1Z (VC-3A) 4-0-4, 1953

Naval Aircraft Factory, N3N-3, 1940

North American SNJ-5 Texan, 1943

Northrop RT-1 Golden Goose, 1935

Schreck-Viking OO-1, 1931

Schweizer RG-8A Condor, 1986

Schweizer, RU-38A Twin Condor, 1989

Sikorsky S-39; 1930-1935 (on loan from Sikorsky)

Standard NT-2, 1934

(Boeing) N2S-3, 1946

Stinson OY-1/2 (L-5) Sentinel, 1948

Stinson RQ-1 (XR3Q-1) Reliant, 1934

Vought (Chance-Vought) O2U-2 Corsair, 1934

Vought OS2U-2/3 Kingfisher, 1942

Vought UO-1 (UO-4), 1925

Vultee SNV-1, 1942

Waco W-1, 1937

 Prototypes, Test Aircraft and Miscellaneous Acquisitions
 * CASA-212 300 Aviocar 

* Cessna Citation 500

* Curtiss SB2C-4 Helldiver

* Israeli Aircraft Industries Commodore Westwind 1123

* North American B-25J Mitchell (44-31357)

* MH-90 Enforcer; MD Helicopters; 1999

* UAV HV-911 Eagle Eye; Bell Helicopters; 2003

 Types of Rotary Wing Aircraft, Serial Numbers, and Histories

(Index is chronological and lists aircraft designation, manufacturer, and first year of acquisition by the Coast Guard)

Aerospatiale, HH-65 Dolphin, 1984

Agusta Helicopters, MH-68 Mako, 2001

Bell, HTL-1/4/5/7, 1947

Bell, HUL-1G, 1959

Kaman K-225 Mixmaster, 1950

MD Helicopters: MH-90 Enforcer, 1998

Piasecki HRP-1 Flying Banana, 1948

Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican, 1968

Sikorsky, HH-52 Seaguard, 1963: (Flight Manual)

Sikorsky, HH-60 Jayhawk, 1990

Sikorsky HNS-1 Hoverfly, 1943

Sikorsky HOS-1 (R-6) Hoverfly II, 1945

Sikorsky HO2S-1 (R-5A), 1946

Sikorsky HO3S-1G Dragonfly, 1947

Sikorsky HO4S-2G / 3-G (HH-19G) Chickasaw, 1951

Sikorsky HUS-1G (S-58; HH-34), 1959

Sikorsky HO5S-1G, 1952

Additional Cutter Information
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Cutter Accidents

Please note that the following list was first compiled by the Cutter Operations Division in 1990; other entries have been added and/or updated via information provided by other sources, including former crewmen.

CUTTER
NAME:

DATE OF
ACCIDENT

TYPE OF
ACCIDENT

DAMAGE
ASSESSMENT
[Original damage assessment as per Cutter Operations Division 1990 report--if the accident listed is from that report]


Air Partridge

Nov 1947

Towing collision

Moderate


Air Peacock

Nov 1947

Towing collision

Moderate


Air Tanger

Nov 1947

Towing collision

Moderate


Eastwind

19 Jan 1949

Collision

Major, 13 Dead


White Holly

27 Aug 1949

Collision

Minor


Macoma

28 Mar 1950

Grounded

Total loss


Macoma (2nd)

08 May 1952

Grounded

Minor


Sweetbriar

11 July 1953

Holed on rock

Moderate


Linden

10 Feb 1955

Grounded

Minor


1955 -- "Storis ran aground in the Wrangell Narrows, near Petersburg, Alaska. She was then sent to Seattle for major repairs."

Iris

19 Oct 1957

Struck submerged object

Moderate

Iroquois

06 Mar 1958 (incorrect date; see below)

Grounded

Major


"The [above] report was in error. Actual date the Iroquois grounded was 29 June 1954."


Ironwood

15 Oct 1958

Grounded

Minor


Mallow

04 Dec 1959

Collision

Minor


General Greene

07 Mar 1960

Grounded

Moderate


1960 -- Acushnet & General Greene
: "On 7 March 1960 the Acushnet collided with the General Greene when the Acushnet attempted to rescue and prevent the General Greene from going aground. This caused a four foot gash on her port side and a hole under her bow caused by its own anchor coming through her hull after the anchor had been lowered to prevent the Acushnet from going aground while trying to get rescue lines to the General Greene."


1960 -- WAL 505 Relief
sank after the SS Green Bay rammed her while the former was on station on 24 June 1960 at the entrance of Ambrose Channel.


Gentian

09 Nov 1961

Collision

Moderate


1962:
"Spar sank to her main deck in Narragansett Bay in 1962 after striking the bottom just north of Prudence Island, Rhode Island."


1962 -- "Winnebago went aground on Tripod Reef in the west corridor at the entrance of Pearl Harbor at 2310 hours on 26 March 1962. This was . . . due to a navigation error by a junior officer. With the assistance of U.S. Navy tugs, she was eventually refloated and returned to service."


Papaw

31 Jan 1963

Collision

Moderate


1963 -- Tamaroa:
"In March 1963 the Tamaroa sank while in dry-dock at Bushey's Red Hook, Brooklyn. She was raised, repaired, and returned to service."


Mesquite

10 Apr 1964

Grounded

Moderate


Ingham

10 May 1965

Fire

Moderate


Point Glass

26 May 1965

Collision

Minor


Fir

15 Jul 1965

Grounded

Minor


Cape Carter

19 Jul 1965

Collision

Moderate


Owasco

24 Aug 1965

Grounded

Moderate


Walnut

01 Sep 1965

Collision

Minor

Point Thatcher

04 Oct 1966

Struck submerged object

Major


Arbutus

15 Jul 1966

Grounded

Minor


Chautauqua

20 Jan 1967

Fire

Moderate


1967 -- Yakutat:
"On July 6, 1967, USCGC Yakutat WHEC-380 collided with the USN tanker Cimarron during refueling in the waters off Viet Nam, split 14 frames, returned to Subic Bay for repairs."


1967 -- Staten Island:
"In the summer of 1967 the Staten Island bounced on the bottom while traveling west from Prudhoe Bay after completing a survey of the area. . .The swells were five foot at the time and soundings for that area were extremely scarce. The charts for that area were still listed as 'classified.' The damage sustained was not major."


Eagle

Jan 1967

Collision

Major


Resolute

10 Jan 1968

Collision

Moderate


Avoyel

10 Jan 1968

Collision

Moderate


Barataria

24 Mar 1968

Explosion

Moderate

Bittersweet

12 Apr 1968

Struck submerged object

Moderate


Sauk

08 Oct 1968

Grounded

Major

Loganberry

03 Dec 1968

Struck submerged object

Total loss [incorrect--raised & repaired]


White Alder

07 Dec 1968

Collision

Sank, Total Loss, 17 Dead


1969 -- Evergreen:
"In 1969 the Evergreen had a major engine room fire."


1969 -- Staten Island
: "In 1969 a fire broke out in the transformer vault area amidships, near the EM shop, on board the Staten Island while moored in Seattle. The compartment was locked and the duty EM did not have a key. The fire spread into the cork insulation on the hull. This created a smoky mess. The Seattle Fire Department had to use phosphorus rings to cut through the deck, to attack the fire. I do not believe there were any major injuries, but the fire did quite a bit of damage."


Escanaba

Jan 1969

Motor burnt out

Adrift, minor


Point Verde

13 Jan 1969

Fire

Minor


Acacia

12 Mar 1969

Collision

Minor


Southwind

15 Aug 1969

Grounded

Minor


Storis

07 Sep 1969

Holed by ice

Moderate


1970 -- Edisto
: "I served aboard the Edisto on Deepfreeze 69-70, it should be noted that while breaking pack ice we broke our rudder shaft and also lost our port screw's fairwater. We were then sent to a floating drydock [for] roughly a month in Wellington, N.Z., and had the rudder stock flown in from Seattle."


Courier

12 Jun 1970

Collision

Minor


Point Brower

13 Jul 1970

Capsized

Moderate


Kukui

24 Jul 1970

Collision

Minor


1971 -- Staten Island
: "In early 1971 the Staten Island struck a submerged uncharted rock. Sustained substantial hull and keel damage. Sailed with pumps running to Melbourne, Australia for emergency repairs, then home to Seattle for dry-dock repairs."


1971 -- Morgenthau
: "In 1971 the Morgenthau suffered major damage to its keel and losing both propellers and the sonar dome while on patrol in Vietnam. She was towed back to Subic Bay for repairs."


1971 -- Sherman:
"1971 the CGC Sherman while underway departing Boston Harbor for an ocean station had one turbine explode which blew a hole in the side of her hull."


Spar

29 Jan 1971

Grounded

Minor


Duane

03 Aug 1971

Grounded

Minor


1971 -- Castle Rock:
"1971 Operation Market Time: While in a yard period at [Singapore] a sea chest valve on board the CGC Castle Rock was improperly reinstalled, which effectively flooded an entire engine room. Two months for repairs."


Hornbeam

24 May 1972

Collision

Major

Minnetonka

20 Jun 1972

Heater Explosion

Moderate


Eagle

Jun 1972

Collision

Substantial


1972 -- Minnetonka
: "On 20 June 1972, on board the Minnetonka, a water heater in the CPO mess exploded, killing one crewman."

The Coast Guardsman who lost his life was EM3 Craig J. Surmeier, USCG.


Edisto

05 Oct 1972

Collision

Major


Jarvis

15 Nov 1972

Grounded

Major


Sweetgum

13 April 1973

Grounded

Minor


1974-75 -- Burton Island:
"While on Deep Freeze '75, while escorting the USNS Pvt John R Towle through the ice pack, the Burton Island hit a pressure ridge, stopped, the Towle didn't. Left a second notch in the stern. Damage was later repaired in Long Beach, CA."


Clover

26 May 1975

Grounded

Moderate


Basswood

18 Oct 1975

Grounded

Minor


Ingham

04 Jun 1974

Collision

Minor


1976 --
Ingham: "June 4th or 6th of 1976 when the Ingham arriving Boston rammed the dock almost head on. Required immediate shipyard availability to repair the eight-foot gash in her bow. Repairs to the minor? damage were completed and she steamed under a full head of power to catch up with Eagle and the rest of the squadron."


1977 -- Unimak:
"In 1977 the Unimak suffered a major fire and she remained out of commission for a year."


Mariposa

21 Nov 1976

Grounded

Moderate


1977 -- Midgett: "1977 fire on board the CGC Midgett: On 30 March 1977 a rack light in a forward berthing area on the 2nd deck caught fire to a pillow and spread quickly throughout the berthing. The fire lasted for over an hour and took the life of one MKC. He died of smoke inhalation."

The Coast Guardsman who lost his life was MKC William D. Gray, USCG.


Duane

25 Jul 1977

Shaft Damaged

Minor


Dallas

10 Aug 1977

Flooding

Moderate


Westwind

13 Dec 1977

Grounding

Minor


Basswood

24 Jan 1978

Grounding

Moderate


Sagebrush

02 May 1978

Grounding

Moderate


Sedge

14 Aug 1978

Collision

Moderate


Confidence

14 Aug 1978

Collision

Moderate


Mahoning

12 Sep 1978

Collision

Minor


Cuyahoga

20 Oct 1978

Collision

Sank, Total Loss, 11 Dead


Westwind

01 Feb 1979

Collision

Minor

Citrus

27 Feb 1979

Struck submerged object

Major


1979 -- Ingham
: "On 4 July 1979 the Mary Ann, a suspected drug smuggling vessel, collided with the Ingham."


Blackthorn

28 Jan 1980

Collision

Sank, Total Loss, 23 dead


Iris

24 Apr 1980

Fire

Minor


Jarvis

07 Oct 1980

Collision

Moderate


Durable

04 Dec 1980

Fire

Minor

Polar Sea

28 Jan 1982

Grounded(Actually collision--see below)

Moderate


"The Polar Sea entry for 28 Jan 1982 was incorrect. The USNS Yukon collided with the Polar Sea while the latter was escorting the Yukon north out of McMurdo Sound. The Polar Sea was stopped by ice when the Yukon collided with her, causing moderate damage."

The third mate of the Yukon corrected the last statement: "Concerning your list of USCG cutter accidents - I was third mate aboard the tanker USNS Yukon when it collided with the stuck Polar Sea in January of 1982. It is rather misleading to imply the Yukon collided with the Polar Sea. The Polar Sea switched off its turbines and decided to operate solely on diesels to save fuel, as they stated the ice was getting thinner. They relayed this to our vessel. Then the ice started to thicken and the Polar Sea requested we maintain a closer cpa as the ice was closing in. Shortly after we closed up, per their request, they went up on the ice and got stuck because it had thickened up again. We went immediately full astern on the Yukon, but due to the narrow channel we were unable to miss the Polar Sea. We shifted the helm at the last minute to minimize the damage to both vessels. This accident was caused by the Polar Sea trying to save fuel, not a simple tanker hitting them. I think that should be made clear in your archives. I was on watch at the time of the incident."


Gallatin

18 Jul 1982

Grounded

Minor


1983 -- Eastwind:
"During her last Antarctic trip (1983), the Eastwind collided with the edge of an iceberg. Hot water was used to melt the edge jammed into the ship's hull. She was temporarily patched and made Sydney. There she was more permanently repaired to make the trip back to Mobile, Al, which she accomplished in 1984. There was no loss of life."


1984 -- Westwind
: "On 1 January 1984 the Westwind sustained major hull damage in the Weddel Sea on a Deep Freeze cruise." LT Clarence Bonner provided more details: "The Westwind was caught in a pressure ridge, which ripped a 6ft high, 140ft gash down her side, above the waterline. The crew patched it with rubber sheeting until they could get out of the ice, then with plywood, and limped into South America for steel repairs. I was an RM2 at her homeport of Mobile at the time and recall the message traffic well, and had friends on her."

Snohomish

13 Jan 1984

Struck submerged object

Moderate


Dallas

24 Jun 1984

Grounded

Moderate


1984 -- Polar Sea:
"The USCGC Polar Sea had a fire in an auxiliary engine space early to mid-July 1984 while in drydock at Todd Shipyard, Seattle, Washington. There were no significant personnel injuries."


1985 -- Polar Sea: "The Polar Sea encountered a rogue wave off the coast of Queen Charlotte Island in the Gulf of Alaska in [October of] 1985. An MST3 died of head injuries shortly after tumbling head over heels from one end of the bridge to another several times and crashing head first into the helm console. An ensign suffered a broken arm."

The Coast Guardsman who lost his life was MST3 Bradley J. Galik, USCG.


Chase

08 May 1985

Fire

Minor (see below)


Cutter Division originally classified this mishap as "minor" but in fact the fire killed Chase crewman MK3 Nicholas V. Berei, USCG. The fire caused extensive damage and the cutter had to be towed into port by CGC Chilula for lengthy repairs.


White Sage

15 Dec 1985

Collision

Moderate


Point Franklin

15 Dec 1986

Grounded

Minor


Point Steele

31 Mar 1987

Grounded (?)

Minor


1987 -- Farallon:
"The Farallon struck a reef off of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas, 1987-1988."


Vigorous

1 Jun 1989

Fire

Minor


1989 -- Chandeleur
: "The Chandeleur struck a coral head in June of 1989 in the Bahamas. It made its way back to Miami on one screw where temporary repairs were effected (replaced the stbd screw). It then made its way on one screw to the CG yard for repairs. I believe this resulted in the first strut replacement done on a 110'. Damage sustained was: cracked stbd fin stabilizer, bent port and stbd screws, bent port shaft, bent port strut, cracked port rudder."


Mesquite

04 Dec 1989

Grounded

Total loss


Naushon

05 Dec 1989

Grounded

Minor


Sledge

09 Jan 1990

Grounded

Moderate


Planetree

25 Jan 1990

Grounded

Undetermined


1992 -- Point Harris:
"The Point Harris was badly damaged during Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii in 1992. She was decommissioned and sold."


1993 -- Boutwell: "In [1992] the Boutwell was struck by a rogue wave while in transit to her ALPAT area. The bridge crew reported green water breaking over the pilot house. The wave heavily damaged the RHI, stove in a watertight door, carried away a weatherdeck ladder and a P-250 pump and smashed a porthole in the XO's head."

[This incident occurred on 13 December 1992 as per R. M. EdAngelis (Ed.), "Marine Weather Review [-] Casualties," Mariner's Weather Log 37, 2 (Spring, 1993), p. 76. The Marine Weather Log report stated: "The USCGC Boutwell was on Alaska patrol on the 13th and they were battling 30-ft seas when a 'freak' wave estimated at more than 40 ft crested and broke over the ship, staving in a water tight door and causing other minor damage."]


1994 -- Polar Star: "In January 1994 the Polar Star's number 1 auxiliary boiler blew up due to a firebox explosion. The burner door almost blew clean off as described in the 1999 accident, and the whole upper end of the boiler's air box ripped open causing approx 100,000dollars worth of damage. Due to the grace of God no one was injured. . .The cause was found to be a contaminated main flame fuel valve. Anyway the crew quickly extinguished all fires and eased all steam pressure from the affected systems. The Seattle Fire Department double checked. The blast had been heard from at least 2 miles away. My boys did everything right that night. I departed Polar Star in June of 1994 just days before light offs on the newly rebuilt number 1 boiler."


1994 -- Spencer: "In February, 1994, the USCGC Spencer (WMEC-905) experienced a fire in an electronics space on the 02 deck forward of the hanger, days before getting underway for an Atlantic fisheries patrol. The fire was extinguished by duty section personnel and the Boston Fire Department, but not before it gutted the space and burned through an expansion joint and slightly warped the aluminum bulkheads and overhead. The crew of the Spencer had the space cleaned out and assessed the necessary repairs, enabling the cutter to get underway on time. Spencer returned to port nine days later to have the repairs performed and equipment replaced, and then resumed the patrol."


1995 -- Point Evans: "In 1995 the Point Evans ran aground near Molikini Crater leaving a 12-foot long six-inch deep indentation in her keel and rather large pieces missing from her prop."


1996 -- Firebush: "The Firebush ran hard aground in April of 1996 in Bechivan Bay, Alaska. A M/V attempted to help her off (the M/V ended up running aground herself). She later floated free of the sand she was stuck on."


1997 -- Cowslip:
"The Cowslip collided with the M/V Ever Grade (Panamanian) in the
Columbia River on 15 May 1997. She was repaired and returned to service."


1997 -- Polar Star:
"Polar Sea rammed in to the M/V Green Wave while tying up to the ice pier [at McMurdo Base, Ross Island] during her Deep Freeze 1997 deployment [early-February 1997]. The Green Wave claimed $300,000 worth of damage to itself, while the Polar Sea will wear a 10-foot long crease in its port racing stripe to its grave."


1998 -- Polar Star: "In early November 1998 the Polar Star was southbound, near Hawaii, when one of her boilers exploded the inspection door open. This door nailed a young fireman square in the forehead causing major injuries."

"I was on Polar Star Aug-95 to Aug-98. Unless the above was a nearly duplicate incident. . . .this actually occurred in July 98 while heading northbound to the Arctic. I still remember the poor fireman crying out in sickbay after the incident -- he was lucky to have lived. We had to sit in Kodiak AK for several days to rig a donkey boiler so we could continue up north to the Arctic."



Miscellaneous:

  • The CGC Spar ran aground, punching a small hole in her hull in the forward magazine.  Spar was ordered to sail to the Baltimore, MD, shipyard for repairs.  The hole was bout the size of 1 or 2 fingers (a lot of us inserted our fingers while the Buoy Tender was up on the ways!) as well as a dent in the hull!
  • "[Confidence; WMEC-619]. . .while on maneuvers in the Gulf of Alaska near Kodiak we attempted to set an HH-52A down on our flight deck during rough seas.  Two seamen secured one of the choppers rails and as the ship rolled the pilot attempted to pull up and flipped over the side of the ship and landed upside down in the water.  Inflatable rafts were used to keep her afloat and the Citrus came out to help a Navy ship raise her.  No damage to the Connie but the 52A was a mess."
  • "The Cape Fairweather was hit by a rogue wave that damaged the starboard side of the superstructure, blew out a porthole and smashed the glass in another porthole."
  • "CGC Scioto sank. . .in the 79-80 time frame.  I have a picture someone gave me back in '99 of nothing showing but the searchlight above the water.  The man who gave me the picture said it was hit by an ice flow on the Missouri River near its homeport at the time near Leavenworth and refloated a year later."
  • "The Hawser ran aground in the early 1980s while exiting the Great Egg Inlet."
  • In late-1985 to 1989 when the Polar Sea was backing out of her berth at Pier 36 to get underway, her Barber Coleman computer propulsion control failed. This caused all her propulsion diesels to quit, and the cutter had no way to check her sternward momentum. She careened into the pilings alongside Harbor Island and a moored barge. That scrape left the Polar Sea with one foot of her stern beat in. The damage remains to this day and has only been continually painted over. The outcome of that incident is that all Polar class cutters are required to have two tugs assist each one into and out of its berth in Seattle, no exceptions!  The outcome of this incident is that Polar Sea is the Coast Guard's only 398-foot cutter."
  • "[In the 1984-1986 timeframe the CGC Planetree] struck a submerged object in Glacier Bay Alaska while working a temp buoy.  Then on the way back out they struck it again, but this time opened up the bottom, which flooded the sewage compartment and main hold.  CGC Woodrush was asked for all pumps available to be dropped off by an HH-3F.  The Woodrush was also tasked with getting underway and mooring up beside the Planetree to be the food service and bathroom service while patching was completed.  Then CGC Planetree headed for Ketchikan, Alaska with the CGC Woodrush following in case something was to happen.  I was on the CGC Woodrush at the time."

 

 

Cutter Losses

The vessels of the U.S. Coast Guard, Revenue Marine, Revenue Cutter Service, & Light House Service lost in action


The Mesquite aground

The CGC Mesquite aground near Keweenaw Point in 
Lake Superior, December, 1989.  She was declared a total loss,
 towed off the shoal, and sunk in the lake as an artificial reef.


Cutter/vessel name (in italics); Date of loss; Description of Loss;

  1. Pickering; September 1800; Lost in a gale (had transferred to USN by this time)
  2. Governor Williams; September, 1806; Lost "at Ocracoke"
  3. Diligence (III); 1806; Lost in a gale
  4. Commodore Barry; 3 August 1812; Captured by British
  5. Louisiana; 19 August 1812; Lost in a hurricane at New Orleans
  6. James Madison; 22 August 1812; Captured by British [Madison's officers were paroled in New York on 24 November 1812]
  7. Madison; 24 November 1812; Captured by British
  8. Gallatin; 1 April 1813; Lost as a result of an explosion
  9. Surveyor; 12 June 1813; Captured by British
  10. Eagle; 13 October 1814; Captured by British
  11. Crawford; 16 March 1829; Lost in a gale
  12. Sam Patch; December 1830; Lost
  13. Dallas (Vigilant); 21 September 1836; Wrecked on a bar
  14. Vigilant; October 1844; Lost in a gale
  15. Morris; 11 October 1846; Driven ashore by a gale
  16. Jefferson (Crawford II); 15 December 1847; Wrecked
  17. C. W. Lawrence; 25 November 1851; Grounded and lost
  18. Alexander Hamilton; 9 December 1853; Lost in a gale
  19. Fairy; September 1854; Ran aground
  20. Eliza; March 1857; Ran aground
  21. William Aiken; 27 December 1860; Seized by the Confederacy
  22. Frying Pan Shoals Lightship; 1861; Seized/Sunk by the Confederacy
  23. Alert; 18 January 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  24. Buchanan; 18 April 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  25. Helen; January 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  26. William R. King (or Knight); March 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  27. Washington; 31 January 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  28. Cass: 31 January 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  29. Dodge; 2 March 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  30. North Wind; April 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  31. York Spit Lightship; April 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  32. Wolf Trap Lightship; April 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  33. Windmill Point Lightship; April 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  34. Smith's Point Lightship; April 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  35. Lower Cedar Point Lightship; April 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  36. Upper Cedar Point Lightship; April 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  37. Jasper (or Firefly); 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  38. McClelland; 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  39. Bowler's Rock Lightship; 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  40. Harbor Island Lightship; 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  41. Rattlesnake Shoal Lightship; 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  42. Howell Cobb (USLHS); 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  43. Duane 18 April 1861; Seized by the Confederacy
  44. (Howell) Cobb (USRC); 29 December 1861; Driven ashore in storm
  45. Horse Shoe Shoals Lightship 1862; Captured by the Confederacy
  46. Harriet Lane; 1 January 1863; Captured by the Confederacy (had transferred to USN by this time)
  47. Combahee Bank; Lightship 1863; Captured by the Confederacy
  48. Cushing; 27 June 1863; Captured/Burned by the Confederacy
  49. Martha; 16 July 1864; Captured/Burned by the Confederacy
  50. Winslow; 14 October 1864; Wrecked on bar
  51. Vigilant; 7 February 1866; Wrecked
  52. Chaos; August 1866; Ran aground
  53. Flora (Nemaha); 7 February 1868; Burned
  54. Bowen; August 1872; Capsized
  55. Bronx; 4 April 1873; Foundered
  56. Guthrie; 17 November 1873; Grounded in hurricane
  57. Pink; 2 June 1881; Sunk
  58. Narragansett; 21 September 1887; Lost in a gale
  59. Ivy; 23 January 1888; Crushed by ice
  60. Gallatin; 6 January 1892; Sunk
  61. LV-37; 24 August 1893; Sunk
  62. Bouquet; 29 August 1893; Wrecked in a storm
  63. LV-58; 11 December 1905; Foundered during tow
  64. Lily; 23 November 1911; Hit snag & sunk
  65. Hartley; 2 April 1914; Sunk
  66. Commodore Perry; 27 July 1910; Lost
  67. Armeria; 20 May 1912; Struck/Sunk
  68. LV-82; Buffalo Station; 13 May 1913; lost during gale; all hands perished (6 crew)
  69. Tahoma; 20 September 1914; Ran aground
  70. McCulloch; 13 June 1917; Collided/Sunk
  71. Mohawk; 1 October 1917; Collided/Sunk
  72. LV-6; 6 February 1918; Sunk by moving ice
  73. LV-71; 6 August 1918; Sunk by U-boat gunfire
  74. Tampa; 26 September 1918; Torpedoed
  75. LV-51; 24 April 1919; Collided/Sunk
  76. Leader; 2 April 1920; Burned
  77. Cossack (AB-3); 9 May 1925; Burned
  78. CG-114; 16 November 1925; Lost at sea
  79. Moccasin; 18 September 1926; Lost in hurricane
  80. CG-247; 18 September 1926; Lost in hurricane
  81. CG-248; 18 September 1926; Lost in hurricane
  82. CG-238; 20 February 1927; Capsized in storm
  83. CG-113; 25 July 1928; Collided/Sunk
  84. CG-188; September 1928; Destroyed by hurricane
  85. Poinsettia; 27 December 1928; Explosion/Fire
  86. CG-111; 7 March 1931; Burned
  87. CG-243; 23 October 1931; Destroyed
  88. CG-256; 12 October 1933; Wrecked
  89. LV-117; 15 May 1934; Collided/Sunk
  90. Alexander Hamilton; 29 January 1942; Torpedoed
  91. Acacia; 12 March 1942; Torpedoed
  92. Muskeget; 9 September 1942; Torpedoed
  93. Natsek; 17 December 1942; Lost (Unknown)
  94. CG-85006; 27 March 1943; Explosion
  95. Escanaba; 13 June 1943; Torpedoed / Mined?
  96. CG-83421; 29 June 1943; Collision
  97. LST-167; [US Coast Guard-manned Navy landing ship]; 24 September 1943; Bombed/Burned
  98. Bodega; 30 September 1943; Ran aground
  99. EM Wilcox; 30 September 1943; Foundered
  100. LST-203: [US Coast Guard-manned Navy landing ship]; September 1943; Stranded on reef
  101. EM Dow; 14 October 1943; Ran aground
  102. USS Leopold; [US Coast Guard-manned Navy destroyer escort]; 9 March 1944; Torpedoed
  103. FS-172 [US Coast Guard-manned Army freighter]; 19 May 1944; Sunk
  104. USS LST-69; [US Coast Guard-manned Navy landing ship]; 21 May 1944; Burned 
  105. LCI(L)-85; [US Coast Guard-manned Navy infantry landing ship] 6 June 1944; Mined
  106. LCI(L)-91; [US Coast Guard-manned Navy infantry landing ship] 6 June 1944; Mined
  107. LCI(L)-92;  [US Coast Guard-manned Navy infantry landing ship]; 6 June 1944; Mined
  108. LCI(L)-93;  [US Coast Guard-manned Navy infantry landing ship]; 6 June 1944; Mined
  109. CG-83415; 21 June 1944; Lost in a storm
  110. CG-83471; 21 June 1944; Lost in a storm
  111. LV-105; 20 July 1944; Collided/Sunk
  112. Bedloe; 14 September 1944; Foundered in a storm
  113. Jackson; 14 September 1944; Foundered in a storm
  114. LV-73; 14 September 1944; Foundered in a storm
  115. USS Serpens [US Coast Guard-manned Navy cargo vessel]; 29 January 1945; Explosion
  116. FS-255 [US Coast Guard-manned Army freighter]; 11 May 1945; Torpedoed
  117. Sheepscot; 6 June 1945; [US Coast Guard-manned Navy tanker]; Ran aground
  118. Magnolia; 25 August 1945; Collided/Sunk
  119. USS PC-590; [US Coast Guard-manned Navy patrol craft]; 9 October 1945; Foundered in a typhoon
  120. CG-83301; 9 October 1945; Foundered in typhoon
  121. FS-406 [US Coast Guard-manned Army freighter]; 9 October Foundered in typhoon
  122. FS-163 [US Coast Guard-manned Army freighter]; 12 October 1945 Foundered in typhoon
  123. FS-41 [US Coast Guard-manned Army freighter]; 9 November 1945 Foundered in typhoon
  124. FS-290 [US Coast Guard-manned Army freighter]; 9 November 1945 Foundered in typhoon
  125. LV-78; 24 June 1960 Collided/Sunk
  126. White Alder; 7 December 1968 Collided/Sunk
  127. Cuyahoga; 20 October 1978 Collided/Sunk
  128. Blackthorn; 28 January 1980 Collided/Sunk
  129. Mesquite; 4 December 1989 Ran Aground/Stranded

 

Image Gallery

CGD-170626-524-047.PDF Photo By: Nora Chidlow

The Bird That Continues to Fly: A History of the Ancient Albatross Award by Nora L. Chidlow, USCG Archivist


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Resources

CGD-170626-524-047.PDF Photo By: Nora Chidlow

The Bird That Continues to Fly: A History of the Ancient Albatross Award by Nora L. Chidlow, USCG Archivist


DOWNLOAD PHOTO (1.06 MB)


This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at http://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations.html , which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.



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