My Grandfather worked in the Navy Yard as an electrician during WWII. Many ships that were damaged in battle were brought to the yard for repair. When he would tell stories of his time at the Navy yard to me as a child, I always felt that he was proud to be a part of that time in American history. Even to this day, long after he has passed, I feel connected to it.
My Grandfather (mother father) was a fireman (Hook & Ladder 104) down there and one of the first responders to the USS Constellations (CV64) fire.
The builders ran all the oxygen and acetylene lines through the hatches. When a barrel of diesel generator fuel got tipped into a welding area this fire started like lightning. Hatches and bulkheads couldn’t be closed due to all the high pressure lines running through the hatches. All the oxygen and acetylene lines, tanks melted an burst turning ½ the ship into 5000 degree smelter It burned so hot it boiled the east river water and buckled the 4 inch steel flight deck. My grandfather got this phenomena from smoke and jumping into the East river that almost killed him. He always told stories about finding groups of skeletons huddled together. He could no longer work after that fire (damaged his lungs) All the guys on that fire got screwed over just like the WTC responders that got sick.
I think it may be the Worst fire in Brooklyn’s history, we have his hat from that fire and to this day have no clue how he survived looking at it.
Anyone know if the 104 firehouse is still there ? It had this cool hole in the floor & barber pole you could slide down from upstairs. Upstairs had beds and radios
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My Grandfather worked in the Navy Yard as an electrician during WWII.
Many ships that were damaged in battle were brought to the yard for repair. When he would tell stories of his time at the Navy yard to me as a child, I always felt that he was proud to be a part of that time in American history. Even to this day, long after he has passed, I feel connected to it.
My Grandfather (mother father) was a fireman (Hook & Ladder 104) down there and one of the first responders to the USS Constellations (CV64) fire.
The builders ran all the oxygen and acetylene lines through the hatches. When a barrel of diesel generator fuel got tipped into a welding area this fire started like lightning.
Hatches and bulkheads couldn’t be closed due to all the high pressure lines running through the hatches. All the oxygen and acetylene lines, tanks melted an burst turning ½ the ship into 5000 degree smelter
It burned so hot it boiled the east river water and buckled the 4 inch steel flight deck.
My grandfather got this phenomena from smoke and jumping into the East river that almost killed him.
He always told stories about finding groups of skeletons huddled together. He could no longer work after that fire (damaged his lungs) All the guys on that fire got screwed over just like the WTC responders that got sick.
I think it may be the Worst fire in Brooklyn’s history, we have his hat from that fire and to this day have no clue how he survived looking at it.
Anyone know if the 104 firehouse is still there ? It had this cool hole in the floor & barber pole you could slide down from upstairs.
Upstairs had beds and radios
-Joe
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