Waterwings
Well-known member
After seeing FishingBud's post "Ghost" ( https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5085 ), and I replied that my first ship was haunted, I thought I'd make a post about it.
Story #1: While stationed aboard the USS Severn (AO-61), a Fleet Oiler, from '72-'73, I actually witnessed this event. While inport and the ship was "Cold Iron" (no boilers/anything running) I went down to the Fireroom to shoot the breeze with a buddy of mine who was down there working late that night. On the upper level of the fireroom there was a catwalk that went from the port side to the stbd side, with a water tight door on each side. The port side door lead to engineering berthing, and the stbd side door lead to the mess decks. Halfway across the catwalk there was a ladder (stairs) that lead down to the various levels of the fireroom. My buddy took a break so we were sitting there between the boilers talking when we heard the port side door open, then close, and then we heard footsteps come across the catwalk and they paused momentarily at the top of the ladder halfway across, then continued across to the stbd side, the door opened and then closed. The only problem with the entire scenario was that there was no physical body attached to the footsteps. True story and the only time it happened that I'm aware of. (once was enough for me)
Story #2: (Same ship, different event)
While underway I had the Mid-watch (midnight-0400) and was breaking-in a new guy on the sounding and security watch (roving fire & flooding watch). We had to make rounds up forward and pass by the boatswains locker (storeroom). To get forward on this ship you had to go outside, cross the fwd catwalk, make a right or left, and go down a ladder (stairs), then open a watertight door and enter the passageway. The passageway was basically U-shaped and took you backl onto deck no matter which way you went (left or right). We entered through the stb door and were walking forward and started hearing a noise like a hammer hittimg metal. It sounded like someone chipping paint on the steel bulkhead. The closer we got to the boatswain's locker door the louder it got, until we stopped outside the door. We waited a couple of minutes and decided to keep moving. As soon as we moved away from the door the hammering started again. I remember making it the messdecks (all the way aft) rather quickly and just sitting there drinking coffee. never heard it again after that night, but, same as the first story, once was enough.
True stories guys!
FH, you're up next!
Story #1: While stationed aboard the USS Severn (AO-61), a Fleet Oiler, from '72-'73, I actually witnessed this event. While inport and the ship was "Cold Iron" (no boilers/anything running) I went down to the Fireroom to shoot the breeze with a buddy of mine who was down there working late that night. On the upper level of the fireroom there was a catwalk that went from the port side to the stbd side, with a water tight door on each side. The port side door lead to engineering berthing, and the stbd side door lead to the mess decks. Halfway across the catwalk there was a ladder (stairs) that lead down to the various levels of the fireroom. My buddy took a break so we were sitting there between the boilers talking when we heard the port side door open, then close, and then we heard footsteps come across the catwalk and they paused momentarily at the top of the ladder halfway across, then continued across to the stbd side, the door opened and then closed. The only problem with the entire scenario was that there was no physical body attached to the footsteps. True story and the only time it happened that I'm aware of. (once was enough for me)
Story #2: (Same ship, different event)
While underway I had the Mid-watch (midnight-0400) and was breaking-in a new guy on the sounding and security watch (roving fire & flooding watch). We had to make rounds up forward and pass by the boatswains locker (storeroom). To get forward on this ship you had to go outside, cross the fwd catwalk, make a right or left, and go down a ladder (stairs), then open a watertight door and enter the passageway. The passageway was basically U-shaped and took you backl onto deck no matter which way you went (left or right). We entered through the stb door and were walking forward and started hearing a noise like a hammer hittimg metal. It sounded like someone chipping paint on the steel bulkhead. The closer we got to the boatswain's locker door the louder it got, until we stopped outside the door. We waited a couple of minutes and decided to keep moving. As soon as we moved away from the door the hammering started again. I remember making it the messdecks (all the way aft) rather quickly and just sitting there drinking coffee. never heard it again after that night, but, same as the first story, once was enough.
True stories guys!
FH, you're up next!
