Removing items from the USS Oriskany (interesting dilemma)

[The Chairman]

Ah... I was the "back link".

 

[H2Andy]

He mentioned organizations that are trying to sink these wrecks, and referenced NORAD. (I think he maybe meant NOAA, but he said plainly said NORAD.

ah yes... it's actually a little known fact that NORAD has a few spare Peacemaker II missiles that it's donating to the Navy so they can sink the next few aircraft carriers to become reefs.

all it takes is 25 years and the wrecks are perfectly safe

 

[SparticleBrane]

He mentioned organizations that are trying to sink these wrecks, and referenced NORAD. (I think he maybe meant NOAA, but he said plainly said NORAD. I was like "huh?". Where the heck did he pull NORAD out in that discussion? heh ).

Well, WarGames was on TV the other evening...

 

[Diver Dennis]

ah yes... it's actually a little known fact that NORAD has a few spare Peacemaker II missiles that it's donating to the Navy so they can sink the next few aircraft carriers to become reefs.

all it takes is 25 years and the wrecks are perfectly safe

But there would be a lot of neat mutated fish...

 

[mike_s]

ah yes... it's actually a little known fact that NORAD has a few spare Peacemaker II missiles that it's donating to the Navy so they can sink the next few aircraft carriers to become reefs.

all it takes is 25 years and the wrecks are perfectly safe

kinda following the off topic subject for a second.... We've actually got a "Minute-Man II " missile in our local quarry.


Here's a pic of it before and during the sinking process.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040213120942/www.rockdivers.com/missle1.jpg
and
http://web.archive.org/web/20040213133539/www.rockdivers.com/missle4.jpg


As SupRBugman told me once, "we've got all that cool space junk in our quarry"

 

[erparamedic]

Ah... I listened to the link on scubaradio and the mention of the theft on the Oriskany was quite done quite tactfully. But I had to laugh at the mention of NORAD.

 

[CBulla]

NORAD eh? I was reading Andy's Pacemaker II idea... A wreck that you don't need dive lights to investigate.. interesting idea!

I wonder if there are any vets who read this board and we're stationed on the Oriskany.

 

[H2Andy]

A wreck that you don't need dive lights to investigate.. interesting idea!

:lol:

 

[boulderjohn]

The opinions both my wife and I formed of Tim Thorsen are that he is a very particular and very professional individual. He gave a long pre-departure briefing that bordered on boring, you know the kind. Upon arrival at the site and after a long trip due to heavy seas, his dive briefing was thorough. He went through all the steps and was more comprehensive about it than most I've dived with. His boat is immaculate and his personal gear as well as Brittany's was well cared for. Everything I observed about him said this is a very thoughtful and caring person.

These are not the characteristics of a man who would encourage the defacing of the Oriskany or theft of items from this new reef sunk in his own back yard for the purpose of attracting divers which directly effects his livelihood.

There may be more to this story but for now I'm still diving with Viking next time I'm in Pensacola.

Here is a section of the diver's own description of taking the "goodies."

I passed up a few cool items
looking for cooler ones but as time started to run down I ran into what I
considered a very cool instrument panel. A cluster of 4 guages set into a
stainless steel mount. All the guages had the glass intact and had toggle
switches below them. There was a little plaque above them that ID'd them and
said " Dept.of Navy - Bureau of Ships"...but did not say "USS Orikany"...
Too bad but still cool. It's about 16" long and weighs about 5 lbs. It came
off with a screw driver and a mini hack saw for the wiring. On the second
dive Capt Tim directed me to a ship's phone which took a mallet, chisel and
crowbar to get off the wall. It's about 8" tall, 6" wide and 4" deep and is
stainless steel also and weighs about 8 lbs. The phone, manual dialer and
receiver spot (place to hang it up) are all in great shape but someone with
apparently only a knife handy had absconded with the receiver already.

So do you think he was lying about the Captain directing him to the phone on the second dive?

 

[djanni]

Here is a section of the diver's own description of taking the "goodies."



So do you think he was lying about the Captain directing him to the phone on the second dive?

Yes I do believe that. "Directed me to" could mean a lot of things but not necessarilly that the Captain suggested he steal it.

I don't believe Tim Thorsen would say "hey man, there's a cool looking chrome plated telephone down there. Take your tool kit and rip it off the wall and take it back to Mississippi with you for your private collection. I would not want any of the divers I bring here in the future to see such cool looking item."

How much sense does it make to you that the Owner of a Pensacola Dive Charter Operation would suggest divers remove items from the very wrecks that make them a living?

This whole issue of removing collectables from reefs such as the Oriskany is very emotional, as it should be and yet, I'm not going to rail-road the Captain based on hearsay and conjecture. If Thorsen was an accomplice he will get his comeuppens, as we all do in due time.