With the help of many of the contra costa historical societies, local. The port chicago mutiny involved african american enlisted men in the u. Munitions detonated while being loaded onto a cargo vessel bound for the pacific theater of operations, killing 320 sailors and civilians and injuring 390 others. Gonegaryt writes say chaps, this might be old hat, but theres a fab site for conspiracy theory aficionados at. The town of port chicago, population 1,500, was located about 1. The navy never determined the cause of the port chicago explosion. Port chicago explosion still echoes 60 years later sfgate. Exonerating the port chicago 50 is about the future. On july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated navy base at port chicago. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on the port chicago 50 by steve sheinkin.
Largest artificial nonnuclear explosions wikipedia. Port chicago is located on an arm of san francisco bay about 30 miles northeast of oakland and san francisco. This was a relatively small nuclear explosion equivalent to 2,000 tons of tnt. At port chicago naval magazine, 320 men were instantly killed when two ships being loaded with ammunition for the pacific theater troops blew up. The port chicago 50 and millions of other books are available for instant. Photograph was taken by the mare island navy yard nh 96824. As a book is involved there are numerous claims and it is difficult to list all of the key claims in the question. Its actually pretty thorough, like 20 years of research thorough. Navy who refused to return to loading ammunition after a disastrous explosion at port chicago, california on july 17, 1944 that destroyed the liberty ship ss e.
Learn port chicago with free interactive flashcards. Best books of the year, bank street best childrens book of the. Forged at the beginning of the 20th century on suisun bay in contra costa county, the navy town met its end during the vietnam war, when it was sacrificed to preserve national security. To ask other readers questions about the port chicago 50, please sign up. Robert allen, author of the book the port chicago mutiny, says the navy used the mutiny trial as a diversion. Eleanor roosevelt sent a note and a naacps pamphlet. School library best books of the year, national book awards longlist. This explosion killed hundreds of black sailors and. That film was held in the safe of the concord naval weapons station.
Loaded with some 4,600 tons of ammunition and high explosives. Bryan sailors and dock workers were pressured by time and their superiors and were also using unsafe unloading methods. It is the site of the deadliest stateside disaster of world war ii, an accidental explosion which killed hundreds of men the majority of them black yet the port chicago naval magazine national memorial is the least visited site in the national park services system in the lower 48 states, even though its just an hours drive from san francisco. Would the us really blow up their own people for the sake of global. A school library journal best book of the year on july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated navy base at port chicago, california, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the.
This sent ripples of change through the segregated armed forces. In the worst home front disaster of world war ii, an explosion at the naval magazine in port chicago, california on july 17, 1944 killed 320 men, of whom 202 were black. During world war ii, port chicago was a segregated naval munitions base on the. The tragedy was followed by a work stoppage and a controversial mutiny trial. Poor procedures and lack of training led to the disaster. The port chicago 50 is a fascinating story of the prejudice and injustice that. Steve sheinkin is the awardwinning author of several fascinating books on. Choose from 67 different sets of port chicago flashcards on quizlet. I used to tell lieutenant delucchi i said, lieutenant, one of these days, this base is going to blow sky high. An astonishing civil rights story from newbery honor winner and national book award finalist steve sheinkin. Port chicago was an allamerican town and naval facility. New york age detailing the port chicago explosion in 1944. But the following excerpt, purportedly suggesting a coverup, appears on the page for chapter 2 of his book.
Having worked in port chicago new part on homes moved from the explosion area old part, i found this books contents very interesting. On july 17, 1944, an explosion rocked the base, killing 320 men202 of. On 20 december 2019, the president signed into law the fiscal year 2020 national defense authorization act, a part of which addresses the 1944 port chicago explosion and subsequent courtmartial of surviving sailors for refusing to resume loading ammunition. Port chicago was a town on the southern banks of suisun bay, in contra costa county, california. On july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated navy base at port chicago, california, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks. This is the story of the port chicago explosion that occurred 70 years ago on july 17, 1944. The port chicago, california, ship explosion of 17 july 1944 unknown binding 1948. A school library journal best book of the year on july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated navy base at port chicago, california, killing more than 300 sailors who were at. Seventyfive years ago today, at a naval munitions base northeast of san francisco called port chicago, 320 men were killed in a massive explosion that filled the sky with flame, destroyed two ships and shattered windows miles away. The port chicago 50 book chicago public library bibliocommons.
His other acclaimed books include the notorious benedict arnold and most dangerous. In the similar port chicago disaster above, about half the weight of bombs was high. The navy claims that the film was a simulation of the port chicago explosion filmed for hollywood in the 1960s but nitratebase. This summer marks the 70th anniversary of the tragic events of port chicago, california, the worst home front disaster of world war ii.
Damage at the port chicago pier after the explosion of july 17, 1944. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. The port chicago, california, ship explosion of 17 july. The port chicago disaster was a deadly munitions explosion that occurred on july 17, 1944, at the port chicago naval magazine in port chicago, california, united states. A school library journal best book of the year on july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated navy base at port chicago, california, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks, critically injuring offduty men in their bunks, and shattering windows up to a mile away. On august 9th, 244 men refused to go back to work until unsafe and unfair conditions at the docks were addressed. Port chicago by dean mcleod arcadia publishing books. During world war ii, one of the sources of ammunition for the pacific theater was the naval ammunition depot at port chicago, california. Three hundred and twenty officers and enlisted men were killed instantly when two shipsss quinault victory and ss e. The 50 sailors from port chicago charged with mutiny appear at their court martial in 1944. Most of the detail in this book deals with the significant events of the port chicago disaster which was a deadly munitions explosion that occurred on july 17, 1944, at the port chicago naval magazine in port chicago, california, united states. On the evening of july 17, 1944, residents in the san francisco east bay area were jolted awake by a massive explosion that cracked windows and lit up the night sky. Damage resulting from the 17 july 1944 ammunition explosion.
Bomb was a newbery honor book and the port chicago 50 won the boston globehorn book award for nonfiction. An overwhelming explosion of thousands of tons of naval munitions blew up an american city killing hundreds in july 1944. Many of the sailors that died in the port chicago disaster are now buried at golden gate national cemetery. Have you ever wondered who picks the best books of the year. The navy captured the port chicago explosion on a nitratebase film. All 320 of the men working on the ships and the pier had been killed instantly, and another 390 people in the surrounding area were injured, many of them maimed by shattered glass and debris. Today, more than 240 people, including more than a dozen survivors, will gather to commemorate the anniversary of the july 17, 1944, explosion of 5,000 tons of ammunition at the port chicago. Did a nuclear blast devastate port chicago on july 17. Disaster, mutiny, and the fight for civil rights steve sheinkin. This view looks southwest, showing collapsed building a14 garage in the center.
In the nearby town of port chicago, the explosion damaged buildings and. One of the last port chicago survivors tells harrowing story of blast the massive explosion on july 17, 1944, at the littleknown bay area navy. The weight of an explosive does not directly correlate with the energy or destructive impact of an explosion, as these can depend upon many. Everybody there knew it was coming, small told allen, who recorded the interview on analog tapes while researching his 2006 book the port chicago mutiny. An ammunition ship explodes while being loaded in port chicago, california, killing 332 people on this day in 1944.
The port chicago 50 disaster, mutiny, and the fight for civil rights book. The explosion of two ammunition ships in port chicago, california, in july 1944, in which the majority of the dead and injured were africanamericans. It is best known as the site of a devastating explosion at its naval munitions depot during world war ii. One of the last port chicago survivors tells harrowing. But the following excerpt, purportedly suggesting a. On july 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated navy base at port chicago, california, killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks, critically injuring offduty men in their bunks, and shattering windows up to a mile away.
In his 1989 book the port chicago mutiny, bay area historian robert allen described the explosion. The effect was deadly for 320 sailors and the surrounding area was devastated. Port chicago hasnt been recorded in most history books or memorialized as a date which will live in infamy. The port chicago 50 is a historical account by steve. Did a nuclear blast devastate port chicago on july 17, 1944. An ammunition ship explodes in the port chicago disaster. You can see where it happened by going to the scenic overlook next to the beniciamartinez bridge and looking southeast to the other side of the carquinez strait. After hundreds died in an explosion, black sailors refused to continue with the. Seventyfive years ago today, at a naval munitions base northeast of san francisco called port chicago, 320 men were killed in a massive explosion that filled the sky with flame, destroyed. Peter vogels website and book is devoted to a nuclear theory of the explosion. The massive explosion on july 17, 1944, at the littleknown bay area navy base named port chicago, might not even register on the history radar for most people.