European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 21, 1963, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Neal Corbett up staff writer burning gasoline spread on water overtook Many who were trying to swim to safely offer Basli. Navy department photos wartime censorship cloaked 1944 tragedy every adult and rec a r a to l � Rathe 1941  of Pearl la re r. Hut How Many i Roll i a Virr wlm a to Ruml a Pacific Nav til tin1 #1 in myths utter la attack by japanese bomber some we mini a Din bum Ihry were there when 127 Polink Rittle Llor men kilted and 380 others injured in n Sinvil incident 3.000 Miles from the Knitl us s of world War  Brief military news a i a  by the Security censorship of lilo so  a noted Only that seven Iti dins pm were destroyed by Jorr in Otic of the Wii ii by finite of Perl Mhor on May 21, 19-h. Thurr was no mention hint Llu vessels lists Landing snip in were jammed to the Hillings with Man bin troops nil new civilians or Minn final in porn icons or in ii Asnault on the   was indu Sutlon the a fire in touched off by ii violent explosion nor that the of nut per fell for nearly 24 hours by shattering my in of  High octane in Sollic and there was no re part of the Crim toll which included men from All to inches of the service and some civilian workmen. Iwas a a Jive so Finnman not Tref list a. The initial explosion occurred on n . It  list my. Which was moored with n Hlf own of her vessel set up Lars about too Yar tit from the Beach it West  Force of the blast knocked men from their feel on Del joining ships and jarred group of other lists moored shout to a turds Newny in the in Chartine and urn Xung Tion London Goren. Sony carried lots land in Cefi tanks loaded in  forthe 4, Kex Alto voyage to the japanese stronghold of  Navy men joined Tho Marine and Soldier who crowded to vim App Point Stmard the vessels torture it the smoke find flame of Llowene from the nhuttered"353." i watched at first like you would Rutcha neighbor s House burning. Ship were Side by bide at their moorings and we could to from one to another. I started getting 0.4 close to Shore us posse Halo about 100 Yards trom Shore. 1 was among itome Nons Emmern who jumped into the water and if rubbed a Rufi. Some got Shourd it. I Hung onto the title and we kicked and paddled it about 100 Yard to Shore. The troops were billeted on cots almost Houlder to shoulder aboard the Landing ships and any distraction uttered a brew in the Monotony of close quarters. But their curiosity turned to horror n the survivors of the stricken vessel begun pouring across the decks of the adjoining ships. Some bleeding from jagged  in their efforts to reach the ship nearest to Shore and the safety of sugar Cone Fields which Lav beyond the Beach. Others  of whom had been work ing in shorts or swimming trunks it talked tiny by. Their bodies scorched by the fierce heat of the blast. The marines and rattlers who had Nota yet been assigned emergency stations. Al i for the rally Nof. Most of the nov men were swept up in the panic a handful of sailors aboard list 225remained coot in the fac of disaster and proved that much of the horror that was yet to come might Hove been avoided they ran to their stations when the emergency alarm sounded Cut their ship tree from the hmm b on either Side Andran her hard aground in y from in Point panic incr Ciuco. And he  wlm Mai in sri photo Token prior to the Coli trophy shows orderly lineup of ships of Anchor n Harbor. L2 the Staib and strips i saw one Man in Khaki Otto the top of n Large Lite pin which would topple Ita  Ofner. In Only at Filori order pushed his crowd and warned that a order Hurt been Given. The sound Man in Khan and plummeted into the a rofl plunged Down on top ills determined bid Faful led hut the raft gave e Mnist Amer who inn climbed aboard tie blast which Tore Ulvi of a mulched those a Back and for drones which led through t  of How along the roads needed be was no Chance of Flego tic ing . Ski with casualties from the i delay might Cost men Tuci Means flu the Ettril other group of ships w those shattered by the o bin at any time line aboard a blaring ski of the Are. But More than seven Gunol explosion thereof the valiant efforts shortly after 9erupted like la Haw the entire disaster Hod returned from to watch the fiery cover amid the cot Range of the blast the fires finally tool the told Mas were destroyed two the merchant ship Al. Or Jirred by /lamesan4ior injured. There were Only among the sur Lyon Cluied the  claimed the civilian welder nine Plosives aboard the no civilians among Likely that the welder the original blast unofficial Navy of scribe the incident undetermined  that the blast  but there is no Navy list show killed27 8 army Marine corps. Missing and declared21 Nuvy and 26 Marine injured380 s6marine corps 3 coast ans and the men and they were hastily and refitted Andon schedule 23 a �