James C Owens (DD 776) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 34 text:

cu Af 5611 OWENS departed Izmir, on 7 December to continue operations with Task Group 60.2 in the Aegean Sea. On the evening of 8 December, the Task Group was diverted from its scheduled operations to go to the scene of the sinking of the Greek Ferry HERAKLION to join the search and rescue operations. The ferry was reported to have carried over 450 persons when it sank early that same morning, but the number of survivors already rescued was unknown. The ships spent the next twenty-four hours searching through an area heavy with debris from the disaster. OWENS si hted and recovered two of the twenty-one bodies that were picked up by ships of the Task Group, and transferred 8 . . them to the destroyer AETOS of the Royal Hellenic Navy. The ship also picked up a bag of mail and a life raft from the ferry. ' . K M WK' gg WW. . ,agf ,ff , ,ff f, f ' A , f . I 'W V , Wm ,W , tt. ., 1' ff W' .r 4 ' ' Lx' 0, , V ,, 'eff 'MQ r f I, f if f f C! ' - ' I f ,' w, , f , f ,, 'WW New , MW CVT' H wwf W, X WM., A ,, 2- , I ,,w,,n.,afh ,, f,,, WW. ww fypyyn, f , , iff 5 7WVVM?'xe' Q, fhfff' ' ' Wffffy Zwl A 7 AA V Q1 yfwf - WL! X: f f r his , 'H-f, in 'C' MW 7 ei WW T fd ,. if 1 W : A . f'XQat M, ' , ff me mf M ffm ' 5,,ff,, ny , sr, ff ,f ,f ,fig-X . 0,5 Z 5 x Q47 -174 ,H ' ,f .ff ,f fe 'fra , r it ' if t g j., , fgfgs ' ,aj-, N? ff, . ' X f GH ,Q . 51175-' ' Y ' f wmaga: y flfw , r, ,, fy, rf, ,' -' whmfff I ,V 3 ' N f . ' '4 Q iw f Y T7 ' f'Z' 4, f,i, , ' P- P . ,, M, , 3 .- gf Q ' n . . TN-f W1 ,ff ' X f' ' -, , .fn , 1 k fw' I , X ,I 1. .' 1 Y , .4 vt j Viv. V, Xp ! 15 5 fm-:mf 'fa' rf .. :L 2, V5 , . WMLV, .1 gl , , X' f ,, ' 4 ' V Q ' 1 ff 0 f f ,JF .. f 'ff Wifffff -' I , f' h.,- - 2 A pl ' 5 N V 5 11:2 ' X , ,,,, .- Q-A U s- Hn ., +.,, ., N fi., ,I f-rf 7 , ,Zf,,i,.2Z' E . 'f - 9 .421 25.114 , , 47,1 - J' ,. ...ala 0816432 DEC 66 , From: CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO COMSIXTHFLT CINCUSNAVEUR ALUSNA ATHENS Info: CTF SIX ZERO UNCLAS , SAR SITREP 081600Z5 l. CTG 60.2 with SHANGRI LA, LAWRENCE, STRONG, BORDELON and OWENS proceeding vicinity 37-00No, 24-l2E9 at spd 25f7 ETA 081930B1. COLUMBUS and BELKNAP proceeding ahead at 29ktsl, ETA 08l830B0. 2. Two helos dispatched to area at 08l630B8, arriving at l700B8. One helo searching vicinity 37-OUNO, 24'12E9, and one investigating position l0f1 miles south east of Milos Island due second posit for SAR reported there. 3. Weak distress signals being intercepted intermittantly. 4. Expect form close search line on arrival and proceed slowly through most likely area north west of Milos. 5. Vis Clear. Seas 2-3 FtfS Wind moderate fm 0l.5f6. To' BT UNCLAS 1. Search continues, much debris sighted. Refrigerated truck bearing name busting both sides too heavy to lift being disposed of. One bag Greek mail recovered by OWENS. Several SSXO gal drums sighted and sunk. Many empty life jackets and at least three empty liferafts sighted. 2. Count of bodies recovered l.6f7. 3X3 females 13f4 males. HHMS AETOS is in search area. 3. Press release with photos fwded ALUSNA ATHENS via cod flt 100B 4. Helo serch of advanest Island shore completed. Results negative. Shore line mostly very steep rock. 5. No further change. BT UNCLAS l.. Royal Hellenic Navy on scene SAR Commander has been directed to cease present SAR operations by his government with exception that two Hellenic ships are to remain on the scene until further notice. He has advised that assistance TG 60.2 no longer required. Therefore am terminating SAR ops. Will refuel task group this vicinity tonight. 2. Final count of remains recovered is 2lf3 as previously reported. Area was thoroughly searched today. Consider little liklihood of additional remains or debris of value still afloat in area. 3. UNODIR will not submit additional press releases. Additional films available will be forwarded via next COD to ALUSNA ATHENS. 'Q A -fx 7 ra-1 I., A 5 t To 5 1' W Turf ' , xi I X ' ,, it , , Q ' Q 6 WNW-1 ' it sf X as Y as K f r is i X, . sa 'Q .., , rf? W' 1 ', f or fi 5' . W .,.. .. ,, ff .,.. .,-01, ,, 'ff .t XXWNWAX N9 st . Ms X K XM 1. ,tx ff W f .sys . Lf- . . k.Xs 0 f . 4 at R is W0 x , , , . . , ...f MwW,,....,w-M., N .. x s , .H-rstls r ' A ssygss ...W . X Q W - .. f., W... ' fs ww , pl 2' sf-,sv if Y ' ff' V7 , 'swifi fa S ,M X57 . ..-ST' I W . I F 57 -,ff X. rf, er, A r ' . Q trswrp - N Q fe X

Page 33 text:

E T E i i. I , t w f 1 i i J x ,Quf nf if mf UW' 1 f, , .M - ,.1.,f,.1,,.:..u 5 .HW X g ,, K Q 5 1 Z 1 V Na lr W N V , FE if ' ' ' i s! 4, MZ? ' ,4f, Q lf, ' W ' KMA , f M mm 5, Q. 'i 5, mf.,.f.V......f..,:,-,.uLQ,.f..,,..,...-J. .,.4-:,::.g.L.1J4.1.,. ,.........u....,:1..z.V..:....ng,::..,,,.4,....,.Q:.44.21.Q...1.'.f..,',..,..,,,M4.-..,,...,....,L.q,. L...-1..,g.-.-....- ,.-J........,..-, ' -w.h.,-----,'---v- ---Q-D W---M --- - -- -A

Page 35 text:

O91612Z DEC 66 From: CTG 60.2 To: TG 60.2 X USS MAUNA LOA X KASKASKIA UNCLAS Well done. to all haunds for a tiring and tragic effort to assist the Royal Hellenic Navys SAR effort. My deep appreciation to officers and men of all ships and helo units for their splendid and devoted efforts. RADM BUCKI-,EY BT 100703Z From: AMEMBASSY, ATHENS X CTG 60.2 To: USS KASKASKIA X USS MAUNA LOA X HQ ARRC RAMSTEIN X GERMANY 58th AEPO X SPACE Sz RECOVERY SQDN WHEELUS AFB Info: COMSIXTHFLT X CINCUSNAVEUR X CTF SIX ZERO X TG SIX ZERO PT TWO UNCLAS 1. The highest officials Of the government of Greece have expressed their gratitude for your assistance in the search just concluded for the survivors of the illfated Greek passenger ship IRAKLION. Let me and my warm thanks and appreciation for your quick response to the call for help. I assure you that your timely assistance is deeply appreciated by the Greek people and is a Source Of great pride for all Americans in Greece. 2. You and your men have made a praiseworthy contribution to Greek - American relations. Talbot. 100700Z DEC 66 From: ALUSNA ATHENS To: COMSIXTHFLT Info: CINCUSNAVEUR X CTF 60 X CTG 60.2 X TG 60.2 UNCLAS 1, The following message has been received from RHN: ' ' Please convey the warm thanks of the Royal Hellenic Navy as well as my personal thanks to the chief of the SIXTHFLT and to the ships SHANGRI-LA, COLUMBUS, BELKNAP, LAWRENCE, j.C. OWENS, BORDELON, STRONG, KASKASKIA and MAUNA LOA for their unlimited participation in the search for and rescue of the shipwrecked passengers of the ferry boat IRAKLION, among which included men of the RHN. The hard efforts for the rescue and the effective contribution of the aboce ships proves Once more the strong spirit of mutual support and the kind traditions of the glorious Navy of the United States. Signed Spyridon Avgheris Chief, GNS 281627 Z DEC 66 From: CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO To: COMDESRON 18XCTF 63X COMDESRON FOURXUSS COLUMBUSXUSS SHANGRI-LAXUSS BELKNAPX USS LAWRENCEXUSS j.C. OWENSXUSS BORDELONXUSS STRONGXUSS KASKASKIAXUSS MAUNA LOA BT UNCLAS A. SAR OPERATIONS 8-9 DEC 66 A. MY MSG 231402Z DEC 66 I. IN ADDITION TO EXCERPTS REF A FOLLOWING EXCERPTS QUOTED FROM PERSONAL LETTER TO ADMIRAL EULKELY FROM EDNA F. KELLY, CHAIRMEN OF SUB COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: I AM AWARE OF THE WONDERFUL ASSISTANCE YOU GAVE TO THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IN HELPING IN SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS OF THE HEARAKLION. WHILE WE WERE AT THE PALACE OF THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESS, WE LEARNED OF THE TRAGEDY AND THE KING AND QUEEN EXPRESSED TO THE AMBASSADOR THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE GREAT WORK OF THE SIXTH FLEET. WE ALL KNEW YOU WOULD BE THERE. 2. .REQUEST THAT REF A AND THE ABOVE ARE MADE PART OF ALL OFFICER FITNESS REPORTS AND INSERTED IN ENLISTED SERVICE RECORDS. BT . , , , v ' Q ,H H A h -MmAWm.Mg: . .-W,-HA-HAL, . ,-,,,5.,,.,,, ,,,,,..,,,..tG..A...,.-.f,,......,...-.'-- ..4....,Gf.,.,,..,. .IE..E.,,..-.,..GV.-.A..-..,,,.,,...r.--...,.-. ,-..,.,,.,..... ...- A .. - - A ....,.,- 'I M.,1..4... ...A.,:,-,..I:.r..'.L....-4.-.....r-.....w...--.,.-a1......1-.-- 1 .4-P - 1 --1 - M-