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The Finest Hours
The Finest Hours
On 18 February 1952, during a severe "nor’easter" off the New England coast, the T2 tankers SS Fort Mercer and SS Pendleton broke in half. Pendleton was unable to make any distress call; she was discovered on the unusual shore radar with which the Chatham, Massachusetts, Lifeboat Station was equipped during the search for Fort Mercer.
Boatswain's Mate First Class Bernard C. Webber, coxswain of motor lifeboat CG-36500 from Station Chatham and his crew, consisting of Engineman Third Class Andrew Fitzgerald, Seaman Richard Livesey, and Seaman Ervin Maske, rescued the crew from Pendleton's stern section, with Pendleton broken in half. Webber maneuvered the 36-footer under Pendleton's stern with expert skill as the tanker's crew, trapped in the stern section, abandoned the remains of their ship on a Jacob's ladder. One by one, the men jumped into the water and then were pulled into the lifeboat. Webber and his crew saved 33 of the 34 Pendleton crewmen. Webber, Fitzgerald, Livesey, and Maske were awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal for their heroic actions.
In all, U.S. Coast Guard vessels, aircraft, and lifeboat stations, working under severe winter conditions, rescued 62 persons from the foundering ships or from the water; only five lives were lost among the crews of Fort Mercer and Pendleton. Five Coast Guardsmen earned the Gold Lifesaving Medal, four earned the Silver Lifesaving Medal, and 15 earned the Coast Guard Commendation Medal.
The rescue of men from the bow of Fort Mercer was nearly as spectacular as the Pendleton rescue, though often overshadowed by the Pendleton rescue. Eight officers and crew were trapped on the bow of Fort Mercer, of which four were rescued using rafts and a Monomoy surfboat.
The first of the Coast Guard's Sentinel-class cutters, USCGC Bernard C. Webber, was named in BM1 Webber's honor.
The rescues are portrayed in the 2016 motion picture The Finest Hours, based on the 2009 book by the same title.
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On 18 February 1952, during a severe "nor’easter" off the New England coast, the T2 tankers SS Fort Mercer and SS Pendleton broke in half. Pendleton was unable to make any distress call; she was discovered on the unusual shore radar with which the Chatham, Massachusetts, Lifeboat Station was equipped during the search for Fort Mercer.
Boatswain's Mate First Class Bernard C. Webber, coxswain of motor lifeboat CG-36500 from Station Chatham and his crew, consisting of Engineman Third Class Andrew Fitzgerald, Seaman Richard Livesey, and Seaman Ervin Maske, rescued the crew from Pendleton's stern section, with Pendleton broken in half. Webber maneuvered the 36-footer under Pendleton's stern with expert skill as the tanker's crew, trapped in the stern section, abandoned the remains of their ship on a Jacob's ladder. One by one, the men jumped into the water and then were pulled into the lifeboat. Webber and his crew saved 33 of the 34 Pendleton crewmen. Webber, Fitzgerald, Livesey, and Maske were awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal for their heroic actions.
In all, U.S. Coast Guard vessels, aircraft, and lifeboat stations, working under severe winter conditions, rescued 62 persons from the foundering ships or from the water; only five lives were lost among the crews of Fort Mercer and Pendleton. Five Coast Guardsmen earned the Gold Lifesaving Medal, four earned the Silver Lifesaving Medal, and 15 earned the Coast Guard Commendation Medal.
The rescue of men from the bow of Fort Mercer was nearly as spectacular as the Pendleton rescue, though often overshadowed by the Pendleton rescue. Eight officers and crew were trapped on the bow of Fort Mercer, of which four were rescued using rafts and a Monomoy surfboat.
The first of the Coast Guard's Sentinel-class cutters, USCGC Bernard C. Webber, was named in BM1 Webber's honor.
The rescues are portrayed in the 2016 motion picture The Finest Hours, based on the 2009 book by the same title.
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11 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 30, 2021
This is a book close to my heart. I served in the U.S. Coast Guard and this true story is about my Coast Guard - small boat search and rescue.
This story of one of the most dangerous, harrowing, and successful storm rescues in the service's history. On 18 February 1952, during a severe "nor’easter" off the New England coast, the T2 tankers SS Fort Mercer and SS Pendleton broke in half. Boatswain's Mate First Class Bernard C. Webber, coxswain of motor lifeboat CG-36500 from Station Chatham and his two-man crew battled storm winds and heavy seas to rescue 33 members of the Pendleton 34-strong crew, crowding them on the deck and survivor compartments of the small, 36-foot rescue boat.
The heroics of Webber and his crew are still revered in the Coast Guard, living up to the service's motto "Semper Paratus" - Always Ready.
This story of one of the most dangerous, harrowing, and successful storm rescues in the service's history. On 18 February 1952, during a severe "nor’easter" off the New England coast, the T2 tankers SS Fort Mercer and SS Pendleton broke in half. Boatswain's Mate First Class Bernard C. Webber, coxswain of motor lifeboat CG-36500 from Station Chatham and his two-man crew battled storm winds and heavy seas to rescue 33 members of the Pendleton 34-strong crew, crowding them on the deck and survivor compartments of the small, 36-foot rescue boat.
The heroics of Webber and his crew are still revered in the Coast Guard, living up to the service's motto "Semper Paratus" - Always Ready.
March 12, 2020
The finest hours by Adam Shaw is a thrilling and engaging read. It is about a large boat, a T2 tanker, that is out at sea during a large "nor'easter" storm off of the coast of Cape Cod. They are caught over a large sand bar in 100 foot swells. The T2 Tanker does not have the best reputation in stability and strength. Then before any one can think the boat splits in half. Throwing everyone into a a state of panic.
This is a very thrilling book, and it is very hard to put down. I would strongly recommend this to anyone on the market for a new book.
This book was about 250 pages.
This is a very thrilling book, and it is very hard to put down. I would strongly recommend this to anyone on the market for a new book.
This book was about 250 pages.
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February 12, 2018This is an awesome story of rescue and survival. After you read it you should leave with a new found appreciation for the Coast Guard. The struggles that they went to in order to rescue the crews of those ships in this book are amazing. Some parts of this story sound miraculous.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews