U.S. BATTLESHIP THAT WENT AGROUND: THREE OFFICERS PUNISHED

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 May 1950, Page 5

U.S. BATTLESHIP THAT WENT AGROUND: THREE OFFICERS PUNISHED

NEW YORK, May 3.—Three key officers who were aboard the battleship Missouri when it went aground in Chesapeake Bay on January 17, have been punished by 'reduction in numbers."

The Navy, in making the announce men’t, said reduction in numbers lowered officers in their respective grades on the Navy's promotion list, retarded their advancement to next higher rank. The announcement showed that Captain William Brown, 57, who was commanding officer ot the Missouri when she grounded, had been reduced 250 numbers. Brown had told the courtmartial that he accepted full responsibility for the grounding. Commander John Millett, 38, operations officer, was reduced 100 numbers. Lieut.-Commander Frank Morris, 34, navigator, was reduced 350 numbers.

Admiral Fechteler, commander-in-chief ot the Atlantic Fleet, who announced the sentences, said the general courtmartial had found Brown guilty on two charges of neg. ligence anct one of neglect of duty; Millett, guilty on one charge of negligence and one of neglect of fcty; Morris, guilty on charge of culpable inefficiency and neglect of duty. Admiral Fechteler said the effect of the loss of a single number in a captain’s grade was approximately twice that of the loss of a single number in a commander’s grade and approximately three times that of the loss of a single number in a lieut.commander's grade. The Missouri, 45,000 tons, went aground during an attempt to negotiate a secret electronic range between the main ship channel and shallow water. The battleship stuck in the mud for 15 days before she was refloated by a score of tugs and powerful beach cable gear, assisted by an unusually high tide.