Robbie’s Five Days on Board
By James “Robbie” Robbins (lower right in photo)
We, five survivors of the George 1 crash , the Captain of the Pine Island was allowed to keep his command, we were brought on board the USS Brownson from our Task Group ship, the sea plane tender USS Pine Island in one of our rearming boats. Our badly burned PPC Frenchy was taken to the Bronson skippers bunk = what a wonderful man he was, to give up his only bunk for Frenchy! I know they could never get that horrible smell of burnt human flesh out of his bunk after that.
Our co-pilot was taken to Officers quarters & Chief McCarty, Warr & myself were given the New Chief Quarters amidship = WOW ! Little Warr & I couldn’t believe this. I tried to tell the Chief Master at Arms that Warr & I would be OK in regular EM quarters. He Said, ” NO WAY, SKIPPER SAYS YOU WILL STAY IN CHIEF QUARTERS!” We didn’t argue= he was a big Guy. He further embarrassed us by making us always go to the head of the chow line ! Even when he caught us trying to stand in line. We were white hats & this was really embarrassing for us.
Every day I would go to Frenchy’s bunkside & read Mr Roberts to him until he feel asleep. Gotta tell ya that was the funniest book I ever read. I’d be laughing so hard that Frenchy got upset Because I couldn’t stop laughing & tell him what was so funny !
You guys really spoiled the socks off of us. Can you imagine us getting all that special attention ? I spent a lot of time with the gang in the “com shack” as I too was a radioman. The entire crew of the Brownson treated us too super, they were really great !
We were busting ice all the way to the USS Philippine Sea. The skipper had already become very experienced with the surface ice. He had tried to get within helo range of the coast & nearly got caught in the ice. So he could just glance at the ice & knew whether he could bust through or not ! The guys on board knew the sound of crushing ice on the hull all day & night. I Understand he did ding the bow up pretty good !
In the com shack one day this guy that was on the big broadcast circuit started laughing so hard that he fell out of his chair. The news media was sending this stuff, ” The Philippine Sea is creeping through the heavy fog, not knowing when a huge iceberg could loom out right in front of it ! ! ” You can see why that was so funny to us as we were crushing ice so much that It was a little difficult to BS amongst us some of the time !
We pulled up as close to the port stern end of the carrier where the cables were set up to bring us aboard. Kinda like trying to keep steady along side of the “empire state building “! Gotta tell Ya to keep those cables the right tension between ships was really something ! The Brownson crew was running their butts off back & forth like mad as the DD was rolling twice as much as that floating empire state building. What a crew ! We were even transferred without getting our feet wet. Even Frenchy told us how good you guys had to be without breaking the cable or dunking any of us. You guys brought Frenchy across in the wire body stretcher & he didn’t get wet either! WOW! WHAT A CREW !
While on board the Brownson the com shack guys told me not to forget them. I told them that as soon as I got on board the carrier I would go up to the com shack & tell them a fond farewell. Once on board that huge Naval Air Station & Warr & I were given our bunks we went up to the com shack & I conned the ckt watcher that was on with Brownson to let me cw with them . Soon as I told him who we were he let me have his circuit. He didn’t have the slightest idea how we got on board. Talked CW with them and thanked them for their wonderful hospitality & Commented on what a great crew they are !
Frenchy was taken to sick bay immediately & the head surgeon was waiting for him. This was the surgeon that removed both his legs just below the knees. Please read my Antarctic Mayday story for all that happened to him !
My story of the crash, 13 day survival, & rescue of the survivors is at http://www.south-pole.com/p0000153.htm
We are still trying to get the bodies of Ens. Lopez, Williams AMM1C & Hendersin ARM IC out of that crash site even though they are over 150ft down in the ice. We have 2 letters in with National Geographic since June 3, 2003 & follow-up Oct 4, 03. Somebody must be investigating it as we were informed that most of these types of queries usually receive a ” Dear John ” within 30 days !
Can hardly wait to see you guys in Vegas again. As you recall, my wife & I were there in 1997. My Dolly Dale died April 25, 2002 & I have made a shrine out of our home to her. She was truly A wonderful lady ! I made a most beautiful eulogy out to her. It cost $250 in our local Desert Sun daily paper. One gentleman, after reading it, walked into our Church secretary’s office & Said, ” I’m not of this church but I want to be part of this little ladies service & handed her a $100 Bill. I’ll bring a couple of copies if any of you would like to read it.
I have been in Cancer since she died & all that rectal radiation is still putting me down a lot ! Hope you guys enjoyed my story! See ya next year !
We were rescued Jan. 11, 1947. So we must have come aboard around the 20th of Jan.
Robbie