U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship. Photo: Jessica's Rider.
History
The keel for the U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA was laid in a Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 27, 1937. Launched into the East River, New York, on June 13, 1940, and commissioned on April 9, 1941, the U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA was one of 10 battleships to join the American fleet in World War II.
War Service
Although she was in service for only seven years, the U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA was a part of every Naval offensive in the Pacific area of operations, and the most decorated battleship of World War II. She earned a total of 15 battle stars and:
- Carried out 9 shore bombardments;
- Sank an enemy troopship;
- Destroyed at least 24 enemy aircraft (and assisted in shooting down many more);
- Survived a Japanese torpedo slamming into her hull;
- Steamed more than 300,000 miles;
- Was wrongly reported sunk (6 times by the Japanese); and
- Served as a training vessel for midshipmen.
Retiring To Its Namesake: The SOS Campaign
The U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA currently stands as a permanent memorial and exhibit for North Carolina's World War II veterans. A U.S. Navy heritage asset, it became permanently berthed in Wilmington in 1961 thanks to a local effort by citizens in Wilmington, N.C. to save the ship from being scrapped in the late 1950s. Former Army veteran James Craig, Jr., and Hugh Morton, former publicity manager for North Carolina Governor Luther H. Hodges, recognized the importance of a memorial to the 10,000 North Carolinians who gave their lives in WWII and led the "Operation Save Our Ship" campaign. They believed the battleship should serve as both tribute and floating museum. From the state's 100 counties, an "admiral" was chosen, who was responsible for ensuring the area's fundraising quota was met. Incoming Governor Terry Sanford suggested involving schools across the state; every child that donated a dime received a free admission pass. In all, citizens young and old raised $330,000 to purchase the ship from the Navy and prepare her berth in the Cape Fear River.
Haunted History
A total of 10 crewmembers died aboard the vessel during its years of service, and according to Danny Bradshaw, the ship’s security guard for the past 30 years, at least one of them hasn’t yet left. On several occasions, Bradshaw described seeing a male figure with a flaming head standing in one of the ship’s many rooms or passageways. Each time, the apparition will holds Bradshaw’s gaze for a few seconds, then turn its head and disappear. Bradshaw also reports mysterious sounds distinctive from an old ship’s typical creaks and groans, the most typical of which are a man’s footsteps echoing off in the distance or on another deck. Others have reported evidence of different male manifestations looking from portholes, talking, screaming, operating electronics, or opening and closing hatches and doors.
Several paranormal investigation groups, including Haunted North Carolina, Virginia Paranormal Investigations, The Atlantic Paranormal Society, and SyFy Channel’s Ghosthunters television crew have visited the ship over the past few years. Findings include captured photos of mysterious floating orbs, sightings of faceless apparitions, a captured EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon), and call-and-response tests with distinct answers in the form of taps and loud bangs on the ship’s steel structure.
Media
Battleship North Carolina by Visit NC Tourism Board
The Story of the U.S.S. North Carolina by USShips
The Ship's Guns in Action by Critical Past
Interview with Ghostsighter and Security Guard Danny Bradshaw by WRAL News
Virginia Paranormal Investigations Episode by VAPI
Visiting
More than 250,000 visitors representing school groups, civic organizations, veterans and citizens from all 50 states and many foreign countries climb aboard the U.S.S. Battleship North Carolina each year.
Full Hours and Ticketing Information
Page sources: Haunted NC
http://www.battleshipnc.com
http://www.nchistoricsites.org
https://www.ourstate.com/saving-the-battleship/
