Charles Myron Woods (he went by "Myron") was a highly decorated veteran of the U.S. Navy. However, he left the Navy and was employed as a civilian electrician with the Portsmouth Navy Yard and worked on submarines. He was one of three civilians working on board the submarine USS Squalus built at the Naval Yard and under going test trials.
On the morning of May 23, 1939 while doing the boat's 19th test dive simulating a "crash dive", the main induction valve, which was closed at the start of the dive, inexplicably opened and flooded the aft end of the Squalus where Myron Woods was stationed. The boat sunk stern first in 243' of ocean. Those 33 crewmen in the forward sections of the submarine survived the initial accident and were subsequently rescued in heroic efforts by the Navy using the the McCann Rescue Chamber. Unfortunately, Myron was among 26 men who drowned quicklyin the after sections of the Squalus.
In September 1939, after a complicated four month effort, the Squalus was finally raised, towed, and dry docked at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. The bodies of the victims were removed and escorted by surviving crew members to their burial locations. Woods was buried at the First Baptist Church cemetery, Kittery Point, ME.
The Squalus was recommissioned as the USS Sailfish and went on to a successful career in WW II. The conning tower of the boat remains in the Navy Yard as a memorial to those her served her as Squalus and Sailfish.
On the morning of May 23, 1939 while doing the boat's 19th test dive simulating a "crash dive", the main induction valve, which was closed at the start of the dive, inexplicably opened and flooded the aft end of the Squalus where Myron Woods was stationed. The boat sunk stern first in 243' of ocean. Those 33 crewmen in the forward sections of the submarine survived the initial accident and were subsequently rescued in heroic efforts by the Navy using the the McCann Rescue Chamber. Unfortunately, Myron was among 26 men who drowned quicklyin the after sections of the Squalus.
In September 1939, after a complicated four month effort, the Squalus was finally raised, towed, and dry docked at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. The bodies of the victims were removed and escorted by surviving crew members to their burial locations. Woods was buried at the First Baptist Church cemetery, Kittery Point, ME.
The Squalus was recommissioned as the USS Sailfish and went on to a successful career in WW II. The conning tower of the boat remains in the Navy Yard as a memorial to those her served her as Squalus and Sailfish.
Charles Myron Woods (he went by "Myron") was a highly decorated veteran of the U.S. Navy. However, he left the Navy and was employed as a civilian electrician with the Portsmouth Navy Yard and worked on submarines. He was one of three civilians working on board the submarine USS Squalus built at the Naval Yard and under going test trials.
On the morning of May 23, 1939 while doing the boat's 19th test dive simulating a "crash dive", the main induction valve, which was closed at the start of the dive, inexplicably opened and flooded the aft end of the Squalus where Myron Woods was stationed. The boat sunk stern first in 243' of ocean. Those 33 crewmen in the forward sections of the submarine survived the initial accident and were subsequently rescued in heroic efforts by the Navy using the the McCann Rescue Chamber. Unfortunately, Myron was among 26 men who drowned quicklyin the after sections of the Squalus.
In September 1939, after a complicated four month effort, the Squalus was finally raised, towed, and dry docked at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. The bodies of the victims were removed and escorted by surviving crew members to their burial locations. Woods was buried at the First Baptist Church cemetery, Kittery Point, ME.
The Squalus was recommissioned as the USS Sailfish and went on to a successful career in WW II. The conning tower of the boat remains in the Navy Yard as a memorial to those her served her as Squalus and Sailfish.
On the morning of May 23, 1939 while doing the boat's 19th test dive simulating a "crash dive", the main induction valve, which was closed at the start of the dive, inexplicably opened and flooded the aft end of the Squalus where Myron Woods was stationed. The boat sunk stern first in 243' of ocean. Those 33 crewmen in the forward sections of the submarine survived the initial accident and were subsequently rescued in heroic efforts by the Navy using the the McCann Rescue Chamber. Unfortunately, Myron was among 26 men who drowned quicklyin the after sections of the Squalus.
In September 1939, after a complicated four month effort, the Squalus was finally raised, towed, and dry docked at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. The bodies of the victims were removed and escorted by surviving crew members to their burial locations. Woods was buried at the First Baptist Church cemetery, Kittery Point, ME.
The Squalus was recommissioned as the USS Sailfish and went on to a successful career in WW II. The conning tower of the boat remains in the Navy Yard as a memorial to those her served her as Squalus and Sailfish.
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