USS Mississinewa (AO-59) was the first of two United States Navy ships of the name. She was a T3-S2-A1 oiler of the US Navy, laid down on 5 October 1943 by the Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc., Sparrows Point, Maryland; launched on 28 March 1944; and commissioned on 18 May 1944.
Ulithi in the Caroline Islands, 16 November 1942 she replenished her cargo tanks, filling them almost to capacity with 404,000 US gallons (1,530 m3) of aviation gas, 9,000 barrels (1,400 m3) of diesel fuel, and 90,000 barrels (14,000 m3) of fuel oil. Four days later, 20 November, she was still anchored in berth No. 131. At 05:47, shortly after reveille, a heavy explosion rocked the oiler. Seconds later, fumes in an aviation gas cargo tank ignited, causing a second explosion. Massive flames immediately burst from midship forward. Bunker C oil immediately engulfed the ship, with aviation gas on top of that. The aviation gas acted like a wick. Fanned by a light wind, the fire spread aft quickly. A few minutes later the fires reached the after magazine and caused yet another explosion to tear through the ship. The ship was abandoned and soon enveloped in flames over 100 ft (30 m) high. Fleet tugs were immediately brought in to try to extinguish the fire, but in spite of their efforts, at about 09:00 the ship slowly turned over and disappeared. Fifteen minutes later, the fire on the water was out and Ulithi anchorage was again quiet. This ship was the first to be hit by a Japanese Kaiten manned torpedo. The ship sank with a loss of 63 hands as well as the kaiten pilot.
S/O Milton Daniel
Service # 8319535
Unit United States Naval Reserve
Rank Steward Third Class U.S. Navy
★ Purple Heart
Status Missing In Action
DANIEL, CALVIN C ST3C NAVY 08319535 MISSISSINEWA; UNITED STATES NAVY
RESERVE 11/20/1944 Philippine Sea
DANIEL, Calvin C, ST3, 8319535, USS Mississinewa (AO-59), Sunk by Kaiten at Ulithi, November 20, 1944, (CasCode6421), dd November 20, 1944.
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
Ulithi in the Caroline Islands, 16 November 1942 she replenished her cargo tanks, filling them almost to capacity with 404,000 US gallons (1,530 m3) of aviation gas, 9,000 barrels (1,400 m3) of diesel fuel, and 90,000 barrels (14,000 m3) of fuel oil. Four days later, 20 November, she was still anchored in berth No. 131. At 05:47, shortly after reveille, a heavy explosion rocked the oiler. Seconds later, fumes in an aviation gas cargo tank ignited, causing a second explosion. Massive flames immediately burst from midship forward. Bunker C oil immediately engulfed the ship, with aviation gas on top of that. The aviation gas acted like a wick. Fanned by a light wind, the fire spread aft quickly. A few minutes later the fires reached the after magazine and caused yet another explosion to tear through the ship. The ship was abandoned and soon enveloped in flames over 100 ft (30 m) high. Fleet tugs were immediately brought in to try to extinguish the fire, but in spite of their efforts, at about 09:00 the ship slowly turned over and disappeared. Fifteen minutes later, the fire on the water was out and Ulithi anchorage was again quiet. This ship was the first to be hit by a Japanese Kaiten manned torpedo. The ship sank with a loss of 63 hands as well as the kaiten pilot.
S/O Milton Daniel
Service # 8319535
Unit United States Naval Reserve
Rank Steward Third Class U.S. Navy
★ Purple Heart
Status Missing In Action
DANIEL, CALVIN C ST3C NAVY 08319535 MISSISSINEWA; UNITED STATES NAVY
RESERVE 11/20/1944 Philippine Sea
DANIEL, Calvin C, ST3, 8319535, USS Mississinewa (AO-59), Sunk by Kaiten at Ulithi, November 20, 1944, (CasCode6421), dd November 20, 1944.
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
USS Mississinewa (AO-59) was the first of two United States Navy ships of the name. She was a T3-S2-A1 oiler of the US Navy, laid down on 5 October 1943 by the Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc., Sparrows Point, Maryland; launched on 28 March 1944; and commissioned on 18 May 1944.
Ulithi in the Caroline Islands, 16 November 1942 she replenished her cargo tanks, filling them almost to capacity with 404,000 US gallons (1,530 m3) of aviation gas, 9,000 barrels (1,400 m3) of diesel fuel, and 90,000 barrels (14,000 m3) of fuel oil. Four days later, 20 November, she was still anchored in berth No. 131. At 05:47, shortly after reveille, a heavy explosion rocked the oiler. Seconds later, fumes in an aviation gas cargo tank ignited, causing a second explosion. Massive flames immediately burst from midship forward. Bunker C oil immediately engulfed the ship, with aviation gas on top of that. The aviation gas acted like a wick. Fanned by a light wind, the fire spread aft quickly. A few minutes later the fires reached the after magazine and caused yet another explosion to tear through the ship. The ship was abandoned and soon enveloped in flames over 100 ft (30 m) high. Fleet tugs were immediately brought in to try to extinguish the fire, but in spite of their efforts, at about 09:00 the ship slowly turned over and disappeared. Fifteen minutes later, the fire on the water was out and Ulithi anchorage was again quiet. This ship was the first to be hit by a Japanese Kaiten manned torpedo. The ship sank with a loss of 63 hands as well as the kaiten pilot.
S/O Milton Daniel
Service # 8319535
Unit United States Naval Reserve
Rank Steward Third Class U.S. Navy
★ Purple Heart
Status Missing In Action
DANIEL, CALVIN C ST3C NAVY 08319535 MISSISSINEWA; UNITED STATES NAVY
RESERVE 11/20/1944 Philippine Sea
DANIEL, Calvin C, ST3, 8319535, USS Mississinewa (AO-59), Sunk by Kaiten at Ulithi, November 20, 1944, (CasCode6421), dd November 20, 1944.
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
Ulithi in the Caroline Islands, 16 November 1942 she replenished her cargo tanks, filling them almost to capacity with 404,000 US gallons (1,530 m3) of aviation gas, 9,000 barrels (1,400 m3) of diesel fuel, and 90,000 barrels (14,000 m3) of fuel oil. Four days later, 20 November, she was still anchored in berth No. 131. At 05:47, shortly after reveille, a heavy explosion rocked the oiler. Seconds later, fumes in an aviation gas cargo tank ignited, causing a second explosion. Massive flames immediately burst from midship forward. Bunker C oil immediately engulfed the ship, with aviation gas on top of that. The aviation gas acted like a wick. Fanned by a light wind, the fire spread aft quickly. A few minutes later the fires reached the after magazine and caused yet another explosion to tear through the ship. The ship was abandoned and soon enveloped in flames over 100 ft (30 m) high. Fleet tugs were immediately brought in to try to extinguish the fire, but in spite of their efforts, at about 09:00 the ship slowly turned over and disappeared. Fifteen minutes later, the fire on the water was out and Ulithi anchorage was again quiet. This ship was the first to be hit by a Japanese Kaiten manned torpedo. The ship sank with a loss of 63 hands as well as the kaiten pilot.
S/O Milton Daniel
Service # 8319535
Unit United States Naval Reserve
Rank Steward Third Class U.S. Navy
★ Purple Heart
Status Missing In Action
DANIEL, CALVIN C ST3C NAVY 08319535 MISSISSINEWA; UNITED STATES NAVY
RESERVE 11/20/1944 Philippine Sea
DANIEL, Calvin C, ST3, 8319535, USS Mississinewa (AO-59), Sunk by Kaiten at Ulithi, November 20, 1944, (CasCode6421), dd November 20, 1944.
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Alabama.
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