Destroyer Jinxed by Bad Luck
The article discusses the incident involving the American destroyer "William D. Porter" during World War II, highlighting a series of unusual events that occurred from the time she left the port until her sinking in the Pacific Ocean in 1945. The problems began when the crew failed to hoist the anchor properly, resulting in the ship colliding with another destroyer and causing an explosion of a depth charge that the crew had forgotten to secure correctly. This was followed by a powerful wave that killed one sailor and flooded the boiler room. Errors also occurred during a torpedo firing drill when a live torpedo was accidentally fired toward a U.S. battleship. Investigations confirmed that one of the experts had forgotten to remove the firing detonator from the torpedo, leading to its accidental launch. The accused was sentenced to prison but was later released. The ship continued to serve, participating in naval battles including the Battle of Okinawa, where it shot down six enemy aircraft. Her end came after being struck by a Japanese bomber, triggering a massive explosion that forced her out of the water surface. The crew was compelled to abandon her, and she sank, though most of her personnel survived. The story highlights the crew's errors, bizarre incidents, and deadly coincidences that made the "William D. Porter" one of the most unlucky American destroyers during the war, despite all crew members surviving.
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