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!!! The YRBM 16 !!!
Bomb Damage
Page 3
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The YRBM 16 after the bombing

The YRBM 16

The YRBM 16 after the bombing



This Page is dedicated as a Memorial
to the 7 Men who died

from a bomb that exploded against the hull of the YRBM 16.
on Thanksgiving Night!, 1:15 AM November 24, 1967
in the middle of a river at Ben Tre, Vietnam

The explosion's hull rupture is shown above.
A fire also damaged much of the interior.

Lionel Burns CS3, who was there, supplied this photo (taken in Binh Thuy)
and much of the information on this page.
It is assumed that a VC swimmer evaded the nets and placed the bomb there.

John Hendrickson and Dick Strandberg supplied additional information.


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MEMORIAL

YRBM 16 CREWMEN

ETN3 Robert Lyndon Gray
EN2 Wilson Nathaniel Flowers<
(both flown to hospitals in Japan)

PBR CREWMAN

SN George R. Ycoco
BM1 Joseph J. Simon
GMG3 Lonnie B. Evans
SN Dale E. Egbert
GMG3 Ronald E Crose

May they rest in Peace
***

Panoramic Sunset

HISTORY OF THE YRBM 16



Tan Chau was the first location in Country
near Cambodia on the Mekong River


In 1967 the YRBM was moved to Can Tho
on the Bassac River
There it supported the building of the Binh Thuy PBR Base


After that it was moved to Ben Tre
On the Ham Luong River
It was moored in the middle of the Ham Luong River
The Bombing occured here at 1:12 am
The morning after Thanksgiving Day
Flooding and a fire occured also


The Explosion occured at the bulkhead between the engine room and RD 522s berthing space.
The double hull in the area was a diesel fuel tank.
The Explosion ripped a hole big enough to drive a truck through.
The explosion also blew the hell out of the double hull fuel tank
topped off with 3000 gallons of diesel the day before from a costal AO.
Fuel was thrown all over the decks and erupted in Flames.
Smoke filled the ships passages.
Flame may have leaped over 100 feet in the air.
Fire, extreme heat and smoke hindered rescue efforts and forced evacuation.
The Crew escaped on Mike boats until returning with firehoses
PBRs of Squadron 522 began the fire fighting efforts.
In addition to 7 deaths, 14 crewmen were injured.


For an Eyewitness Account of Events after the Bombing go to
Dick Strandberg's Account of Events

For another Eyewitness Account of Events after the Bombing go to
John Hendrickson's Account of Events


According to Lloyd Tutor - EMAIL: tutorls[ at ]dmi.net ,
his boat PBR 65 in squadron 521 was scrambled from the Hunterdon County LST 838
PRB 65 arrived first at the YRBM 16 and began fighting the Fire.
The rest of the squadron followed and LST 838 arrived Later.
The PBR Crews did not find survivors or casualties before their OBAs ran out.
The PBR crew spent the day fighting the fire.
They were the first to enter the area between the Machine Shop and the Berthing Space



The YRBM 16 was towed to Dong Tam for a sea patch
It was towed to Japan for a refit
It was almost lost in heavy seas

I first saw it in Chou Doc in fall 1969
In summer 1970 it left Chou Doc
It may now be moored at Bangor Washington on the Hood Canal
It may be with the YRBM 20 and YRBM 18 at the Naval Submarine Base


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THE YRBM 16
BOMBING
PHOTOS
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binoculars
CLICK ON A THUMBNAIL
FOR FULL SIZE IMAGE
binoculars

The following photos are copied from CS3 Lionel Burn's Photos
at an outdoor table at the June 1998 reunion of the Mobile Riverine Forces Association.

The quality of these black and white photos is not as good as it could be.
I did not have a glass plate to flatten the wrinkled photos
and took the pictures with a hand held camera and a 50 mm macro lens using direct sunlight.


Close View of the YRBM 16 exploded areaClose up View of the YRBM 16 exploded area.
The explosion was at a bulkhead separating the PBR Crew Quarters and a Diesel Fuel Tank.


View of Damage from Top Deck of the YRBM 16View of Damage from Top Deck of the YRBM 16.


 Christmas tree in soot covered compartmentSmoke Damage Soot covers Christmas tree in Machine Shop.
The Fuel from the diesel tank created a massive fire.


Soot Covered Coffee Machine Smoke Damage Soot and ash covers Coffee Machine.


The YRBM 16 Surviving Crew being reassigned.The YRBM 16 Surviving Crew being reassigned.
The YRBM 16 was towed to Dong Tam for a sea patch.
The YRBM 16 was then towed to Japan for Repair.


The YRBM 16 Fire A Photo of The YRBM 16 Fire.
Photo is courtesy of Dick Strandberg
EMAIL:dstrandberg[ at ]inficad.com


The YRBM 16 Fire A later Photo of The YRBM 16 Fire.
Photo is courtesy of Dick Strandberg
EMAIL:dstrandberg[ at ]inficad.com


The YRBM 16 Thanksgiving Dinner Menu. The YRBM 16 Thanksgiving Dinner Menu. The YRBM 16 Thanksgiving Dinner Menu.

YRBM 16 1967 Thanksgiving Dinner Menu is courtesy of Dick Strandberg
EMAIL:dstrandberg[ at ]inficad.com




Muster at the YRBM 16 Crew Page
The YRBM 16 at Dong Tam after the fire
Return to YRBM 16 Page 1 1970
Return to YRBM 16 Page 2 1967


Page Created - July 1998
Last Major Edit - November 1999
Many thanks to Lionel Burns CS3 for photos
Thanks to John Hendrickson for Email history
Thanks to Meryl Lemen for YRBM 16 Patch images

Sampans crossing river

PLEASE EMAIL ME
IF YOU HAVE
BEEN THERE
!!!

P.S.
BEST VIEWED AT
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YRBM 16 Patch

Ski Boat Left
Ski Boat Right

South Vietnam Flag Bar

YRBM 16 Patch

This YRBM 16 Patch is Courtesy of Meryl Lemen
EMAIL:racing[ at ]midusa.net"

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*** HAWLEY'S WEB BOOK ***
THE BROWNWATER NAVY IN THE MEKONG DELTA
BROWSE THESE WEB PAGES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Vietnam Campain Ribbon
A 120 PLUS PAGE TOUR OF THE BROWNWATER NAVY IN THE MEKONG DELTA from 1966 - 1971
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The YRBM 16 Memorial Page
It recieved a National 1998 TOP GUN Bronze Award
NEW PAGES OR MAJOR CHANGES
FROM OCTOBER 2003 TO
-none- minor edits only
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Guest Book Page

[Over 2100 Guestbook Entries]
cataloged by number, location, Unit or Vessel.

LINKS TO OTHER VETERAN'S SITES

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Topgun 3rd Place in Catagory: In Memorial

Original Nomination Banner
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Nominated in Year 2000 for Catagory: Least we forget

Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument

Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument



The Unit Memorial Monument is on the Coronado Naval Amphibious Base.
The Unit Memorial Monument will memorialize all the Naval personnel
who died or are missing in Vietnam. The names on the monument are organized by
unit complete with Unit insignia. Includes support and auxillary units.

Funds are needed to complete the Unit Memorial Monument and
restore the Command Control Boat, Swift Boat and PBR displayed there.
Your donations to this effort would be appreciated.


The Last known Command Control Boat (CCB-18) has arrived in San Diego
and is displayed at the Vietnam Navy Unit Memorial Monument Site
on the Coronado Naval Amphibious Base.
This was called by some a monitor boat.

CCB-18 Monitor

Visit the Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument Fund Site

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Page Hits since November 2003




The YRBM 16 at Dong Tam after the fire
Muster at the YRBM 16 Crew Page
Return to YRBM 16 Page 1 1970
Return to YRBM 16 Page 2 1967

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All PHOTO IMAGES, TEXT AND THE PAGE DESIGN ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR
UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED.
All RIGHTS RESERVED.