John Martin Howard

John Martin Howard (20 August 1917–11 June 1942) was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, and enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 22 June 1935. After training duty 1940-1941 at the Naval Reserve Midshipman's School, Howard was appointed Ensign 28 February 1941.[1]

Ensign John "Mickey" M. Howard, USNR, had graduated from the third class at the Advanced Mine School, later renamed the Mine Disposal School at the Naval Gun Factory (Washington Naval Yard). Selected members of that class, as had been members of earlier classes, were sent to England to observe and gain experience with Royal Navy and Royal Engineers in mine disarming and disposal. He had been assigned to the Royal Navy shore establishment, H.M.S. Mirtle, in an abandoned quarry designated a Mine Investigation Range where enemy mines and other ordinance were brought to be examined in detail.[2]

A German, moored, magnetic influence mine, TMA-1 ("T" for Tommy) had come ashore on Corton sands near Lowestoft with Lcdr. Roy Berryman Edwards,RN, DSO, BEM taking the assignment to render the mine safe. Ensign Howard was to observe the operation. Edwards had requested permission from the Admiralty in London to go ahead as he had successfully disarmed an earlier similar mine and knew how to "take a 'Tommy"apart' but was told to await an officer with current intelligence on German mines. Edwards called again asking permission as he felt fully qualified and, on 11 June proceeded with Ensign Howard observing. Observers on the cliff, a safe distance, observed Edwards removing the mechanism plate with Howard close by. The mine detonated with the full four hundred and seventy pounds of charge. The detonation left nothing but scatted debris from sea to cliffs and two hundred yards in each direction along the beach. Ensign Howard was the first Navy mine disposal person killed.[2]

Investigation by the officer intended to assist, if Edwards had waited, revealed that the mine did not have a new anti-tampering device, but an old and previously unknown one. Among the debris Lt. John Stuart Mould, RANVR, found a piece of wire that indicated a long period submerged. He learned there was another "Tommy" mine still at sea and arranged for it to be towed to where he could deal with it. It was obviously old from a previously unknown field and covered with barnacles and he was certain this was like the one that killed Edwards and Howard. Unlike Edwards, Mould had and used cutting (trepanning) rgear to open the casing revealing wire connecting the plates and detonators. Pulling either would detonate the mine. Mould, suspecting it was strain that triggered the detonation decided to cut the wire relieving the strain. The U.S. Navy Bomb Disposal Intelligence Bulletin published 1 Nov 1944 noted that regardless of mechanical events "the fact remains that the tragedy can be definitely and directly attributed to an utter disregard for established and proven RMS Procedure."[2]

USS John M. Howard (IX-75), assigned to the Explosives Investigation Laboratory (EIL), renamed December 1944 as Ordnance Investigation Laboratory (OIL), elements of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory, was named in his honor.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 "John M. Howard (IX-75)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bartleson, John D., Jr. (1995), History of U.S. Navy Mine Disposal, Washington, DC: United States Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association, p. 46-49, LCCN 96170065
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.