172 expedited compression schedule: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 26.
172 additional soreness: Ibid., pp. 49, 55.
172 mini-sub called Deep Star: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 13; Bond, Papa Topside, p. 168; 100 Fathoms Deep.
172 Carpenter on its three-man crew: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 25, 41; Capt. Nicholson press conference, Feb. 17, 1969.
172 bubbles rising from the habitat: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 41; Ex. 47 (see handwritten notes included); 100 Fathoms Deep.
172 electrical stuffing tubes: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 25, 41–42; Capt. Nicholson press conference, Feb. 17, 1969.
172 On February 16: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 286; Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” p. 27.
172 a steel pod seven feet: “Press Handbook,” pp. 7-3, 7-6.
172 ones chosen to get inside: Bond, Papa Topside, pp. 168–69; “Record of Proceedings,” p. 27.
173 had spent six years: Blackburn, interviews, June 6, 2002, and July 15, 2005.
173 last-minute replacement: Blackburn, interview, Sept. 19, 2006.
173 principal trainer of Tuffy: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 43; “Press Handbook,” p. 11-15; Pauli and Clapper, “Project Sealab Report,” pp. 408, 410.
173 lowering took almost an hour: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 26–27, 286; Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” pp. 27–28.
173 heater was out of order: Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 132; Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” p. 74.
173 deflector was also missing: Bond, Papa Topside, p. 170; “Record of Proceedings,” p. 46; Barth and Blackburn, interviews.
173 never been so cold: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 55–56.
173 called the Mark IX: Ibid., p. 42; Ex. 44: “Equipment Test Program: LCDR John V. Harter, USN,” p. 3.
173 less than fifty pounds: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 42-B, 92-A.
174 cage hung a few feet: Barth and Blackburn, interviews; “Press Handbook,” p. 7-4; Navy photograph, Oct. 4, 1978, no. KN-15824 (in author’s possession); 100 Fathoms Deep.
174 in the mid-forties: “Record of Proceedings,” Ex. 75: Statement of Robert J. Fyfe, Feb. 20, 1969; Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 134.
174 sixty-foot length: “Press Handbook,” p. 4-9.
174 “unbuttoning” procedures: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 206–8; Barth, Sea Dwellers, pp. 133, 135.
174 “blow the skirt”: Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 133; “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 102-I, 207.
174 a couple of steps up a ladder: 100 Fathoms Deep.
174 yanked a few levers: Barth, interview, Dec. 16, 2001; Capt. Nicholson press conference, Feb. 17, 1969.
174 about twelve minutes: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 12; Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” pp. 28–29.
174 left the hatch and swam: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 207–8.
174 beginning to feel uneasy: Ibid.
174 he might black out: Ibid., p. 57.
174 dazed look: Ibid., p. 50-A.
174 “Where’s Barth?”: Ibid.; Blackburn, interviews.
174 Minutes seemed to pass: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 27, 46, 50-A.
174 breach of buddy diving etiquette: Ibid., pp. 205–6, 223–24.
174 quickly strapped on: Ibid., pp. 46, 50-A.
175 Blackburn couldn’t understand: Ibid.
175 more than 90 percent helium: “Press Handbook,” p. 4-2.
175 black-and-white image: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 27, 102-M; 100 Fathoms Deep.
175 voice over the intercom told: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 50-A.
175 left the bottom at 7:25: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 288; Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” pp. 29, 31.
175 trailer on the main deck: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 102-M; interviews with Sealab III personnel; official Navy photographs, nos. KN-15833 & 15845 (in author’s possession.); 100 Fathoms Deep.
175 their decompression chamber: “Press Handbook,” p. 7-1; 100 Fathoms Deep.
175 process of raising the pod: Interviews with Sealab III personnel; Navy photographs (in author’s possession); 100 Fathoms Deep.
175 shaking badly from the cold: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 50-A, 55, 58; Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” p. 30; Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 133.
175 almost nine o’clock: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 288; Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” p. 31; Capt. Nicholson press conference, Feb. 17, 1969.
175 into a blast furnace: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 50-A, 58; Blackburn, interview, Sept. 19, 2006.
175 Project Tektite I: D. C. Pauli and H. A. Cole, eds., “Project Tektite I, a Multi-agency 60-Day Saturated Dive Conducted by the United States Navy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of the Interior and the General Electric Company,” ONR Report DR 153, Office of Naval Research, Washington, D.C., Jan. 16, 1970.
176 reports barely differentiated: William K. Stevens, “Aquanauts Aim for Depth and Duration Marks,” New York Times, Feb. 14, 1969, p. 41; Richard D. Lyons, “4 Aquanauts Begin 60-Day Submersion,” New York Times, Feb. 16, 1969, p. 41; Lyons, “4 Surface After 2 Months on Bottom of the Sea,” New York Times, April 15, p. 29; Lyons, “President Hails Aquanauts’ Feat,” New York Times, April 16, p. 8; Lyons, “4 Tektite Aquanauts Fit After 60-Day Mission,” New York Times, April 19, 1969, p. 35.
176 unlikely to kill: Pauli and Cole, “Project Tektite I,” pp. 14, 24.
176 no ultralight helium: Ibid., pp. 37–38.
176 take less than a day: Ibid., p. 8.
176 interconnected vertical tanks: Ibid., pp. 30–36.
176 south side of St. John: Ibid., pp. 8–9.
176 predict human behavior: Ibid., pp. 2–3.
176 topside commanders gathered: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 25, 37, 41; Mazzone, interview at a reunion of World War II submarine veterans, Buffalo, N.Y., Aug. 29, 2002; Robert Bornholdt, then a lieutenant, training officer and team leader, interview, March 4, 2002; Tomsky, interview, Aug. 5, 2002; Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” p. 75; 100 Fathoms Deep.
176 hashing over a variety: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 25; Cliff Smith, “Sealab Chief Tells of Role in Tragedy,” San Diego Union, March 7, 1969, p. B1.
176 ordered more gas be pumped: Interviews with Sealab III personnel; “Record of Proceedings,” Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” p. 20; the first entry on this page, made shortly before 9 A.M. on Feb. 16, 1969, notes that the habitat is leaking and that the internal pressure is being kept at 6 psi over the outside water pressure; similar pressure readings appear throughout subsequent log entries, including those corresponding to the times Barth attempted to open the hatch.
176 tricky from six hundred: Cyril Lafferty, interview, June 9, 2006; Lafferty, an experienced Royal Navy diver and diving officer who was to lead the fourth of the five Sealab III teams, was among those in the command van during the second dive; D. Martin Harrell, a DSSP engineer and aquanaut-to-be, interview, Oct. 27, 2006.
176 proved to be a bear: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 102-J, 109; Bornholdt, interview, March 4, 2002.
177 as much as eight pounds: “Record of Proceedings,” Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” pp. 28–29; Bunton, Death of an Aquanaut, p. 41.
177 give a thumbs-up: Bornholdt, interview, June 7, 2002.
177 the rest of Team 1: Ibid.; Bond, Papa Topside, p. 171.
177 his best guess: Bond, Papa Topside, p. 171; “Record of Proceedings,” p. 102-B.
177 very uncomfortable: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 29.
177 prefer that Barth take Blackburn: Ibid., p. 28.
177 Mazzone pointed out: Ibid., p. 27.
177 needed time to rest: Ibid., p. 147.
177 at two in the morning: Ibid., p. 148.
177 Others argued: Bornholdt, interview, March 4, 2002; Lafferty, interview, June 9, 2006; Bond, Papa Topside, p. 171.
177 sidestepped the issue: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 29, 41.
177 had
never been colder: Ibid., p. 48.
178 wasn’t much conversation: Ibid., pp. 114–15.
178 agreed that cold was: Ibid.
178 their own nerves: Ibid.
178 never in deep water: Ibid., pp. 113, 197, 283; Ex. 22: “Sealab III On-Scene Organization and Operations Manual,” May 1968, p. 35; interviews with Sealab III personnel, including Tomsky, Aug. 5, 2002; Bornholdt, June 7, 2002; Blackburn, Sept. 19, 2006; Dr. Paul Linaweaver, who was a commander, senior medical officer in the DSSP Technical Office and an aquanaut-to-be, interview, July 26, 2002.
178 said he was sorry: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 205.
178 no need to apologize: Ibid.
178 observations but didn’t dwell: Ibid., p. 115.
178 When Blackburn asked Cannon: Ibid., p. 50-A.
178 had to work the system: Blackburn, interview, June 6, 2002.
178 to make them sweat: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 100A.
178 there was a lot to do: Ibid., pp. 37, 58, Ex. 47: “Procedures that were attached to clipboard in PTC 2 on Feb. 17, 1969.”
178 an hour of sleep: Ibid., pp. 53, 288.
178 only Blackburn: Ibid., pp. 28, 109, 288.
178 checked over the two Mark IX rigs: Ibid., pp. 50-D, 109, 129, 289–90.
179 on the Navy team responsible: Blackburn, interview, Jan. 27, 2005; “Mark VI Semi-Closed Circuit Breathing Apparatus—Field Evaluation, December 1962–March 1963,” Evaluation Report 1-63, conducted by Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit Two, submitted by J. C. Bladh, project officer, Appendix A, p. viii.
179 Blackburn scrawled a note: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 92-C, 129, 180, 290, Ex. 79: Note to P. A. Wells.
179 put the two rigs back together: Ibid., pp. 48, 109.
179 arrived with a backup supply: Ibid., p. 28.
179 flooding alarm: Ibid., pp. 28, 101-G, 289; Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” p. 37.
179 the two decompression chambers: Interviews with Sealab III personnel; 100 Fathoms Deep.
179 discussed the situation with Barth: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 29, 58.
179 no reason to change horses: Ibid., p. 58.
179 make the opening dive again: Ibid., pp. 28, 58.
179 “Don’t be a hero”: Ibid., p. 29.
179 known as the Wiswell suit: Ibid., p. 20.
180 decided to jury-rig an umbilical: Ibid., p. 50-D.
180 feel the temperature falling: Ibid., p. 51.
180 shortly after three o’clock: Ibid., p. 290; Capt. Nicholson press conference, Feb. 17, 1969.
180 twenty hours straight: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 37, 51.
180 amphetamine tablets: Ibid., pp. 40, 100-D, 110, 117, 194, 288.
180 blowers again chilled them: Ibid., pp. 45, 58-A.
180 shared a blanket: Ibid., pp. 51, 59, 290.
180 colder than they had on the first ride: Ibid., p. 47; Barth and Blackburn, interviews.
180 more than an hour: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 290, Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” pp. 38, 40.
180 glimpses of the bubbling: Ibid., p. 45, Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” p. 27; 100 Fathoms Deep.
180 only a cool trickle: Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 134.
181 no hood or gloves: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 51.
181 sensation puzzled him: Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 134; “Record of Proceedings,” p. 56.
181 desperate gasping sound: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 47, 51, 289, 291.
181 now shortly after five: Ibid., pp. 290–91.
181 tap on his shoulder: Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 134.
181 the two paused: Ibid.
181 Cannon split off from Barth: Ibid., p. 135; “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 223–24; 100 Fathoms Deep.
181 Watching on a TV monitor: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 59, 101-D, 102-H, 291; 100 Fathoms Deep.
181 broken the seal: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 101-G, 289.
181 had a crowbar installed: Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 135.
181 A little plaque: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 30, Ex. 39: photo of plaque.
181 saw Barth swim off screen: 100 Fathoms Deep.
181 subdued tension: Interviews with Sealab III personnel, including Robert Bornholdt and Andres Pruna, both of whom were among those on the Elk River during the second dive, interviews, June 9, 2002, and Nov. 1, 2002, respectively; Bunton, Death of an Aquanaut, pp. 53–54; Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” pp. 77–78; see also “Record of Proceedings,” Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” pp. 24–25, which confirms that Tomsky is present and giving orders.
181 conflicting opinions: Mazzone, interview, Aug. 29, 2002; apart from implying that there were disagreements, Mazzone repeatedly declined to go into specifics, beginning with a first interview on Jan. 2, 2002, about what he believed was the problem with topside’s approach; he instead deferred to Tomsky’s explanation. Others interviewed who were close to the action either couldn’t remember exactly what was happening at the topside controls, didn’t know, or didn’t want to comment.
181 could not understand why: Jack Tomsky, interview, Dec. 30, 2003.
181 undo the two wing nuts: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 59, 224.
181 a clumsy method: Ibid., p. 42.
182 strange grunting sound: Barth, interviews, including Dec. 16, 2001; Sea Dwellers, p. 135.
182 startled by a yell: Blackburn, interviews, including March 16, 2002.
182 like a man jumping rope: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 59.
182 reappear on their monitors: Bond, Papa Topside, pp. 171–72; 100 Fathoms Deep.
182 immediately sensed trouble: Bond, Papa Topside, p. 172.
182 tried to lift Cannon: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 60; Barth, interview, Dec. 16, 2001.
182 jabbed it once, twice: Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” p. 77; 100 Fathoms Deep.
182 swim for the PTC: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 60.
182 their umbilicals caught on something: Ibid.
182 ringing in his ears: Ibid., p. 61.
182 little choice but to leave: Ibid.
182 wrangled some more: Ibid.
182 as if it were a mile away: Ibid.
182 order to get another diver: Ibid., pp. 44, 169, 102-O, 292.
182 Berry was in trouble: Ibid., p. 52.
182 Blackie squeezed past Barth: Ibid.
182 unspool his own umbilical: Ibid.
182 could see Cannon’s mouthpiece: Ibid.
183 as if he were napping: Ibid.
183 triggering the bypass: Ibid.
183 biggest and fittest: Blackburn, interviews; Bunton, Death of an Aquanaut, p. 55; Navy photograph by J. Reaves, “Views of Aquanaut Training,” SL-3-414-7-68, July 9, 1968 (in author’s possession); Blackburn is readily recognizable and clearly one of the biggest and tallest of the two dozen aquanauts pictured jogging along a beach.
183 dragging more than two hundred: Cannon’s weight is given as 157 pounds in “Autopsy Report from the Office of the Coroner, County of San Diego, California, File no. 54110, for Berry Louis Cannon, Feb. 17, 1969”; the dry weight of the Mark IX (“Record of Proceedings,” pp. 42-B, 92-A), plus the hot-water suit, adds another fifty pounds or so.
183 began to feel short of breath: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 52, 108.
183 one arm around Cannon: Ibid., p. 52; Blackburn, interview, June 6, 2002.
183 wondered if the line was strong enough: Blackburn, interview, June 6, 2002.
183 with a fury he had never: Ibid.
183 wrestled him out of his Mark IX: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 52.
183 hoist Cannon into the capsule: Ibid., p. 53.
183 had never seen a dead diver: Ibid., pp. 48, 191–92.
183 no trace of breath: Ibid., pp. 189, 193.
183 fed Cannon a fresh flow: Ibid., p. 53.
184 good exchange of gas: Ibid., pp. 53, 186, 188.
184 In the awkward circular space: Ibid.
184 external heart massag
e: Ibid.
184 Questions from topside: Ibid., p. 102-O.
184 Mazzone donned a headset: Mazzone, e-mail to author, Feb. 2, 2009.
184 “Take us up!”: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 102-O.
184 ordered the capsule raised: Ibid.
184 “Faster, faster”: Ibid.
184 might be an hour or more: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 40, 293; Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” p. 78; Capt. Nicholson press conference, Feb. 17, 1969.
184 better part of a week: Capt. Nicholson press conference, Feb. 12, 1969; Bob Corbett, “Navy Plans Probe of Sealab Death,” (San Diego) Evening Tribune, Feb. 18, 1969, p. A2 (decompression from a saturation dive typically takes up to twenty-four hours for every hundred feet of depth).
184 shaking from the cold: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 51.
184 noticed a froth: Ibid., pp. 48, 193–94.
184 about fifteen minutes after: Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” p. 78; “Record of Proceedings,” p. 102-P; Bond’s time estimate seems about right, and even in the various logbooks no precise times of a death announcement from the PTC are noted; see “Record of Proceedings,” Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” p. 42; Ex. 18: “Port Control (Main Control Console) Log of Feb. 14 through Feb. 17, 1969,” pp. 18–21; Ex. 15: “Sealab III Data Book, Medical Van, Vol. 1 (Portion Of),” p. 39.
184 “Berry Cannon is dead”: Bond, Papa Topside, p. 172; Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 136; “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 44, 107-A, and Ex. 18: “Port Control (Main Control Console) Log,” p. 18; these sources indicate that both Reaves and Barth, at different, unspecified times, spoke words to this effect over the PTC intercom en route to the surface.
CHAPTER 14: AN INVESTIGATION
Page
185 An effort to revive: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 102-P, 107-I, 293.
185 lowered Cannon’s body: Ibid., p. 103; Barth and Blackburn, interviews.
185 close his friend’s eyes: Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 137.
185 rendezvous with the aquanauts: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 102-P, 103.
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