185 into a body bag: Ibid., p. 103; Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 137.
186 puffing and bloating: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 74.
186 found dangling: Ibid., p. 119; William W. Winters, then an engineman first class and aquanaut-to-be who later made master diver, interview, Gretna, La., March 13, 2007.
186 two Blackburn had hung up: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 47, 52.
186 tossed down the hatch: Ibid., pp. 44, 47.
186 board held its first hearing: Ibid., p. 1.
186 fact-finding mission: Judge Advocate General, Department of the Navy, “Procedures Applicable to Courts of Inquiry and Administrative Fact-Finding Bodies That Require a Hearing,” Nov. 19, 1990, pp. 1–3, www.jag.navy.mil/Instructions/5830_1.pdf; I. J. Galantin, Chief of Naval Material to Captain John D. Chase, USN, “Formal board of investigation to inquire into the circumstances of the death of Berry L. Cannon in the vicinity of San Clemente Island, California on Feb. 18, 1969,” Feb. 21, 1969 (memo included with “Record of Proceedings”).
186 “parties of interest”: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 2–5.
186 free to take part: Ibid., p. 3.
186 Wells, a senior chief mineman: Ibid., p. 89, calls Wells a torpedoman, and he is also listed as such in the “Press Handbook,” p. 11–19. However, in Pauli and Clapper, “Project Sealab Report,” for Sealab II, Wells is listed as a mineman. Friends, including Barth and Blackburn, say mineman is correct.
186 ought to be able to participate: Ibid., p. 6.
186 represented by legal counsel: Ibid., pp. 6, 9, 63, 66.
186 even trial by court-martial: Judge Advocate General, “Procedures Applicable to Courts of Inquiry,” p. 2; “Manual for Courts-Martial United States (2000 edition),” pp. II-19, II-34, www.jag.navy.mil/documents/mcm2000.pdf; “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 7–9; Tomsky, interview, Aug. 5, 2002.
186 late into the evening: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 1, 5, 12-A, 35, 62, 88, 96, 118; Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” p. 97.
186 eighty documentary exhibits: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. iv–x.
187 nearly fifty people who were called: Ibid., pp. ii–iii.
187 “It is quite trying”: Ibid., p. 61.
187 all three television network newscasts: Vanderbilt Television News Archive, tvnews.vanderbilt.edu; search for “Sealab” and “Berry Cannon.”
187 splashed onto front pages: William K. Stevens, “Aquanaut Dies in Dive 600 Feet Down; Test Halted,” New York Times; Marvin Miles, “Veteran Aquanaut Dies During Dive on Sealab Project,” Los Angeles Times; Thomas O’Toole, “Sealab Test Halted After Diver Dies,” Washington Post; Cliff Smith, “Navy Calls for Probe in Tragedy,” San Diego Union; Mike Darley, “Sikes Investigating Death of Aquanaut; Wants Full Probe of Cannon Fatality,” Panama City (Fla.) Herald; newspaper reports like these appeared on Feb. 18, 1969, p. 1.
187 open to reporters: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 1; Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” pp. 92, 102.
187 “I’m not happy with”: Ibid., pp. 117–18.
188 Apollo 1 caught fire: NASA History Division, www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/Apollo204/
188 Apollo 9 was launched: John Noble Wilford, “Apollo 9 Poised for Flight Today,” New York Times, March 3, 1969, p. 1.
188 laced with sharp criticism: Susan Stocking, “Fatal Dive Should Never Have Been Made, Sealab Probe Told,” Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1969, p. 1.
188 Blackburn’s opening statement: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 48–53.
188 their training with the rig: Ibid., pp. 50-C, 197; Blackburn, interview, Sept. 19, 2006.
188 trained in less than sixty feet: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 48, 50-C.
188 “Training looked good on”: Ibid., p. 50-C.
188 others had sensed this: Interviews with Sealab III personnel; Bunton, Death of an Aquanaut, pp. 63–64.
188 “I believe that the second”: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 53, 148.
188 program was underfunded: Ibid., p. 149; Carpenter and Stoever, For Spacious Skies, pp. 329–30; Carpenter, interviews, Jan. 25, 2002, and Oct. 20, 2006; Tomsky, in the interview of Aug. 5, 2002, recalled Carpenter’s funding concerns.
188 people were pushed harder: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 138.
189 quick to respond: Ibid., pp. 5, 122-B, 137, 228–29, 232, 271.
189 all the funding he had asked for: Ibid., p. 122-B.
189 only within reason: Ibid., pp. 137, 162–63.
189 “May I clear a point?”: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 27.
189 abridged history of Sealab: Ibid., p. 98-B.
189 found himself pelted with: Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” pp. 102–4.
189 a touch of emotion: Cliff Smith, “Doctor Defends His Actions in Sealab Dive,” San Diego Union, March 11, 1969, p. B1.
189 considered Berry Cannon a great friend: Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” p. 96.
189 morbid implication: Ibid., p. 103; Bond to family, on Deep Submergence Systems Project letterhead, March 10, 1969, p. 3 (in author’s possession).
189 Harrell, an engineer: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 71; D. Martin Harrell, interview during a Navy Experimental Diving Unit tour, March 11, 2005, part of the Sealab reunion that year in Panama City, Fla.; and by telephone, Oct. 27, 2006.
189 drew immediate objections: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 71.
189 snafus should be looked into: Interviews with Sealab III personnel; Bond to Robert C. Sheats, May 1, 1975 (in author’s possession); Bunton, Death of an Aquanaut, p. 67.
190 narrate a silent black-and-white: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 57.
190 spoke dispassionately: Cliff Smith, “Sealab Panel Views Films of Tragedy,” San Diego Union, March 4, 1969, p. B1.
190 footage of Barth and Cannon: 100 Fathoms Deep.
190 apparent heart attack: Bunton, Death of an Aquanaut, pp. 57–58; front-page articles published Feb. 18, 1969, previously cited in the notes for this chapter, including “Aquanaut Dies in Dive 600 Feet Down; Test Halted,” New York Times; “Veteran Aquanaut Dies During Dive on Sealab Project,” Los Angeles Times; “Sealab Test Halted After Diver Dies,” Washington Post; Capt. Nicholson press conference, Feb. 17, 1969.
190 must have been a best guess: UPI, “Poison Air Linked to Sealab Death,” New York Times, Feb. 25, 1969, p. 28.
190 canister with no Baralyme: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 295, 314; Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 138; William K. Stevens, “Rig of Aquanaut Lacked Chemical,” New York Times, Feb 21, 1969, p. 57; Bob Corbett, “Diving Rig Had Empty Canister,” (San Diego) Evening Tribune, Feb. 20, 1969, p. A1; L. Edgar Prina, Copley News Service, “Missing Filter Cited in Sealab Death,” San Diego Union, May 15, 1969, p. A5.
190 with Dr. Bond observing: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 107; Bond, Papa Topside, p. 173.
190 as stated in the autopsy report: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 75; Ex. 51: “Record of Autopsy of Berry L. Cannon” was withheld from the Navy records released in response to the Freedom of Information Act request, but was instead obtained from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, which considered the report to be public information (“Autopsy Report from the Office of the Coroner, County of San Diego, California, File no. 54110, for Berry Louis Cannon, Feb. 17, 1969”).
190 namely drowning: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 80.
190 indicated that asphyxiation: Ibid., pp. 82, 301.
190 there were many unknowns: Ibid., p. 85.
191 Raymond, who was to have been: Ibid., p. 85-A; Ex. 64: Lawrence Raymond, LCDR, MC USN, “Thermal Factors in the Death of a Sealab Diver—A Report to the Investigating Board,” Feb. 20, 1969.
191 left little doubt that: Ibid., p. 3; Susan Stocking, “Medical Testimony Casts Doubt on Cause of Aquanaut’s Death,” Los Angeles Times, March 8, 1968, Part II, p. 1.
191 were not entirely known: “Record of Proceedings,” Ex. 64: Raymond, “Thermal Factors,” pp. 5, 6.
191 dead within f
ive to ten minutes: Ibid., p. 87-A.
191 extended his breathing time: Ibid., p. 294, Ex. 64: Raymond, “Thermal Factors,” p. 2 (handwritten marginal note about frequent bypass use).
191 Cannon was electrocuted: Ibid., p. 301; a number of participants interviewed said electrocution seemed a likely and logical cause of death, including Blackburn, interview, March 16, 2002, and e-mails to author, Oct. 10, 2003; Bornholdt, interview, June 7, 2002; and William Winters, a knowledgeable source and aquanaut-to-be who, like Bornholdt, was working on the Elk River that night, in the March 13, 2007, interview cited above.
191 had some grounding problems: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 290; Ex. 16: “Sealab III Data Book,” pp. 15, 16, 39, 44, 47, 48; Ex. 75: Statement of Robert J. Fyfe, Feb. 20, 1969, p. 2; Susan Stocking, “Sealab III Inquiry Ends; Mystery Still Unsolved,” Los Angeles Times, March 13, 1969, p. 30.
191 nor the grunting sound: If Barth, Blackburn, or Reaves mentioned grunting, a yell, or scream during the board hearing, as Barth and Blackburn said they heard, in interviews cited earlier, such testimony does not appear in the “Record of Proceedings,” a lengthy but abridged transcript.
191 as were asphyxiation and thermal stress: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 301.
191 Cannon’s prime killer: Ibid., pp. 300, 314.
191 Paul A. Wells: He declined several requests to be interviewed for this book, including one made by the author on March 7, 2003, by telephone from outside the gates of the mobile home park where Wells was living in Panama City, Fla.
192 universally admired: Unequivocal confidence in and admiration for Wells was expressed in numerous interviews with Sealab participants and others who knew and worked with him; see examples in “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 92-N, 108, 127, 269, 276; Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” pp. 82, 85, 97.
192 thoroughly impressed Bob Sheats: Sheats Daily Log, entry for Oct. 2, see also Sept. 8, 1965; at the end of his log Sheats ranked Wells as the best of the nine divers he led on Sealab II’s Team 3.
192 most of his Navy career: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 89; “Press Handbook,” p. 11-19.
192 asked to recall his every action: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 90.
192 “sometimes utter chaos”: Ibid., p. 94-B.
192 Huss had no such memory: Ibid., pp. 92-N, 94-A.
192 “a huge man”: Ibid., p. 94.
192 personally placed loaded canisters: Ibid., pp. 91-E, 97.
192 checked all the rigs previously: Ibid., pp. 91-C, 92, 315.
193 “a hurry-up affair”: Ibid., pp. 91-C, 98; Susan Stocking, “Inquiry Told of ‘Rush’ on Day Aquanaut Died,” Los Angeles Times, March 11, 1969, p. 10.
193 carried each rig: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 91-D, 92-K.
193 just by lifting the rig: Ibid., pp. 92–92-A; Susan Stocking, “Sealab Diving Rigs Not Checked on Day Man Died, Quiz Told,” Los Angeles Times, March 9, 1969, p. B3.
193 Some in the room were skeptical: Bond, Papa Topside, pp. 174–76; Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” pp. 98–99; “Record of Proceedings,” p. 91-E.
193 on a forty-seven-pound rig: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 92-A; no disagreement about the Mark IX’s actual weight appears here; however, earlier expert testimony, on p. 42-B, put the dry weight at thirty-five pounds, with Baralyme adding another seven or eight pounds, thereby constituting about 20 percent of the lower total weight.
193 brief supportive comment: Ibid., p. 92-A.
193 Others privately agreed: Interviews with Sealab III personnel.
193 put refilled canisters: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 109, 289–90.
193 sent to Washington for analysis: Ibid., pp. 92-H, 120–21; William Leibold, e-mail to author, Dec. 7, 2008.
193 watched closely as Wells packed: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 92-A, 92-H, 120; Bond, Papa Topside, p. 174.
193 Under pointed questioning: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 92-A and 92-B; Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” p. 99 (Bond writes that he, too, questioned Wells about the water weight, but the questioning he describes does not appear in the “Record of Proceedings”).
193 rig had some water: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 92-B.
193 highly decorated war veteran: Memo for the press, “Biography of Commander William R. Leibold, USN, member of the Sealab III Board of Investigation,” undated (in author’s possession).
193 recently completed a tour as: Leibold, e-mail to author, Dec. 7, 2008.
193 “You had water”: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 92-B.
193 “Possibly, but I feel”: Ibid.
194 no further explanation: Ibid.; Bond, Papa Topside, p. 175.
194 investigators went to work: “Record of Proceedings,” Ex. 53: Officer in Charge, Navy Experimental Diving Unit to Project Manager, Deep Submergence Systems Project, “Report of Inspection of MK IX Semi-Closed Circuit Mixed Gas Breathing Apparatus on Feb. 21 and 22, 1969,” Feb. 26, 1969.
194 No record had been kept: Ibid., p. 296.
194 frame by frame: Ibid., pp. 124, 124-C.
194 eight expert interpreters: Ibid., Ex. 74: Department Head, Evaluation Department, NAVRECONTECHSUPPCEN to Lt. William Marsh, USN, “Analysis of Sealab Video Tape and Film,” March 11, 1969.
194 no one had used rig no. 8: Ibid., pp. 92-G, 92-H.
194 could not be a 4: Ibid., Ex. 74: “Analysis of Sealab Video.”
194 he had worn no. 5: Blackburn, interview, Aug. 23, 2006.
194 his first and second dives: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 57, 61, 196.
194 One or more of these factors: Ibid., pp. 180, 222.
194 strongly believed a saboteur: Jack Tomsky, interview, Aug. 5, 2002; Craven, The Silent War, p. 160.
195 opportunity for tampering: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 92-K, 119–21, 306 (Finding of Fact no. 33); Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” p. 86.
195 found the probability very small: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 295 (Finding of Fact no. 58), 306 (Opinion no. 33).
195 raised the specter of sabotage: Susan Stocking, “Fatal Dive Should Never Have Been Made, Sealab Probe Told,” Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1969, p. 1; “Sabotage Hinted by Sealab Chief,” New York Times, March 3, 1969, p. 12.
195 mysterious case of a valve: “Record of Proceedings,” p. 33.
195 Tomsky tried but failed: Ibid.
195 set up a security watch: Ibid., p. 34.
195 seemed like the kind of mistake: Mazzone, interview, Jan. 2, 2002.
195 new to saturation diving: Ibid.; Bunton, Death of an Aquanaut, pp. 33–35.
195 before convening a final session: “Record of Proceedings,” pp. 131–276.
195 forty-seven unanimous opinions: Ibid., pp. 300–310A.
195 sixty-six findings of fact: Ibid., pp. 277–99.
195 not certain: Ibid., p. 309.
195 nineteen recommendations: Ibid., p. 311.
195 should be officially commended: Ibid., p. 313.
195 letters of admonition: Ibid., p. 313; recommendations 17 and 18, which appear to pertain to the admonition, were redacted here with a legal citation for privacy. But even at the time, the letters were no secret, as reported in papers on Sept. 25, 1969, by the Associated Press, including “Reprimands Sent to 2 in Sealab Death,” San Diego Union, p. A2, and “2 Admonished by Navy in Sealab Dive Fatality,” New York Times, p. 24. The letters are also alluded to in the memo cited below, from the DSSP project manager, Capt. William Nicholson. Tomsky discussed his letter in an interview, Aug. 5, 2002.
196 “None of the alleged”: Cmdr. Jackson Maxwell Tomsky, USN (ret.) to the Secretary of the Navy, Oct. 30, 1969 (this memo was among the supporting documents released with the “Record of Proceedings” in response to a Freedom of Information Act request).
196 not alone in lamenting: Interviews with Sealab III personnel, including Tomsky, Aug. 5, 2002; Barth, Dec. 16, 2001; Harrell, Oct. 26, 2006; “Record of Proceedings,” p. 70; Ex. 37, 38, 43, “Hull Penetrations” (photos); Carpenter and Stoev
er, For Spacious Skies, pp. 329–30; Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” pp. 45–49; Bond to family, Dec. 2, 1968, Jan. 10 and Jan. 18, 1969 (in author’s possession); “Aquanaut Death Film Shown,” San Diego Union, Nov. 21, 1969, p. B3.
196 “unbelievable”: Susan Stocking, “Sealab’s Difficulties Called ‘Unbelievable,’” Los Angeles Times, March 6, 1969, p. 3.
196 Such a trial, he believed: Tomsky, interview, Aug. 5, 2002; Tomsky to the Secretary of the Navy, Oct. 30, 1969, p. 4.
196 two-month-long inquiry: George C. Wilson, “Naval Inquiry on Pueblo Capture Ends,” Washington Post, March 14, 1969, p. A6.
196 did not believe Wells was to blame: Bond, Papa Topside, p. 176; Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 138; interviews with Sealab III personnel.
196 “extreme and unnecessary”: Memorandum from William Nicholson, Project Manager, Deep Submergence Systems Project to Chief of Naval Material, “Investigation into circumstances of death of Berry Cannon,” April 10, 1969, p. 1 (in author’s possession).
196 “the probable impact”: Ibid.
197 self-imposed exile: Interviews with Sealab III personnel, notably Barth and Blackburn; see also Bob Barth to Sealab Reunion Roster, April 1989 (in author’s possession).
197 lost two excellent men: Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 138.
197 called Venture Out: Visit by author on March 7, 2003, as explained in above note about Paul A. Wells.
197 few were satisfied: Bond, “Sealab III Chronicle,” pp. 104–5; interviews with Sealab III personnel; Bunton, Death of an Aquanaut, p. 62.
197 remained convinced that sabotage: Tomsky, interview, Aug. 5, 2002.
197 Navy offered public assurances: “Navy Delays Sealab III for ‘Months,’” (San Diego) Evening Tribune, Feb. 21, 1969, p. A13; Cliff Smith, “Sealab Work Will Continue, Admiral Says,” San Diego Union, March 27, 1969, p. B1; “Sealab III to Resume,” (San Diego) Evening Tribune, June 18, 1969, p. A12.
197 Cannon would have wanted it: Interviews with Sealab III personnel; Barth, Sea Dwellers, p. 138.
197 services for Cannon: “Berry L. Cannon Services Held,” San Diego Union, Feb. 20, 1969, p. B1.
197 his wife’s nearby hometown: Mary Lou Cannon, interview, at her parents’ home, March 17, 2002.
197 Navy chaplain appeared: Mary Lou Cannon, interview, Jan. 23, 2002.
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