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On September 13, 1944, the U.S. Army, for the first time in history, observed a hurricane from an airplane and they, along with the U.S. Weather Bureau posted warnings all along the Atlantic Coast. Many lessons had been learned from the massive devastation caused by the 1938 Hurricane. Edward Sevigny, commander of the Vineyard Lightship told his wife that after riding out the Great Hurricane of '38, if he had to do it again he knew he'd never return alive. Fate would prove him correct. Capt. Sevigny, hearing the warnings of the approaching Hurricane, asked for permission for himself and his crew to leave the station. Permission was denied. The Hurricane struck the next day and the Vineyard Lightship sank with the loss of all crew members on board. Five members of the crew were on shore leave. The "Lucky Five" made a pact that the 12 crewmen of the Vineyard Lightship would never be forgotten. Only one of them, Harold Flagg, would live to see that promise fulfilled
Back to the edition of: November 1999
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