090914 - Lifeboat Station Museum
Lifeboat station Museum on Oregon Coast
Today we visited the site of a monument to the brave men of a lifeboat station on Oregon’s treacherous and dangerous coast. These men, like firefighters, rushed into danger to save lives of people they didn’t know, at the risk of their own.
From a high tower, 24 hours a day, they scanned the ocean’s coastline for ships in distress from rough seas, bad weather and hidden sand bars and other threatening dangers.
when necessary, they fought the waves to reach ships and survivors thrown overboard.
They used small, specially built boats, that were self-bailing and self-righting, but by no means did that make them safe to use.
in some cases, they would shoot a rope line to a floundering ship from a specially built cannon on shore. With the line affixed to their mast, a transfer sling could retrieve sailors from the ship to shore.
During World War 2, these stations did double duty by watching for enemy aircraft and submarines off shore.
One famous incident involved the Japanese Submarine I-25. This sub was specially constructed to house a seaplane in a water tight hanger compartment under the forward section of the boat which was used for surveillance.
This sub was spotted several times off the Pacific coast but never intercepted.
Stations like these were discontinued with the advent of aircraft and helicopter rescue equipment development in the latter part of the 20th century, however, the bravery and dedication of these special, fearless men who rescued thousands of people from death at sea will long be remembered and thanked for their efforts.
Today we visited the site of a monument to the brave men of a lifeboat station on Oregon’s treacherous and dangerous coast. These men, like firefighters, rushed into danger to save lives of people they didn’t know, at the risk of their own.
From a high tower, 24 hours a day, they scanned the ocean’s coastline for ships in distress from rough seas, bad weather and hidden sand bars and other threatening dangers.
when necessary, they fought the waves to reach ships and survivors thrown overboard.
They used small, specially built boats, that were self-bailing and self-righting, but by no means did that make them safe to use.
in some cases, they would shoot a rope line to a floundering ship from a specially built cannon on shore. With the line affixed to their mast, a transfer sling could retrieve sailors from the ship to shore.
During World War 2, these stations did double duty by watching for enemy aircraft and submarines off shore.
One famous incident involved the Japanese Submarine I-25. This sub was specially constructed to house a seaplane in a water tight hanger compartment under the forward section of the boat which was used for surveillance.
This sub was spotted several times off the Pacific coast but never intercepted.
Stations like these were discontinued with the advent of aircraft and helicopter rescue equipment development in the latter part of the 20th century, however, the bravery and dedication of these special, fearless men who rescued thousands of people from death at sea will long be remembered and thanked for their efforts.
posted by The Highway Guys @ 3:16 PM
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