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Home >> Frank E. Evans

Frank E. Evans

Ship Designation: 
DD-754
Date Lost: 
Tuesday, June 3, 1969
Collision with HMAS Melbourne
In the early morning hours of June 3, 1969, the Royal Australian Navy aircraft carrier, HMAS Melbourne, collided with the American destroyer USS Frank E. Evans. The ships were on manoeuvres in the South China Sea. The damage to the Melbourne was slight. The damage to the Evans was horrific. The forward third of the ship sank almost immediately - taking seventy-four young American sailors to a watery grave. Because of the heroic efforts of the Evans' crew, what remained of the good ship was saved. Men thrown into the water by the collision were rescued by member ships of the task force. The aft section of the Evans was taken to the Subic Bay naval base on Luzon in the Philippines.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 72

Namesort descending Service Branch
BTFN Robert Searle USN
BTFA Gerald Smith USN
SR Thurston Smith USN
STG2 John Spray USN
ENS Jon Stever USN
S Thomas Tallon USN
RD3 Ronald Thebodeau USN
SR John Thomas USN
SR Hohn Tolar USN
S Gary Vigue USN
RD3 Con Warnock USN
SR Henry West USN

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