DATE: Monday, April 7, 1997                 TAG: 9704050518

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   19 lines

WORLD WAR II DISASTER IN NORFOLK

Taken Sept. 18, 1943, this photo depicts some of the frenetic

rescue action at the U.S. Naval Air Station after four depth charges

slipped practically off a trailer and were detonated by the heat as

they dragged along the concrete road. The tons of explosives set

off destroyed 15 buildings and 33 planes. Thirty people were killed

and 426 injured. The 11 a.m. blast was heard for 20 miles around and

broke windows eight miles south in downtown Norfolk. It was the

greatest disaster that had befallen Norfolk since the dirigible

Roma crashed at the Army's Port of Embarkation at Sewells Point on

Feb. 21, 1922, killing 34 of its crew.

- George Tucker

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