Eighty years ago today, a massive blast rocked the ground, spilled burning oil into the water, and shot flames into the sky above an Oahu marshaling yard known as West Loch.

 Eighty years ago today, a massive blast rocked the ground, spilled burning oil into the water, and shot flames into the sky above an Oahu marshaling yard known as West Loch.

Sailors frantically searched for enemy aircraft or submarines as more explosions raised a thousand-foot-high pillar of fire, sparking fears of "a second Pearl Harbor." No enemy appeared, but the conflagration continued into the night, punctuated by occasional explosions and wailing sirens. Military and civilian personnel speculated about the explosion but received no solid information.

This was by design, and the true story would not be widely known for many years.

Nearly three dozen LSTs crowded into the West Loch channel, readying for the invasion of Saipan. They were heavily laden with ammunition, gasoline, and combat troops of the 6th and 23rd Marines; amphibious DUKWs and LVTs crouched in the holds, and a few ships carried LCTs “piggybacked” on the deck. Several LSTs sustained damage during a recent storm, and others needed to have their cargo redistributed or removed. Busy workers gave little regard to safety precautions despite the dangerous cargo and crowds of men. Metalsmiths mended storm damage with acetylene torches, while soldiers from the 29th Chemical Decontamination Company roughly hoisted heavy mortar rounds out of LCT #963. Marines tapped barrels of aviation gas to clean their weapons, and everyone ignored the prominent “No Smoking” signs.

Shortly after 1500 hours on May 21, LST-353 (which carried LCT #963) erupted in a massive fireball that spread to ships moored on either side. Men were hurled into the air, torn apart by flying metal, or disappeared. Many who jumped overboard found themselves surrounded by burning oil. Many who jumped overboard found themselves surrounded by burning oil.

The final death toll, as calculated by historian Samuel Eliot Morison, stood at 163 – many of whom were never identified – plus 396 wounded.

Sergeant Paul Bass (E/2/23rd Marines) was one of those lost at West Loch. Knocked flat by a concussive blast, he was seen lying on the deck, bleeding at the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Two friends picked Bass up and were carrying him to the next LST when a second explosion flung all three Marines through the air. "It picked me up and took me clear over the LST," said Harry Pearce. "I came down on one of the guide wires that was holding an LCI on board. It just folded me double, and I went round and round three or four times and fell on the steel deck on my back."

Unfortunately, the blast caused the rescuers to lose their grip on Sergeant Bass. "I can remember as I went up in the air, I saw him hit the water between the two vessels and just disappear," concluded Pearce. "So he was lost."

Under normal circumstances, a catastrophe on this scale would at least delay an invasion timetable, but too many pieces were already in motion. Surviving troops drew new gear, replacements were hastily pulled into the ranks, and officers cut new transport orders. Even ceremonies and recreation continued on schedule: five days later, Admiral Chester Nimitz presided over a medal ceremony for the Fourth Marine Division. The invasion of Saipan would proceed as planned.

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For an incredibly detailed account of this disaster, I highly recommend "The Second Pearl Harbor: The West Loch Disaster, May 21 1944" by Gene Edward Salecker.