Old Weather Forum

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On the weather page, please enter: date, locations, distances (nautical miles and tenths), courses, and all the weather data in the columns outlined in red in the spreadsheet.
It is not necessary to record State of the Sea.
However, ice mentioned in the weather grid should be transcribed using the magenta Sea column.

On the events page please enter: ice, location information, and sailing information.
Aurorae, volcanic, and seismic activity should be reported in the forum.
The names of US Navy and Coast Guard ships met should be noted. This gives the science team a chance to compare weather readings. You can include all ships mentioned in a single entry without a time or any additional data.
Other events are optional.

One person can do both weather and events (Stream 1), but the system also allows one person to do the weather page (Stream 1) and a second person to do the events page (Stream 3).
Unlike in OW3, where three transcriptions were required for each page, we are doing only one transcription per page.

Every transcriber needs to enter the date.
The date is used to organize the pages.

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See Onondaga — General for some general background and discussion.
See Onondaga — Examples for a quick introduction to transcribing or a refresher.

See Transcribing Guide to learn how to transcribe the data.
Post in Ask Questions Here or this topic if you have questions.

OW web site: Onondaga

Direct links:

• Tracker
• Spreadsheet
• File Upload
• Transcription Status

Going to make a start on this year

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 3_0022.JPG

15 January received SOS from S.S. Mapele

Upon arriving there assisted the USS Discoverer who had already rescued 48 of 51 crew (according to the list of shipwrecks on wikipedia, they had a complement of 50, of which 2 died, wikipedia also reports that the Discoverer assisted at the wreck of the USS Worden on the 12th, so either she had a very busy couple of days, or whoever edited Wikipedia got these two events confused).

They sent a search party on shore to look for the remaining crew members but found no sign of them.


https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 3_0023.JPG

This next page has a bit more description of the scene

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 3_0024.JPG

As they are departing the following morning again they take a look at the ship and write a pretty good description of what they saw

The Coast Guard site for Onondaga, https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by- ... 34-wpg-79/, claims she rescued 48 men from the SS MAPELE in 1942 and then again in 1943

Finished up to May

Jan-Feb were still operating in the Kodiak area, but spent a bit more time in port during this period, spent several days towing a barge back to port

Spent March towing the Ex-Algonquin all the way to Seattle (this one I think https://www.shipscribe.com/usnaux/YAG/YAG29.html)

Came back up in May, and spent most of May between Dutch Harbor and Kuluk Bay, a lot of ships encountered including a number of ships from OWWW2, presumably she is playing some support role for operations to retake Attu and Kiska, not much time spent in port during this period.

Its interesting to see how things change over the course of the war, in mid 1942 she was often zig-zagging and staying close to the coast while travelling between Kodiak and Cape Spencer, as time went by it appears she took a more direct route and stopped zig zagging when they realized that area wasn't so dangerous, now clearly taking a much more cautious approach again

I love those little details!

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 3_0284.JPG

1115 Commanding Officer Lieut. Comdr. WAYNE L. GOFF injured in fireroom while holding weekly ships inspection. The Captain slipped on the top step of the ladder leading down to the fireroom and fell down the ladder landing on his right hip and right upper arm. Examination revealed a badly bruised right hip with no indication of dislocation or fracture - also other minor bruises and lacerations. X-ray is advised upon arrival in Dutch Harbor. Treatment consisted of TR. MERTHIOLATE and dry dressing to laceration on right hip. CODEINE SULPHATE 3/4 grs. with two A.P.C. tablets for pain. Hot water bottle to right hip. Captain resting well

Oooops!

Ouch!
And embarrassing when you are the C.O.

When I worked on our research ship, first thing they showed us was the proper way to go down the ladders so that injuries would be unlikely.

Currently spending the end of July escorting the Explorer while carrying out survey work around Buldir Island, within sight of Kiska Island which will be occupied the Japanese for another few days.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 3_0329.JPG

0030 Observed flashes of light on horizon South of Buldir Island bearing 180 T, and moving westward
0120 Observed lights on port quarter bearing 120 T believed to be magnesium flares in vicinity of Kiska Island
0750 Heard unidentified explosions to starboard

Nervous!

Indeed and rightly so!

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 3_0500.JPG

1601 Made permanent transfer to Commanding Officer, Navy refueling station Sand Bay, Alaska, as per invoice No. 4-44, One Brass Aneroid Barometer N2068, One Farenheit Scale, Houshold Thermometer, Copper Case, 12 inch

Mystery solved?

We can only hope!

Completed and uploaded