The Morro Bay Maritime Museum is hosting a Commemoration Ceremony, in collaboration with the Central Coast Veteran’s Memorial Museum, to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the USN Honda Point tragedy, the largest peacetime loss of U.S. Navy ships. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Morro Bay Color Guard will open the ceremony, followed by a designated member of the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum who will present details about the catastrophe that occurred September 8, 1923.
US Navy Destroyer Squadron Eleven were performing an exercise that simulated wartime conditions. The goal was also to make fast passage to San Diego from San Francisco, so the decision was made not to slow down despite the heavy fog encountered. All ships were ordered to travel in close formation and, turning too soon, went aground. Six others followed and sank. Two ships whose captains disobeyed the close-formation order survived, although they also hit the rocks. Twenty-three sailors died. Now remembered as Honda Point, the site is off Point Arguello, on the rocky seacoast near US Space Force and Lompoc, CA.
Morro Bay Maritime Museum representatives will read the names and toll the bell of the USS Young for each of the twenty-three sailors who perished. Dave Thomas, owner of Morro Bay Shell Shop and the bell of the USS Young, will offer stories remembered from tales told by his father about the three families who received the salvage rights off the destroyed destroyers – the Thomas, Tyler, and Porter families of Morro Bay.
This centennial event is Morro Bay Maritime Museum’s way of recognizing the important, transformative role the U.S. Navy played in Morro Bay’s Maritime history.
The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony to be held Sunday, September 10, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Morro Bay Maritime Museum, 1210 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, CA. Free parking is available behind the DSRV Avalon and MBMM museum building. Due to limited seating please bring a fold up chair.