1/Today's moment of #Sealift comes just before the Battle of Midway. On May 23, 1942, while testing demolition charges on the islands fuel tanks, an accidental detonation destroyed 400,000 gallons of aviation fuel. 
2/Pacific Fleet used the recently offload Hog Island freighter Nina Luckenbach to load 500 tons of bombs and 84,000 gallons of avgas. Escorted by destroyer Mustin, she arrived on May 31.
3/The ship arrived on May 31 and due to the lack of stevedores (the ship's crew do not usually move and operate the cargo gear in ports), the crew improvised cargo nets to offload bombs & barrels of avgas.
The 3rd Mate, an old steam-schooner sailor manned the winches.
The 3rd Mate, an old steam-schooner sailor manned the winches.
4/The arrival of Nira Luckenbach, along with the earlier sailing of USS Kitty Hawk AKV-1 delivering Marine Corps aircraft and supplies ensured their was enough aviation gasoline for the Battle of Midway.
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