Landing the Big One

Landing the Big One

Monday, August 17, 2009

Sunday Ship History: The Lighthouse Joke

This story makes the internet rounds every few years and was even part of a commercial:
Believe it or not...this is the transcript of an actual radio conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. The Radio conversation was released by the Chief of Naval Operations on Oct. 10, 1995.

US Ship: Please divert your course 0.5 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.

CND reply: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

US Ship: This is the Captain of a US Navy Ship. I say again, divert your course.

CND reply: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course!

US Ship: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS CORAL SEA*, WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!!

CND reply: This is a lighthouse. Your call.




As noted here:
*Note: USS Coral Sea (CV 43) was decommissioned and scrapped 2 July 1993. Other ships' names appearing have been USS Missouri (BB 63) which was decommissioned on 31 March 1992 and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) which is an active ship.
And there is no current USS Montana.

Snopes says the tale dates back to at least 1939.

There is also a report the story was repeated as a "This is no bull-" by a director of national intelligence here.

For the record, I have known some stubborn captains, but . . .
and the Navy denies it, too.

2 comments:

  1. I read that joke to Michael once. It wasn't as funny but I found his script for Threat Level Midnight. ^_^

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    1. This site really isnt the place to comment-roleplay. Although nice reference. :)

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