8 Dec 1942
United States
United States
- Liberty ship David J. Brewer became the first ship to dock at Port Chicago, California, United States at about 1200 hours. Upon learning that the stevedores were all African-American, the ship's Caucasian captain refused to let dock workers board his ship. ww2dbase [Port Chicago, California | CPC]
9 Dec 1942
United States
United States
- The Caucasian captain of Liberty ship David J. Brewer reluctantly agreed to allow African-American stevedores to load ordnance onto his ship at Port Chicago, California, United States. ww2dbase [Port Chicago, California | CPC]
25 Oct 1943
United States
United States
- Liberty Ship Sidney Lanier departed Port Chicago, California, United States at 1320 hours. ww2dbase [Port Chicago, California | CPC]
17 Jul 1944
United States
United States
- The Liberty ship A. E. Bryan exploded whilst loading ammunition and explosives at Port Chicago, California, United States, taking with her the Victory ship Quinalt Victory berthed nearby. Ninety-seven men on the two ships were vapourised and even a 12 ton locomotive on the dockside vanished without trace. In total, 320 men were killed and 390 injured. More than 200 of the dead were black sailors being used as loaders. Later many sailors refused to work until safety was improved. Fifty were court martialed, convicted of mutiny and jailed. A public outcry led to their release but they were still deprived of all veteran's benefits for the rest of their lives. The last surviving "mutineer" Freddy Meeks was finally pardoned by President Bill Clinton in 1999. Four years later he died, aged 83. ww2dbase [Liberty-class | Victory-class | Port Chicago Naval Munitions Explosion | Port Chicago, California | AC]
Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis
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