Sunrises on the BROWN

On 12/7/14, coming back from the Shipyard at 530am, in 20 degree weather and in the dark, one of our Irish shipmates passed the crew member with her tripod and camera and said 'Good Gracious, Mae, aren't you an odd one out here with that camera in the dark' (make sure you say it with an Irish brogue).  The ship is normally a great place to take pictures with so much of interest to see, but by adding a colorful sunrise, you've just exponentially made the shot cooler.

Taking sunrise shots of the ship, one can't help but think of all the 'lost' sunrises that merchant marines and armed guardsmen saw in the war, those skies that students saw from 1946-1982 when they boarded the ship on Monday through Friday for high school in NYC, and the ones that all members have witnessed since the BROWN became Project Liberty Ship.  Unable to go back and share those sunrises, we are taking the opportunity to share some more recent ones taken by a volunteer, who happens to have an addiction to sunrises of any sort.  But sunrise shots of the BROWN are 100% more special. Just about everything about the BROWN is special...

Come forth, all ye 'night owls' and see what the morning folk see each morning as they drink a wonderful, steaming cup o' joe and enjoy the first visual gift of the day.

Taken from Baltimore's Cruise Terminal on the morning of the 9/8/12 cruise.   A bit stressed- out since the rain didn't stop until about 6am and passengers were arriving for the cruise with lots of clouds still hanging around.   A sweet, close call.  It turned out to be a lovely day. 

The morning of 9/27/13.  We were chartered for Baltimore's Trawler Fest and the ship was used for different sessions of the  Trawler Fest University.  Crew members slept aboard this week and most stayed in bed and missed this light show in the sky, but a few did witness this.

This morning was magical.   Last one I'll share from that wonderful September morning. 

Same place, different day, and taken from the pier instead of from the ship.  9/28/13

Broadway Pier in Fells Point, taken on our Fourth of July Family Fun Fest weekend.   This was at 5:11am 7/6/14 and the shot is taken from the main deck of the ship, shooting the Broadway recreation pier, home of the 'police station' of the HBO show Homicide: Life on the Street

Same day, a different angle. Gun tub and long-silenced gun silhouettes

Last one from that day.  :)

Taken on 9/14/14 during Sailabration.  It was the morning after fireworks and fun activities.  Why oh why, was I awake this early?!?!?

This was shot on a somewhat cold morning for October.  It was 10/5/14, the day after our October cruise.  It was early and cool and the photographer and one other crazy crew member were climbing all over the ship trying to catch the sunburst at just the right spot.  

While in the shipyard in November, there were some pretty good foggy days. This is from 11/21/14 and it shows the eastern park of Colonna's shipyard. 

On November 22, 2014, we  didn't have a cloud around, but there was some pretty color hanging over Norfolk and Portsmouth.  

Having had rain the night before (and we mean HEAVY rain), you couldn't keep the photographer from getting up for this sunrise.  In the world of sunrise/sunsets, clouds are magical.   This shot is from 11/23/14 shows some amazing color. 

The colors reflected on the still damp hatch cover is pretty cool. 

Taken on 12/6/14, on the morning that we are leaving the shipyard to return to Baltimore.   It was a very cloudy sky and it was debatable if we would see the sun, but goodbyes to the Norfolk/Portsmouth skies and the shipyard needed to be made by the photographer and the BROWN on our last day at Colonna's Shipyard. 

Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.

The Romance of the Sea- In their own words...

After a long stay in the shipyard in Toledo, the BROWN was finally able to take a more leisurely cruise back home.  The first leg of the homeward bound voyage included several port visits on Lake Erie and a transit of the Welland Canal.  For me the “Great Lakes 2000” began on Lake Ontario in August.  The stop-over in Toronto offered a wide spectrum of activities and hard work for the crew. In addition to conducting a Living History Cruise we opened the ship to visitors, but the highlight of our stay became our participation in filming the made-for-TV  production “Haven”, starring Natasha Richardson.

“Haven” was the story of Ruth Gruber’s effort’s to bring nearly 1000 Jewish refugees to the United States to save them from Nazi death camps.  The BROWN was used to represent life aboard the Army Troop Ship HENRY GIBBINS during the refugees terror filled crossing of the Atlantic. The JOHN W. BROWN spent the better part of a week cruising the waters of Lake Ontario while filming took place. 

While all this activity required a lot of hard work, it also left time for a little romance. 

The crew was lucky to have 10 year old Billy Whitney sailing with us as a deck cadet. His assignment was to act as a messenger and aide for the captain.  This assignment allowed Billy some time to become attached to Mrs. Richardson.  He followed her around everywhere she went. From day one, Billy continually begged Natasha to accompany him to dinner.  Although she initially agreed, Mrs. Richardson’s hectic schedule aboard prevented her from keeping her date with Master Whitney. 

On the last night of filming Mrs. Richardson had to tell Billy that she would not be able to keep their date.  That night we would be setting sail for Montreal, so young Mr. Whitney’s last chance to see Natasha was at hand.  With this news, Billy became depressed and asked the crew for advice.  I suggested the following ploy: 

I instructed Billy to approach Natasha one last time and say.  “Mrs. Richardson, I am about to set sail on a dangerous voyage, and if tragedy should meet me, my last wish would be to remember the feel of your lips on mine!”  Billy ran to meet Natasha and convey this message.  Upon hearing Billy’s plea, Mrs. Richardson took young Mr. Whitney in her arms and planted a kiss on his lips. This experience caused a grin to form on Billy’s face that would last throughout the long voyage home.

 Above: Author, instigator and giver of crazy advice, Ray L, with Natasha Richardson.

Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.

The Living History Cruise Air Show

The air show portion of the Living History Cruise is always a crowd favorite.  The ship arrives at the Bay Bridge just after lunch has finished.  Andy, who coordinates the planes for the air show, is on the Flying Bridge listening for the signal from the planes that they have arrived and are ready to commence the attack.  Crew members have manned the guns and guests are ready with cameras and phones.  The show will begin with a training flight.  The planes fly close to the ship and the pilots like to wave to the guests on board.  The next to arrive are more serious.  Japanese planes fly in for an attack and the gunners answer with volleys of bullets.  After several close passes the enemy planes are chased away by an TMB Avenger.  She's a graceful lady in the air and once the danger has passed she'll fly by with her torpedo bay doors open showing off her fire power.  Last, but not least, a B-25 Mitchell Bomber "Briefing Time" flies directly overhead.  There is no mistaking the sound of the engines of this beauty.

The Stearman was a primary training plane during World War II.  This plane comes to us from the St. Mary’s County Airport where you can take a ride over southern Maryland. I’m not sure the pilots would have been this friendly in 1944.

The white Val is actually a Vultee BT-13 Valiant that was converted for the Tora, Tora, Tora movie to look like a Val. The green "Zero" is a Russian Yak 52TW.  The air show is spectacular to see from the ship and we're fortunate to have photographs taken from the air too.

You'll never be closer to the planes in an airshow than you are on the JOHN W BROWN.  The sights and sounds of the planes are an experience you'll never forget.

Here is the Zero coming in for a dive bomb run.

She's the Boss is a WWII Grumman TBM Avenger torpedo bomber.  She chases away the enemy planes and saves the day.

Briefing Time is a B-25 "Mitchell" Bomber that comes down for the air show from the Mid Atlantic Aviation Museum in Reading, PA.  There is no mistaking the sound of this engine with any other aircraft.  What a way to end the show!

Another image you won't see anywhere else but a Living History Cruise.

As you can see by comparing this photograph from a voyage of the JOHN W BROWN in 1944 with the photograph from one of the Living History Cruises we work hard to provide as authentic an experience as we can.  There really is nothing else like it anywhere!

Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.