Theresa A. New York, NY

Vessel Details

9/12/1950

The Theresa A., an aircraft rescue boat converted for use as a fishing vessel, left Fairhaven on September 9, 1950, and was last sighted fishing on Georges Bank. On September 12, the ship sent two radio messages: first a distress signal and then a message that the crew was abandoning ship. The weather was extremely bad, with heavy seas and winds of roughly 55 miles per hour. The Coast Guard launched a sea and air search, joined by several merchant vessels. The search continued until September 16, but no trace of the ship or its crew was found.

The only body recovered was that of Ernest Rich, who was found in October floating off Seal Island in Penobscot Bay.

Name Age
Ernest Rich 35
Frank Berry 30
Francis Martens 32
Peter Kouscouros 63
Herbert Orpin 36
Lamond White 38
Frank Airhart 35
John Cole 46
John Hoaglund
Chester Szczepan 32
James Ledwell 20

  • Trade Indicator: Fishery
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Year Built: 1944
  • Ship Builder: Atlantic City, NJ
  • Owner: Anthony Zegarowski
  • Previous Owners:
  • Service: Commercial fishing
  • Doc. Issuance Date:
  • Doc. Expiration Date:
  • USCG Doc. No.: 253485
  • IMO Number:
  • Call Sign: WC2410
  • Hull Number:
  • Length (ft): 100.8 ft.
  • Hull Depth (ft): 10.5 ft.
  • Hull Breadth (ft): 19.4 ft.
  • Gross Tonnage: 138
  • Net Tonnage: 94