Loss of 28 men 75 miles off Jones Beach in winter hurricane on DEWLINE platform and deployment of 44066/Texas Tower 4 weather buoy in memory.

RE-RELEASE January 15, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-January 15, 2013

Today is the 59th Anniversary of the collapse of Texas Tower 4 (TT4) and the death of 28 seamen on January 15, 1961, 75 miles offshore of NYNJ. TT4 was the closest of (3) offshore Defense Early Warning System (DEWS) structures located along the Mid-Atlantic coast.

It was crippled from the start with a bad third leg which was repaired a few times but ultimately failed during a horrible Nor’easter on January 15, 1961. This unique structure was initially deployed to watch the skies for a surprise Russian invasion and to offer the mainland an early warning of potential invasion.

 Located in 180 feet of water and standing just 90 feet high above the sea surface, waves and winds buffeted the tower during that storm. Helicopters and emergency vessels were called in but to no avail. The weather was too extreme to undertake an emergency rescue. 28 men were aboard the doomed tower and radioed SOS calls repeatedly. After several transmissions one short burst of a call for help the radio ashore went silent and they were never heard from again. The tower collapsed and is now a mound of rubble.

In 2009, the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) which is part of NOAA placed a 24/7 in water weather buoy named 44066/Texas Tower 4 in recognition of these men. In 2011 President Obama officially recognized their service to this country.It is the first offshore buoy at the Hudson Canyon dedicated to the safety and well being of all

LI, NJ, RI, CT and Mass Mid-Atlantic offshore mariners. The approximate location is 39.35N 072.36W or about 75 miles from NY Harbor. This buoy transmits sea wave height, wind speed and direction as well as water temperature which are important climate data to all mariners.

This deployment is the success of collaboration between government and stakeholders.

The U.S. integrated ocean observing system (IOOS), in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (MACOORA/Maracoos), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) are proud to be partners in announcing this re-positioned and important continental shelf buoy placement.

This buoy honors these men who served their country in the early moments of Homeland Security”.

Additional interest information:

 https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=44066

-https://texastower.com/

-https://www.radomes.org/museum/documents/TexasTower.html

-https://www.cgi2you.com/members/message/texastowerassoc/45.shtml

-https://museumofnjmh.org/texastowerpresentation.html  (NJ)

-https://www.city-data.com/forum/new-jersey/1433047-texas-tower-4-a.html (NJ)

-https://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f9/pres-obama-officially-recognizes-fallen-men-texas-tower-4-a-1210018.html