Cruise Talk: What really was behind the burning or Le Normandie

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » What really was behind the burning or Le Normandie

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Topic: What really was behind the burning or Le Normandie

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 08-28-2011 01:03 PM

This story from both Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano, in Wikipedia:

It has later been alleged that the fire was indeed sabotage, organized by mobster Anthony Anastasio, who was a power in the local longshoreman's union. The alleged purpose was to provide a pretext for the release from prison of mob boss Charles "Lucky" Luciano. Luciano's end of the bargain would be that he would ensure that there would be no further "enemy" sabotage in the ports where the mob had strong influence with the unions."

And that's why the Feds left the NY mob alone for the rest of the war.

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 08-28-2011 07:13 PM

Interesting, if my late husband were around; I would have asked him about that. I think he would have given me a very round about answer.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 08-29-2011 12:36 AM

I don't understand why they would have picked a giant French ocean liner being converted for American use in the war? Why not a hand full of merchant ships or a large storage warehouse? To destroy such a magnificent ship to make a their point is going a bit far.

Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 08-29-2011 05:54 AM

This is a myth which began making the rounds way back to the day of the fire itself. But it's not like the fire had unknown origins--the incident is quite well-documented in any number of books, with multiple eye-witnesses to the beginning of the fire, along with minute-by-minute accounts of what happened.

The official Naval commission's report stipulated that there was no reason to believe that sabatoge was involved, that it was simply an accident caused by carelessness and compounded by a series of unfortunate events.

The recent book (fiction) called "Scandal at Pier 88" gave legs to the rumor of the Mafia connection. It all makes an intriguing story, but there is simply no reliable truth to it.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI2
First Class Passenger
Member # 35998

posted 08-29-2011 07:54 AM

Rich shines through again. Thank you.

Posts: 687 | From: Olney, IL, Move to FL 02/2015, Sailed SS NORWAY 3 xs. /May '99 Orig. Reg. | Registered: Aug 2010 | IP: Logged

BMWM5
First Class Passenger
Member # 60947

posted 08-30-2011 10:06 AM

Harvey Ardman's book "Normandie Her Life and Her Times" documents the events surrounding the fire in great detail. It's one of the best biographies ever written about an ocean liner.

Posts: 50 | From: Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2011 | IP: Logged

docfl
First Class Passenger
Member # 4218

posted 09-02-2011 04:04 PM

I too remember reading about that years ago, I am still surprised the welding crew didn't have a fire watch set up before burning.
docfl

Posts: 112 | From: Tampa Fl | Registered: Oct 2003 | IP: Logged

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