QUARANTINE BLOG # 285

January 9, 2021

Last Saturday I told you the story of Flight 19 and the Legend of the Bermuda Triangle, and I promised you more stories from The Legend.

The Legend of the Bermuda Triangle goes something like this:

The night was ablaze with stars as the DC-3 began its descent toward Miami. In the cabin, the passengers, on their way home after a Christmas vacation, sang “We Three Kings” as the stewardess served cookies and punch. In the cockpit the captain reached for his microphone. 

“Miami Tower, this is Airborne Transport N16002, over.”

“Airborne Transport N16002, this is Miami Tower, go ahead.”

“N16002 is approaching Miami from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Am now fifty miles south, all’s well, have the city in sight. Landing instructions, please. Over.”

“Zero zero two, continue your approach, advise when you have the airport in sight.

“Zero zero two, this is Miami Tower. Please acknowledge. Over.

“Zero zero two, do you read? Over.

“Airborne Transport N16002, this is Miami Tower. Do you read? Do you read? Please acknowledge. Over.”

But N16002 never acknowledged the call from Miami Tower on that early morning of December 30,1948, nor did it answer repeated calls from New Orleans and San Juan, and from the Coast Guard. The weather was ideal, the water clear and calm and so shallow in the area that large objects on the bottom could easily be seen. But the sea guards her secrets well; no trace of the DC-3 was ever found.

The menace that haunts the Bermuda Triangle had struck again, claiming yet another victim, vanishing – as many had – without reason, in good weather, without sending cries of distress and without leaving a trace.

That’s the way The Legend frantically tells the story.  Let’s look at it with a little common sense.

The Legend says Captain Robert Linquist contacted Miami Control, stating that he was approaching from 50 miles south, that all was well, and that he would stand by for landing instructions. The tower radioed landing instructions but Linquist did not acknowledge. While on its final approach to the field, almost within reach of land, the plane had simply vanished.

From Civil Aeronautics Board’s Accident Investigation Report, December 28,1948:

When NC-16002 landed at San Juan, Captain R. E. Linquist – who had over 3200 flying hours – reported a problem the landing gear warning lights. Mechanics examined the aircraft’s batteries and they were found to be discharged. Instead of waiting the several hours required recharge the batteries, the Captain asked the mechanic to add water and return them to the aircraft.

Before takeoff, the tower was unable to contact NC-16002 by radio. The aircraft was still having battery trouble, but agreed to remain in the vicinity of San Juan until sufficient power for the radio was produced by the generators. Eleven minutes after takeoff, the DC-3 stopped circling San Juan and proceeded to Miami. The radio was still not working properly.

A review of the weather indicated a change in wind direction from northwest to northeast as the flight neared Miami. Without crew knowledge of this change, the aircraft could have drifted to the left of the course some 40-50 miles.

Despite what  The Legend says, the DC-3 was never in contact with Miami Approach Tower. The New Orleans station heard the report and advised district Coast Guard headquarters in Miami.

Neither the CAB report or any newspaper reporting the loss stated that Linquist had reported seeing the lights of Miami. Legendeers assumed since he said he was that close he could see the city lights.

Although the weather was good, it may have been an important factor in the loss. Linquist’s information was that early in the flight there would be a light wind from the northwest. He would have corrected for the expected wind by heading slightly to the left of his intended course. As the plane approached Miami the wind shifted, coming from the northeast. Although it was not a strong wind it could have caused the plane to drift farther to the left of course. The DC-3 may have drifted so far south that it missed the southern tip of Florida and flew off into the Gulf of Mexico.

According to The Legend search planes and ships were not able to find the downed plane in the water south of Miami, which is twenty feet deep. Much of the water south of Miami is shallow (gray on the map). There is an area off the coast of Florida and another shallow area to the east, the Great Bahama Bank. Between them, the ocean drops off sharply to a depth of 5,000 feet in the Straits of Florida.

The arc of the semi-circle shows a 50 mile radius. "B" would be the location of the flight if they were on course. "A" could be the location if they were pushed off course the change in winds, a change that was probably never received because of the faulty radio on board.

The exact cause of the loss will never be known, but several important factors in the case are not mentioned in The Legend.  But the whooey-balooey sells books, movies and produces TV shows.

Let’s expose one more Legend.

December 1872: Mary Celeste

The Mary Celeste was discovered drifting crewless between the Azores and Portugal, but it is still mentioned as a highlight of The Legend of the Bermuda Triangle.

The Mary Celeste, a 300 ton ship, was found abandoned at sea by another ship, the Dei Gratia. The only lifeboat was gone, and appeared to have been launched, rather than having been torn away. 

The two ships had taken on their cargos in New York early the previous month, and sailed a week apart, for separate European ports.

Some say when rescuers came on board that a meal was cooking on the stove. Others say the ship was as neat as if preparing for an admiralty inspection. Others say the decks were covered with blood.

Captain Moorhouse, of the Dei Gratia, and his crew were accused of being pirates, seizing the ship and disposing of its occupants.

Another version says Captain Benjamin Briggs his wife, and daughter, were murdered in a fury of drunkenness by the crew, who escaped on another vessel.

Still another version charges the two crews with “barratry,” a calculated scheme to defraud the owners of the ship.

The Mary Celeste was found adrift in November. This newspaper report from February was delayed simply by the difficulty of communication in the 19th century.

Years later a man who professed to be the only member of the crew to survive, claimed that Captain Briggs challenged the first mate to a swimming race around the ship, and both were killed by a shark. As the crew looked on in horror the ship was struck by a huge wave that dumped all overboard – a feast for the sharks. The ship stayed upright and sailed on alone while the crew, with the one exception, drowned, or were eaten.

A simpler theory was that the ship had been caught in a storm and when it seemed about to sink it was abandoned by the crew, who then disappeared in the lifeboat.

Fiction writers have made good use of the incident, beginning with a then, unknown author named Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle’s story, called “The Strange Tale of the Maria Celeste,” became the basis for what is now told about the Mary Celeste.

Arthur Conan Doyle

A Court of Inquiry was unable to determine what had happened to the crew. Today the fate of the occupants of the Mary Celeste is as much a mystery as the day the ship was found deserted at sea. But it certainly has nothing to do with a mysterious triangle between Bermuda, Miami, and Puerto Rico.

Next week we will begin a series called “Edible History” – how the things we eat and drink have changed civilization.

👉  Today’s close, “God Is Our Loving Father,” is from Charles Stanley.

Humanity tends to project its own faulty habits onto God.  This is especially true regarding the nature of His love.  We think we must barter, plead, or try hard to earn the Lord’s favor.  But as the prodigal son learned, the Father’s love is unconditional.

The wayward son expected his father’s love to be diminished.  Therefore, he went home hoping for a place among the family servants.  Imagine the boy’s delight when Dad greeted him with a hug and a celebration.  His actions certainly didn’t merit an outpouring of affection, but Jesus’ parable is all about a Father who doesn’t give people what they deserve.

A love based on conduct would keep people guessing, Have I done enough?  Instead, God cares for you simply because you’re you.  Consider the prodigal’s life after his homecoming party.  He didn’t move into the servants’ quarters and get to work.  He was reinstated to his place as the second son of a wealthy man, with all of the privilege that entails.  In the same way, believers are the Lord’s cherished children (2 Corinthians 6:18).  When God looks at His loved ones, He doesn’t focus on past failures, faults, or sin.  He sees the heirs to His kingdom – men and women who love Him and desire to spend eternity in His presence.

No matter how far we may wander from the Lord’s perfect will for our lives, we are always welcome back.  The Bible teaches that God’s love cannot be lost, regardless of sin or poor decisions (though we may have to live with the consequences).  Our Father’s arms are always open. 

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