On June 19, 2009, the CG Cutter Elm deployed the newest offshore NOAA weather Buoy, 44066-Texas Tower 4.
The Texas Tower was a cold war offshore recon structure in 180 feet of water off the coast of Long island, NY. Usually manned 24/7 by 50 seamen this tower was meant to watch for suspicious Soviet activity off our waters. Unfortunately, due to a defect at time of installation the tower was weakened and prone to unusual movements during hard seas. On January 1960 a terrible winter storm battered and sank this unit with 28 men aboard.
NOAA agreed to name this buoy in their honor since this aid to navigation will help mariners with their forecasts and add to safety on the seas.
Thanks to Captain Kennedy and his crew for making this dedication.
Here is the the You Tube link, and link to the buoy.
You will have to copy and paste into your browser window.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzUQwy7bhjohttp://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_pa...tion=44066Jeff