23 Coast Guard Members Died In 1980 When A Tanker Collided With The USCG Blackthorn

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Family members of 23 crew members who perished on the United States Coast Guard buoy tender Blackthorn in 1980 gathered at the annual memorial Friday to pay their respects.

The USCG Blackthorn collided with an inbound tanker, Capricorn, on Jan. 28, 1980, and sank in Tampa Bay near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, according to reports.

The U.S. Coast Guard suffered the greatest peacetime loss of personnel in its history on the day Blackthorn crew members who were trapped inside the cutter (ship) died, the Coast Guard said.

Coasties in attendance at the 42nd anniversary placed roses by the memorial as each of the crew member's names was called. The ceremony takes place at the USCG Blackthorn Park near the fishing pier by the Skyway Bridge.

Seaman Apprentice William Flores stayed aboard the Blackthorn to help save service members trapped in the bowels of the sinking cutter. He died helping others retrieve lifejackets from a locker. Twenty-seven crew members escaped the sinking boat and survived.

Another tradition on this day is a flyover by a Coast Guard helicopter and Coast Guard plane from Air Station Clearwater during the service.

The Coast Guard posthumously awarded Flores the highest service medal in 2000 for his heroic actions. Commanding officers echoed that his actions exemplified how all men and women serving in the Coast Guard should conduct themselves — service before self and helping others. Flores had less than a year of service when he died.

Their sacrifice brought about significant changes to harbor entry navigational systems, wider shipping lanes and improvement in many other areas, the Coast Guard said.

The Blackthorn was recommitted to the deep to become part of Pinellas County's artificial reef program, according to the Coast Guard.