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All Hands for the Thresher

On April 10, 1963, the U.S. nuclear attack submarine USS Thresher was conducting deep-diving trials about 220 miles east of Cape Cod when communication with the sub was suddenly cut off. WHOI researchers were nearby and dropped their work to assist. Here, Frederick Hess transfers from the research vessel Atlantis II to the destroyer USS Hazelwood to aid in the search. In late April the Thresher was officially declared lost with all 129 hands. Instruments on the Atlantis II later captured images of a debris field near the sub’s last reported position and in September the location of the remains was confirmed. (Photo by Robert Munns, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)