The Lost Fitzgerald Search Tapes

Rare radio chatter between the Arthur M. Anderson and the Coast Guard November 10th, 1975. The last time anyone ever heard from the Edmund Fitzgerald

[@xcaliber69]

In 1994 many of the questions were answered by former police officer, Frederick J Shannon. He took an expedition down to the Fitz. It was the first American Manned Submersible dive ever. He set records for the longest time spent at the wreck site. He mapped the entire wreck site using GPS technology. The bow section is in United States Waters, while the inverted stern section is in Canadian waters. It was determined at that time, the General Alarm was triggered, therefore, the crew knew they were going down. The Chadburn reads "all stop" and is tipped over on the floor of the pilot house. shutting down propulsion is the first step in abandoning ship. One would not want to be hit by a rotating 19.5 foot wide propeller. Not that you would ever try to launch a heavy, metal, lifeboat in 30 foot waves anyway. Inflatable life rafts were useless as well with 100 MPH wind gusts, which leaves only one thing left...life jackets. The port side pilot house door is open and locked in the open position. Giving more evidence the crew tried to abandon ship at some point. The body found outside the Fitzgerald is still wearing his cork panel life vest with the circa 1970s "D" ring clearly visible in the photos and videos Fred provided me. Evidence also proves the Fitzgerald broke apart on the surface, the stern section sinking first coming to rest on the bottom inverted. There are two huge piles of taconite pellets which also is evidence that the Fitzgerald was not underway when she broke apart. If it was underway (nose dive theory) the Taconite would be spread out over a larger area...not in the two huge mountains that are well documented. The Fitz did not hit a shoal. In fact, according to the Anderson's log book, the Anderson was closer to the shoals than the Fitzgerald ever was. We know this because the only course we know the Fitz was actually on was that of 141degrees. In other words, right where she needed to be to make it into Whitefish Bay. The Anderson's log book places the Fitzgerald more than 3 miles off Caribou Island well away from the shoals. This is not conjecture, this is fact. Furthermore, the Fitzgerald did not have the ability to pump water from the cargo hold. When Mcsorley reported back to the Anderson that they had both of their pumps running, and yet were not making any headway on the starboard list.... we are talking about ballast tank water, not water in the cargo hold. The Fitz's pumps could evacuate 7000-7500 gallons per minute through 16 inch pipes exiting out of the stern yet the Fitz was unable to correct the list. He was pumping Lake Superior in through a stress-fracture of the hull that spanned two ballast tanks (vents missing and topside damage reported). 7500 gallons per minute but not making any headway on the list is probably why McSorley replied "We're Holding our own." In other words, not getting better on the list, but not getting any worse. The rogue wave theory has some merit when placed in conjunction with the stress-fracture. The Fitz having already been compromised with a stress-fracture, having taken on a starboard list, riding low in the water with the two waves, in close succession, Capt. Cooper spoke about finished off the Fitz. Let there be no mistake. There were only two investigations into the sinking of the Fitzgerald. The first was conducted in 1976 by the United States Coast Guard, and is a complete whitewash. The Coast Guard determined "the cause could not be determined." The second and final investigation was conducted in 1994 by Frederick J Shannon (retired police officer). Fred found 5 lost crewmen after reviewing his high definition underwater footage and still photos. Having lost a family member on the Fitzgerald, I am eternally grateful to you Fred Shannon, for your hard work and determination in solving this case once and for all. The crew can finally rest in peace. I would also like to thank you for being the first person ever to recognize the Fitzgerald as a grave site by placing the memorial plaque on the Fitzgerald in 1994. It means a lot to all of the surviving family members of the lost crew.

[@taylor7772]

xcaliber69 the rogue wave theory could be possible and her sinking is very similar to that german ship which was hit by a rogue wave besides the fact that they only found empty life rafts and there was very limited radio communication before the ship was hit which no body was ever found

[@auntkittyhashtag2321]

xcaliber69 Back in the day I went to catholic school with Fred Shannon at St. Marys school in Mt. Morris Michigan.

[@FreddyFazbearGamer2006]

You wrote so many words and only got a little bit of likes. This comment needs way more likes

[@telecastinater]

Well said, thank you......

[@rcanterb7126]

xcaliber69 Wow, thanks for those facts, more need to see this.

[@Betsy440]

Captain Cooper has my total respect.He was willling to turn his ship around and to go back to those rough and dangerous waters to search for the Fitz.Talk about bravery!! May he RIP.

[@troybingham6426]

@Nathan Jurewicz I agree. The coast guard would have done the best they could under the circumstances. In the end it wouldn't have made a difference anyway.

[@vetrawhittington7841]

@Grey Miller R I P brave man!!!!! I am sure he never got over the fact that he couldn't save his friends!!!!!

[@zagan1]

@@railsofthenorthland1181 They sent out a helicopter that night but you can only do so much. Cooper kept saying the storm is extremely bad and wanted to get out of it rather than stay in it

[@patlaw398]

Wrong....can u understand the English language....the coasties launched a C-130 to drop flares n rafts n flew over the site looking for any signs of survivors....launching a bird in those conditions would’ve been suicidal...they did the best they could ....it was up to nearby ships to come around n render any n all assistance to the Fitz n her crew

[@dickmagee4887]

The guts it took to go back out looking for them. Captain Cooper and crew you have my utmost respect.

[@TheDreamcatcherlady]

My father Wendell E. Routhier was the Chief Lock Master at the Sault Locks, he waited to here from the Fitgerald and had talked to the Anderson. Dad new both Capts. My dad passed on Aug 5 2009. RIP from your loving daughter he loved and hated Gitchagumee

[@banjoist123]

Sad for your loss. These were special men.

[@mihorsewoman]

Sorry for your loss.

[@supervidya2486]

What's Gitchagumee

[@tryzentv3316]

@@supervidya2486 nickname/original name for Lake Superior, in the original native language it roughly translates to “big sea.”

[@supervidya2486]

@@tryzentv3316 oh thx

[@umbrellacorpsoldier1]

I have immense respect for captain cooper, he didnt have to go back out but he did. He was a very brave, honorable and courgeous man.

[@vinny4411]

umbrellacorpsoldier1 He endangered his crew and ship. The Fitz and her crew were gone immediately

[@aux1661]

I saw a Captain Cooper interview where he stated he asked the crew their opinions on searching. The crew said if it was the Anderson that was lost, they would want someone to search for them.

[@davidpallin772]

Captain Cooper and his crew deserved the Presidential Medal of Freedom for what they did that night.

[@boostjunkie2320]

@@vinny4411 Bullshit. He had no idea what was about to happen

[@guineapiglady2841]

Yeah, but a little foolish.

[@Iwillnotbepushed]

Captain Cooper was scared out of his mind and with good reason. He had a fully loaded vessel and still went back into the teeth of the monster to look for survivors. This man and his crew should have gotten medals.

[@williammitchell4417]

It's insane that the Coast Guard couldn't do anything. It reminds me of years ago when I witnessed a car crash and if I didn't see it, who knows if the driver would have lived.

[@patlaw398]

Almost a guarantee u probably caused the accident in some sick scheme to defraud the insurance company

[@johnnersinger9771]

He was empty and in ballast.

[@insertnamehere313]

Also remember the Anderson was lengthened that year so the extra worry of that and if the modifications was done right and not going to fail in heavy seas worried Cooper as well.

[@Iwillnotbepushed]

@@insertnamehere313 I forgot they had lengthened her.

[@jiff80]

✋ salute to the guys that went back out.

[@The1saturn]

he tried every reason why he didn't want to go, but the coast guard would not get the hint, and I don't blame him

[@jessicapampy9321]

I think that captain cooper did what he had to do

[@Creepersaregriefers]

This is weird to hear. My grandfather was the wheelsman for the Anderson and was the one guiding that ship the night they went out to look for them. My grandma got a phone call after the fact from him (which thank god at the time) and was in a near panic after hearing a ship went down. It's crazy to hear this, after having heard the stories from all of my relatives that knew about it in some way. Unfortunately I never actually got to meet my grandfather as he passed from cancer I believe in 1985.

[@patlaw398]

Ur grandfather was a Man of Honor 🇺🇸

[@revokdaryl1]

Sorry about your grandfather's passing. He and all his fellow sailors were very brave. God bless them all.

[@danmiller6462]

Nothing but absolute respect for the brave captain and crew of the Anderson to go back to search for the Fitzgerald and possible survivors.

[@48alfaone]

People just don't understand what its like to be in the freezing cold, blowing snow at night, waves of 30 plus feet from 2 directions at once, winds blowing at 60-90 "miles per hour" and all of this happening at the same time on deep dark water!! The ship Anderson, Capt. Cooper, his Crew & Other Ships were hero's going back out to look for survivors in this ultra violent super storm! Even the coast guard said later it was as bad or worst than a North Atlantic super storm.

[@cooldloop2381]

I was about 5 miles out from Duluth and I had 40MPH winds. That was horrifying. Can’t imagine 90+.

[@shelliewhitaker8935]

I just saw the Arthur M Anderson today going through the locks at Sault Ste. Marie still in service after all these years

[@lynndemartini9379]

Almost 50 years and am sooo grateful the Fitzgerald crew is still remembered! This is a GREAT video - THANKS!

[@patlaw398]

💚

[@kurtisblow3650]

Tremendous respect for Captain Bernie Cooper, Captain Don Erickson and every brave man that was sailing on the Arthur M. Anderson and William Clay Ford that night.

[@patlaw398]

True the Captains n Crew of those vessels displayed Honor Courage n Humanity 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@jvansickle4358]

i sailed a couple of years , saw the 'fitz' a few times. she was big and beautiful, truly sad she and her crew are gone. it really makes me think. all the great lakes can get very mean but the superior can very easily. god bless the crew and their families.

[@switchbuckle5th]

Yeah. The Superior is terrifying. You get out there in the middle of it and you might as well be out in the atlantic ocean, and when it gets mean it's just as scary as that if not worse.

[@gullreefclub]

+switchbuckle5th You would be better off in the Atlantic ocean than on the Great Lakes in a bad storm due to the 'relatively' shallow depths of the lakes and while the lakes are huge they are small compared to the ocean so waves tend to stack very close together compared to the Atlantic or Pacific additionally the waves on the Great lakes can become very confused in a storm

[@danielkeogh9050]

+switchbuckle5th Definitely! and Erie too by different mechanism (waves smaller, but much closer together and coming from multiple directions)

[@OFFDETTA]

j van sickle at least we have the bell with everyones name on it

[@100Aces]

Explosivepiggies we have the original bell in the whitefish bay museum...the bell with the crew names was placed in the original bell's spot on the ship. May they rest in peace.

[@westdelta27]

Rest in peace men. May the LORD be with you. Thank You for your service!

[@hdtmonaro66]

I can remember my Dad singing the song by Gordon Lightfoot when I was 10 or 11 years old, must have been not long after it was released and he had learnt the words! My dad passed away last year. He grew up on the water and was fascinated by the lakes and the oceans, and the fact they can be both beautiful and treacherous. He would have loved this video. Well done. RIP crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. RIP Dad

[@oxfordmontello3281]

The courage the crew of the AMA showed is beyond words. Thank you so very much for demonstrating the best of humanity.

[@harrietharlow9929]

Bless Captain. Cooper and crew for going back out to look for the Edmund Fitzgerald. Such bravery should never be forgotten.

[@DEFiANCE665]

"Do you realize what the conditions are out there?!"

[@Donna.V]

Captain Cooper and Captain Erickson were true heros to go back out into the worst of the storm. Do we have any men like that in today's time. I hope so, but do we?

[@vetrawhittington7841]

@@Donna.V Only a very few!!!!

[@dwainsellers6453]

Yes we do , 13 of them just lost their lives in Afghanistan.

[@patlaw398]

🇺🇸💜

[@kylel.1965]

Those damn bagpipes... Gets me every time knowing they are memorializing lost lives

[@matthewsmith428]

Hearing those recordings brings a person back to that time. Also movie makers spent 200 million plus making the Titanic. I would like to see a big budget for an Edmund Fitzgerald movie Oh and I am a Michigan native.

[@phillipgarrow2297]

I'm from Michigan and was in high-school I can still remember the fitzgerald going down I'm glad Gordon Lightfoot song keeps there memories alive

[@adaptiveagile]

RIP to all who perished. Cannot imagine what they must have gone through in those final moments. Very emotive video. Kudos for keeping their memory alive.

[@jajanesaddictions]

We now know that the crew of the Edmund Fitz was NOT at fault. Science has proven without a doubt. Rest in Peace, you brave men.

[@danielkeogh9050]

+ja jane Who the heck ever thought that they were at fault? Anyone who has ever worked on the lakes for any length of time knows exactly how scary and deadly they can turn in the flash of an eye. The poor boys never had a chance aside from the grace of God

[@jajanesaddictions]

Daniel Keogh I read it in the newspapers of the days after it and heard it on the TV News. The ship's insurance company tried to say it was "human error", but yes, all the regular people knew that that couldn't possibly be true. And we didn't even know about Super Rouge Waves back then. They never had a chance. like the song says if they put 15 more miles behind them.... They Rest In Peace in the The Fitz. G-d save their Souls.

[@keithbubb730]

Insurance companies are assholes

[@vinny4411]

Mcsorley screwed up

[@bawildfan3740]

One early investigation pointed out the the clamps weren’t properly tightened. Clamps were put on manually by the crew. Thus pointing to negligence of crew

[@theoldgalah]

You can tell in the voice of the captain he didn't want to go.Man that must have been bad.The fact they did go back speaks volumes of their bravery...........This is the best video of events surrounding the sinking of the Fitz.Well done

[@cathywhite1729]

"Only seen the "Fitz" once, God rest the souls on her last journey, bless their families always"!!! 😇😇✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝✝", 29 crosses for each man lost"!💖💖💖💖

[@7051mike]

great work absolutly brought tears to me eyes....the fear in the voice of the captain of the Anderson when they asked him to come about but he still did it what a brave man knowing that he could end up going down just a great peice of work

[@dennisb-trains23]

These men we are listening to are true heros to try and rescue the crew of the Fitzgerald. Brought tears to my eyes listening to the transmission. God rest the Fitzgerald crew souls.

[@johntabler349]

to me this story is more fascinating by far than titanic the rescue attempt by the Arther M Anderson is heroic just every day guys working for a living risking it all to save fellow mariners a work horse vessel fighting a hurricane loosing to the water just 17 miles from shelter good men all doing noble work and the storm still won

[@patlaw398]

GOD wanted them back

[@michaelstamper3444]

And the Anderson was loaded as well.

[@johntabler349]

@@michaelstamper3444 I hope I get to shake Bernie Cooper's hand in the great hereafter

[@michaelstamper3444]

@@johntabler349So do I. Just think, the bell was tolled 30 times on May 1,2023 29 for the crew and one for Gordon Lightfoot who did the moving eulogy/tribute for the crew in The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald.

[@johntabler349]

@@michaelstamper3444 fitting tribute

[@WizardOfWhoopee]

Some of the most haunting radio traffic ever.

[@bighanky8919]

Rip to the brave crew of the big fitz

[@Amasaman]

This is painful to watch and listen to. Having lost my father to mysterious circumstances at sea, I feel the pain of every family member of the crew lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald. This especially hits home because I live so close to Lake Superior and spend quite a bit of time in the summer boating on her waters.

[@patlaw398]

I feel ya

[@jasonw4053]

2:50 That's spray going over the aft house. The night the Fitzgerald went down, they were taking green water over the aft house---that means solid water! 12-16 feet of solid water was washing over the weather deck where the hatches are located! Picture the waves in this video about three times larger, and you've got an idea of what those boats faced that night!

[@knightlife98]

Wow, no wonder it went down so quickly...!

[@danalarose846]

I wondered what was meant by green water.

[@biscuitag97]

@@danalarose846 its just when you bury a boat into a wave. When the water rushes across the deck it appears green. Probably due to the light colored deck showing thru the water.

[@danalarose846]

@@biscuitag97 thank you! I heard that reference on the movie perfect storm as well.

[@Donna.V]

Captain Cooper theorized that they thought they were going through a big wave, but they were really on their way to the bottom. That would explain why there was no mayday.

[@davidloter5391]

Nothing But Absolute Respect For The Men That Died, but Also The Men That Risked Their Lives To Go Back and Search For Their Sea Breathren.

[@AdmiralLobeam]

OUTSTANDING video production! My God Bless the Captain & Crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

[@weinerdad3146]

38 years ago tomorrow the Edmund Fitzgerald sunk I was 10 years old and didn't understand what was happening. Now I do. I have had a quick dip in Lake Superior and it is damn cold. I would not wish this tragedy on any family.

[@danielkeogh9050]

+weiner dad Actually, the coldness of the water probably diminished their pain suffering- one can't survive in those waters (temp in low 40's) for more than a couple of minutes before succumbing to hypothermia- thought is that one drifts off to "sleep" without pain

[@mole1215]

damn u old

[@danielmcneil6342]

meltroll

[@JohnWayne-86ed]

mol Dude is only 53, that's not young but not old either.

[@evanmiller2591]

Actually most of the crew were probably dead before they had a chance to hit the water

[@don417]

That capt had balls to even make the attempt.

[@patlaw398]

Even in 2023 there’s still a lot of ppl who will sacrifice for their fellow Human Beings 🇺🇸👌🇺🇸👌

[@Cruiserweight190]

Those radio transmissions give me the chills...

[@Shockemblem]

When I was in grade 5 we took a class trip to Toronto where we went on a ship that was going across Lake Ontario, and the captain of that ship picked one of the kids to "captain" the ship (under his help and guidance, of course). He chose me, and I remember holding the wheel and the first thing he ever said in regards to it all was "you have respect the lake." Years on, I heard of the Edmund Fitzgerald on Superior, and recalled my time on the lake and realized that he wasn't lying. Unbelievable

[@valkyriemelancon4167]

"The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee Superior, they said, never gives up her dead When the gales of November come early."

[@auntkittyhashtag2321]

Valkyrie Melancon Yes Yes Yes a truly beautiful and haunting song. I'm a proud Michigander.

[@48alfaone]

Great radio tapes of the Anderson, Capt. Cooper, and History...(thanks for posting)!!

[@Christian_Girl120]

God bless those men for going back to try and find out what happened. What a horrible tragedy this was. RIP all.

[@Shadoefax760]

All that darkness & cold, alone down there forever.

[@LocalHistorian]

THANK YOU for posting this, GLSS! I hope you keep this video up as a memorial to the EDMUND FITZGERALD...

[@65JD5010]

Give that Captain of the Arthur M. Anderson a medal for turing around to look for the Fitzgerald and her crew!!!! That man is the bravest sailor ever!!!! Wow what a man!!!! I hope he is remembered for his bravery!!!!!

[@flintignition]

Remembering the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald on this 43rd anniversary

[@ElizabethF2222]

Cooper is a hero. He said if it were his ship that needed help, he would want someone to turn around and come back for them, so he did it. Absolutely an honorable and courageous man and every one of his crew voted to go back as well. All of them are absolute angels!!!

[@mikeloghry9521]

I SALUTE THEM ALL

[@pdddddp1]

A tear and warm hearted salute to the skipper of the Arthur M. Anderson......and the Men of The Edmund Fitzgerald....May they all rest in wonderful peace.

[@540allison]

captian bernie cooper!what a brave man!

[@earlyetman2317]

I think the comment "holding our own" was just for the benefit of the crew. I am pretty sure that the Capt. knew that they were in very serious trouble!

[@jennyprorock]

No he didnt. He would have let someone know.

[@deanladue3151]

A fencerail that snapped in two, vent covers that were blown off, and a starboard list that would worsen despite having all the pumps running. A seasoned skipper like McSorley would take all these factors into account, and undoubtedly know that his ship and crew were in big trouble.

[@briannoonan6116]

@@deanladue3151 ..how come they didn't dock for an extra day till the storm blew over

[@deanladue3151]

@@briannoonan6116 the last haul of the season, McSorley wanted to get it in as soon as possible. Also the Fitzgerald was scheduled for a refit and lengthening that off season at Fraser shipyards in Superior WI. McSorley didn't want to be late for that either.

[@theonetheonly9730]

@@jennyprorock bro stfu🤡let the man think what he wants to think ya 🤡

[@John_bon_pony]

this was amazing. i still cant believe it was 36 yrs ago today. I wasn't born when it happend but i always have and always will honor the 29 men who lost their lives. I listen to the song every year on nov 10th. and i will always have a moment of silence. if i had a bell it would ring 29 times

[@b3j8]

The fact that really makes this sad is the Fitz was so close to making it home. About an hour or so from the safety of Whitefish Bay!

[@tomwolak3362]

Yup.So close and yet So far.

[@A1Adaydreaming]

46 Years ago today. RIP to the 29 souls of the Edmund Fitzgerald. RIP as well to Captain Bernie Cooper of the Arthur Anderson and his crew, who took their vessel back out of safe harbor into the teeth of that storm to search for survivors. The actions of Captain Cooper and his crew were nothing short of heroic.

[@slinginlead6647]

Being scared to death and to go back out anyway to help their brothers in need is remarkable!! They are real men and heroes without a doubt!!!

[@twinstu50]

"You have to respect the lake". Wow!. With those words, that Captain let you look into the window of all his knowledge and experience, what a man!.

[@hunhun23]

I cant imagine what was going through those men's minds that night knowing that they might not make it. I salute those men.

[@rosejarman6920]

Grew up in Michigan and my Aunt and Uncle lived in Paradise which is on whitefish point. Months after the sinking when the water warmed some boxes of things floated up, no bodies but cargo of some sort. That lake is dangerous, we went fishing on it and a storm blew up from no where. I thought we were gonna die. Never went back on that lake and that was probably 1976

[@quacksackerthegreatstarfir6996]

I've read that The Great Lakes are the most dangerous bodies of water on earth. I think it's because they're shallow compared to the ocean and the waves are able to build up lots more energy and get larger than any on the ocean can and the next thing you know you're being pulled down. The book I read described it like water sloshing back and forth in a bath tub

[@Twister1995ify]

As A LONGTIME Edmund Fitzgerald researcher this is possibly the best and most touching video I have ever watched about it.

[@patlaw398]

✅

[@PalomboDylan]

July 4th, 1995 was when this ships bell was recovered......I was born on March 21st, 1995....I was only a couple of months old when that bell was recovered....for some reason I feel honored to be born on that year now....R.I.P the Edmond Fitzgerald and R.I.P the 29 crew members who lost their lives.....😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@dugger80]

No words for this... none at all... :-(

[@dansweet6793]

Cooper is a legend, he was really reluctant to go back out, that definitely tells you this was more than your average storm

[@sueklein9454]

my dad had me listen to this with my eyes closed. And I felt the emotions of them, I could hear them all screaming in terror.

[@BabyPuma124]

Thank you for this haunting audio w/ slides. What a night that must have been.

[@OFFDETTA]

Rest in peace you brave 29 men i wish i was in minnesota earlier

[@jimbacon9254]

i live an hour away and have seen first hand the power of the storms on Superior. she's a mean viscious lake with a temper. when a storm starts picking up open the throttle and head for the nearest land or you WILL die. waters freezing cold even in summer and by november when the Fitz sank it's about 34 degrees. the ship broke in halk these poor guys had no chance. god rest their souls

[@clayz1]

11 years. Published 11 years ago and now the algorithm speaks. You can’t look for what you don’t know is there.

[@KHLV]

Wow you REALLY did some intense work cleaning up the original radio recordings. They are incredibly noisy, yet hear they are quite intelligible. Nice work.

[@patlaw398]

True ✅

[@cewing2301]

thanks for the documentary on this ship, i was a kid when it went down, of course knew the song, but didnt know the history. now generations to come can know about this famous ship

[@AceBG27]

Wow - this is incredible. Forty-seven years on now. I was 12 in Windsor and lived near the Detroit River, when this happened. I could see the big Freighters out my bedroom window and at night you would hear the ships calling to each other as they passed by each other on the river . This all seems like it was just yesterday.

[@MrDan708]

Eerie...you can really hear the distress in Capt Cooper's voice. I wouldn't judge any man who was in his position that night. It had to scare the bejeebus out of him to think of returning to those tempestuous waters.

[@lockness7068]

This gave me chills down my spin

[@ryback1340]

I was a junior in high school when she went down. this was a tragedy of more than epic proportions, made even more tragic by seeing the documentaries made, and hearing the stories. thank god for the Arthur m Anderson!!!!!

[@kelliebrooks9094]

I was a kid in the 60s an into the 70s an one of thebest songs was gordon lightfoot....it was till i was older and fully understood the words he was singing an the tribute he made in a beautiful way....Respect to the familys....of hard working folks

[@patlaw398]

Yep it was a time when Americans looked out for one another n appreciated that we’re in the Greatest Country GOD created 🇺🇸👌🇺🇸👌🇺🇸

[@melanieshub]

I've always respected Bernie. We'd bought our home (my home now) off Bernie and Sue Cooper 9 years before this happened. My dad was a USS captain as well, and I often sit and think of the legacy in my home.

[@patlaw398]

That’s awesome n special....

[@gcmartt]

What a sad story! Remember it well, everyone was shocked that a huge ship like this could have just disappeared with no trace.

[@ColonelFrontline1152]

"The Titanic Of The Great Lakes"

[@haydenjackson4577]

@@fishtug2420 it triggers me every time i see "Titanic of the _______." anywhere.

[@anexpertateverything4816]

Titanic was the 2nd ship if the Olympic class. If it hadn’t sunk you wouldn’t have known it. This ship was 17 years older when it sunk. It wasn’t the biggest ship at all when it went down.

[@hotdoggravy]

poor bastards. Not much I can think of that would be scarier

[@I.KUchiha]

hotdoggravy no need to call them bastards bro

[@qdog568]

Sir I.K Elzyy It was a figure of speech. It wasn't derogatory.

[@danbasta3677]

@@I.KUchiha Agreed, more like poor guys, they thought that ship was going to make it through, and it didn't and it was a tragic loss. Her sister ship, the Aurther B. Homer has been decomissioned and scraped, i believe in the middle of the 80's.

[@BobCat623923]

+Dan Basta Was this a big news story across the country?? Or just around the Great Lakes. Very tragic and must have been terrifying. Haunting song too.

[@mikeshearer1250]

That must have been gut renching when Captain Cooper found that debris.

[@Doug19752533]

ill tell you whats scary. i worked briefly at the Bay Shipbuilding yards in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin where several ships the size of the Fitzgerald dock for the winter for maintenance. i would look at them and try to imagine the incredible and inconceivable power it would take to break up a ship like that

[@patlaw398]

Actually the longer the vessel ,the more susceptible to a catastrophic failure...size sometimes works against u

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Thanks for taking the time to share these photos

[@Kanefan701]

Thanks for uploading this.

[@Falcon163]

I appreciate this video thanks for posting

[@steveng1624]

Thanks for sharing this information...

[@luketdrifter2100]

You realize what the conditions are out there don't ya?? Listen to the pleading. This man KNEW that the Fitz was down. He had to search his soul because the possibility of Anderson going down was very real.

[@CoastalAutoReactionCAR]

Brave men! The William Clay Ford went back out to look too loyal brave men!

[@simflyr1957]

Well done gentlemen. Thank You. My Dad retired from the P&C Docks on Conneaut, OH and had loaded and unloaded "The Fitz" many times. I was in Marine Basic at Parris Is. on this day which coincides with the Marine Corps Birthday. I used to be an Advanced Trimix diver and dove the Morrell after meeting the late Dennis Hale; the sole survivor of the wreck and many other in Lake Erie, Ontario and the St Lawrence. They are truly God's Cathedrals. The spookiest wreck I ever dove was the Marsh off Kingston, ON

[@48alfaone]

Yes they did!! Cooper, his Great Crew, and others that night were Hero's to head back out looking for survivors. Plus they were very very lucky the rouge waves didn't kill them....sending them to the bottom! People don't understand the power of that storm.

[@lawrence142002]

Captain Jesse Cooper was actually off the bridge when McSorley delivered his infamous "We're holding our own" statement. It was First Mate Morgan Clark whom McSorley was speaking to. I just find that an interesting bit of trivia for you.

[@thereelangler2391]

I grew up in Michigan and had family that piloted ferry boats on lake Michigan. Based on what they told me and things like the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald, I will never set foot in those lakes or on a boat to go out on the lakes. People think the Great Lakes are some peaceful and tranquil waters, when in reality they are giant freshwater seas that can be worse than the open ocean. I hope these families have found some solice after the loss of their loved ones.

[@patlaw398]

The only thing to fear is fear itself 🇺🇸

[@Bill_Falsename]

Working on a Laker like the Fitz has to be scary as hell, even with modern weather radar and sonar there is still the risk of white squalls blasting out of nowhere and sweeping you overboard.

[@shelbywagner8934]

My dad worked around the lakes.. He said the storms like that come fast and furious. Lots of ships big and small lost

[@mikescaffo4850]

Sad very sad but the fact that captain Cooper went Back out there to search for his friends makes him a hero no doubt it takes a lot of guts to head into harms way like that God bless him and all the lost crew on the Fitzgerald

[@StinkySeaGoat]

In high school I had a teacher who lost her father in the wreck, we were made to listen to this recording and the song the Edmund Fitzgerald inspired. Of course everyone just laughed and called it dumb and folk music, but I found myself growing increasingly More and more distraught by everything I heard. Something about this just strikes a nerve that’s incredibly Raw with me, imagine losing a father, a Brother, a Grandfather, a Husband or an Uncle to something as utterly tragic and harrowing as a ships wreckage. Knowing it was as dark as Pitch and the weather made the water as violent and Cold as the Arctic, what could you have done??? Knowing the men you had known your whole career and built a friendship with was below you, desperately clawing at the inky black Void of water only to never return. So many people lost their lives to something so…..horrifying….forever frozen in time at the bottom of the lake, stuck in a mile worth of Mud, never to be seen ever again….it really hurts me for some strange reason and I don’t know why…

[@patlaw398]

It’s a modern day story of Life Death n Courage 🇺🇸

[@cpw2k217]

If you can still remember high school, congratulations. Your sharper than I am. As for your thoughts about the Fitz men I know exactly what your saying. And I know not why. God be with them all.

[@8hellcat]

I remember that day...........thanks for posting.

[@DoubleVisionandco]

It`s hard to listen to this. When they are asked to return to the Fitzgeralds last known location and he mentions the conditions that`s the hardest thing in the world to do. Inside he knows men may still be alive, but he also knows the conditions could sink him as well so it becomes a inner turmoil. It`s a position that nobody wants to be in.

[@chynnadoll3277]

Omg..........Amazing Grace on the bagpipes..........😞😞😢😢😔😪😪😪

[@sheriffbear]

God bless the Fitzgerald crew rest in peace for years to come its sad that years later they still dont know how it sank

[@Betsy440]

Haunting, gives me chills. RIP the Fitz and her crew.

[@mrbus36]

OK...I've got a confession. I don't have a dry eye. Although I am very familiar with the Fitz, having grown up near the Great Lakes, I never thought to look at KZbin for videos of the disaster.. I certainly got more than I bargained for. Thank you for posting, and keeping the memory of the men alive.

[@tedgamma8650]

Much respect and God rest the ones lost

[@patlaw398]

Everyone who’s ever been in peril on the water knows that u don’t have a choice but to assist ur fellow mariner or swimmer.....NO MATTER WHAT,UNLIKE SOME OF THESE COMMENTERS....I actually lost my dad to the water....so don’t sound like u give a damn,unless u have lost someone u loved dearly....ur just hearing a coastie tape basically asking/requesting the nearest available vessel to render any & all assistance....something the Captain would have done anyway.....I believe he was acutely aware of the conditions he & his vessel faced going back out to the Fitzgerald knowing that she was already lost to Superior

[@earlyetman2317]

Wonder which 7 idiots dislike? Maybe they should try swimming in Lake Superior in July let alone in a tremendous November storm! 30'-40' waves and 40 degree water. I saw one of the life boats in 1977 or 1978 (I was 8) at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and it was a twisted torn piece of steel, it was demolished...I still look at the pictures from time to time. I have been a West Coast Michigander my whole life, and I realize the immense power of the Great Lakes!