Andi Grant's Blog - Everyday Real Estate with a Twist

 No Man Left Behind...Unless Your With the Queen Mary - Part 3 of 3

The Highs and Woes of War

The Queen Mary currently berthed in Long Beach CA is beautiful, overwhelming and quite frankly, intimidating to see in person.  She is known mostly for being the iconic symbol for the city of Long Beach, however she is so much more.  There is a soul to her, souls should others tell it.

As tourists take photos pointing at her in awe, most are not aware of the WWII battle scars that lie beneath her shiny coats of black, red and white. 

While men and women revelled along her shiny decks in the late 30's, Hitler was amassing an army, growing stronger and closing in on a section of the world. 

It was in 1940 that America was to learn that even queens couldn't avoid the military draft.  The Queen Mary, along with her sister ship Queen Elizabeth, were asked to take off their crowns, put on their fatigues and join the Allied Forces in WWII.

Scarlett O'Hara of the Seas

Now painted gray and nicknamed "The Grey Ghost" The Queen Mary was cloaked beauty in rags, no reminders of her former glory; portholes painted over gray, bunks added for troops and her primary mission to serve and survive the war. 

Big Boat Takes Little Boat

The Queen Mary as the "Grey Ghost" had many victorious WWII runs and her name became well known among the military ranks and enemies.  A phantom ship, able to pickup and drop-off troops and disappear; her speed no match for the enemy boats she easily outsailed at 28+ knots.  It was said that Hitler offered a $250,000 reward* to anyone that could take her down.  However, she wasn't without tragedy.  During one particular run while performing the recommended zig-zag maneuvers to avoid U-boat attacks, insufficient clearance caused one of the smaller cruisers the HMS Curacoa,** to be placed directly in the path of the Queen Mary.  The Queen Mary, plowed directly into the Curacoa, cutting her in half and sinking her.  Under the strictest of wartime sailing orders, she steamed ahead.  During later rescue operations, only 99 of the 300+ men had survived.

The Spirits Have a Name

In present time, the Curacoa tragedy has since become part of the entertaining paranormal tour now currently being held aboard the Queen Mary today.  It is said that the men who were left behind to drown are heard knocking and crying in Bosun's Locker, the area of the hull that sliced the Curacoa.  This group of men had names, had a story to tell and now according to some, are still trying to tell that story. 

Part 1 of 3:  Queen Mary in Long Beach - Tourist Attraction, Museum, Hotel and Haunted Ship 

Part 2 of 3:  Mary Still Cries in the Night:  The Haunted Queen Mary

_____ 

*Lostliners.com "Queen Mary, The Gray Ghost"; ** uboat.net

Queen Mary operating as the Gray Ghost arrives in NY 6/20/45 Copyright public domain; Convoy photo 9/04/41 courtesy of Wikipedia Commons Copyright public domain

Mary Still Cries in the Night:  The Haunted Queen Mary - Part 2 of 3

Legend has it that the Queen Mary in Long Beach is haunted!  The Queen Mary, also known by her war name as the "Grey Ghost," is considered by paranormal enthusiasts to be one of the top six haunted places to go and depending on what you've read, said to have over 600 spirits* still wandering her halls today (apparently  someone is counting).  It's no wonder that thousands of amateur and seasoned ghost hunters flock to board her for an eerie visit or overnight stay in the hopes of experiencing some of the unexplained phenomena. 

Unlike other "ghost ships" such as the "Titanic," the "Flying Dutchman", the "Mary Celeste," and Blackbeard's Pirate Ship, the Queen Mary is one of the last pre-war oceanliners and "haunted" ships that is still easily accessible to the public today.

WHY DOST THOU WEEP?

From the Queen Mary's maiden voyage in 1936 until her last voyage in the late 60's, there reportedly have been hundreds of deaths related to her; explained and unexplained, accidental drownings to suspected murders, with the largest number of deaths occuring during her wartime, most notably in a single voyage.  Two drownings in particular have gotten a lot of attention as the victims have been said to appear from time to time.  According to visitors, psychics and ship personnel, the most vocal and attention seeking of the two is that of a little girl named Jackie,** said to have been seen and heard at all times of the night near and around the pool area of her demise; preceded or followed by splashing sounds and wet footprints randomly appearing leading from the pool area.   

During the 13 "Bride and Baby" Voyages,* the Queen Mary passengered over 22,000 war brides and their children.  Playing, crying and laughing kids are said to be heard in the wee hours of the night in the empty rooms where the children are said to have played.   

KEEP ON A KNOCKIN' BUT YOU CAN'T COME IN

One of eeriest and saddest of tragedies to occur as a direct result of the Queen Mary to date, was the mass drowning of several hundred American troops during WWII maneuvers.  During evasive zig-zagging courses to avoid enemy fire, a small escort ship, the HMS Curacoa, was accidentally struck by the much larger "Grey Ghost," splitting the much smaller vessel completely in two.  Due to strict military orders not to stop under any circumstances for fear of U-boat attacks, the Queen Mary had no choice but to leave hundreds of drowning men behind before rescue operations could later save less than a hundred of them.  Many passengers, ship personnel and visitors are said to have heard and recorded unexplained pounding, tapping and knocking on metal in the area known as the "Bosun's Locker," the same area of the hull that split the Curacoa in half.

"THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS GHOSTS!" 

Is the Queen Mary's alter-ego the "Grey Ghost" taking over her?  Could she be the "Blair Witch of the Sea?"  Whether you believe in ghosts or not, something is happening aboard the Queen Mary. Whether it is real, fabricated, imagined or not remains to be seen as thousands of amateur ghost adventurers, professional paranormal investigators and seasoned ghost hunters take to the Queen Mary's "haunted" corridors again and again.   

QUEEN MARY DAY TOURS

QUEEN MARY NIGHT/EVENING TOURS

• Dining with the Spirits - Dinner and late-night guided tour of what is said to be the ship's most active paranormal areas. Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. (1 hour dining, and 2 hour shipwalk)
• Paranormal Investigation - become part scientist and ghost hunter by joining a paranormal investigator on an hunt using ghost hunting tools and tricks in the hopes of communicating with the Queen Mary's reported spirits.  Fridays at Midnight (2 hours)
• Paranormal Ship Walk - After hours tour of the reported haunted locations.  Thursdays, Fridays & Sundays at 8:00 pm (2 hours)
• Twilight Historical Tour - A Twilight "Behind-the-Scenes" tour as you learn of the ships history from past to present. Thursdays through Sundays at 6:45 pm (1 hour)

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES:  

Part 1 of 3:  Queen Mary in Long Beach - Tourist Attraction, Museum, Hotel and Haunted Ship 

Part 3 of 3:   No Man Left Behind...Unless You're With the Queen Mary:  The Highs and Woes of War

___

Ship photos are property of AndiGrant.com and are not to be used without express written permission by Andi Grant.  All rights reserved. 

Footprints and hand in the fog photos courtesy of Creative Commons:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

sources: *Legends of America ; ** Fabulous Travel.com

Queen Mary in Long Beach - Tourist Attraction, Museum, Hotel and Haunted Ship - Part 1 of 3

"The Many Faces of our Queen"

For decades now, the Queen Mary, a retired oceanliner, has graced her subjects in the harbor of Long Beach, CA becoming one of the city's most recognized and iconic symbols.  During her reign, she has worn many crowns and faces.  From her first maiden voyage in 1936 as a grand oceanliner to the affluent, to WWII troop carrier during her patriotic stint in the early 40's, and most recently her current status as tourist attraction, museum, hotel and rumored haunted ship. 

Museum and Tourist Attraction

The Queen Mary once passengered Hollywood types such as Bob Hope* Fred Astaire, Winston Churchill,** Clark Gable,† to European royalty such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.‡  Today the Queen Mary draws thousands of tourists each year‡‡ to experience one of her 12 daily tours offered, ranging from historic architecture and art deco appreciation, to wartime service and the very popular paranormal tours based on the mystery and intrigue that still surrounds the ship to this day. 

QUEEN MARY DAY TOURS

Haunted Encounters Tour - 1 hour - Take a guided ghost tour of the areas described as having the most reported disturbances and sightings (1 hour)

QUEEN MARY NIGHT/EVENING TOURS

• Dining with the Spirits - Dinner and late-night guided tour of what is said to be the ship's most active paranormal areas. Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. (1 hour dining, and 2 hour shipwalk)
• Paranormal Investigation - become part scientist and ghost hunter by joining a paranormal investigator on an hunt using ghost hunting tools and tricks in the hopes of communicating with the Queen Mary's reported spirits.  Fridays at Midnight (2 hours)
• Paranormal Ship Walk - After hours tour of the reported haunted locations.  Thursdays, Fridays & Sundays at 8:00 pm (2 hours)
• Twilight Historical Tour - A Twilight "Behind-the-Scenes" tour as you learn of the ships history from past to present. Thursdays through Sundays at 6:45 pm (1 hour)

QUEEN MARY HOTEL:

Built in the 1930s and still retaining a vast majority of her original features, one can't help but feel themselves transported to another time and place when staying at the Hotel Queen Mary.  The ship features 315 original guest quarters, 309 staterooms and 9 full suites. Although historic in nature, there have been modern touches and conveniences added that haven't compromised the integrity of this grand ship, such as flat panel televisions, ipod docking stations, telephones, high speed wireless internet, satellite television and so much more.  Modern services and amenities such as a spa, business center, top rated restaurants and bars will help to round out your stay.

The Queen Mary wears many crowns: tourist attraction, museum, hotel and rumored haunted ship.  The City of Long Beach is honored to have all of her split personalities berthed along our shores.  For more information:

• Queen Mary Hotel  Rates and Reservations and Specials: 
• Queen Mary Map and Directions
• Queen Mary's Website's Visitor Tips 

***

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES:  

Part 2 of 3:  Mary Still Cries in the Night:  The Haunted Queen Mary

Part 3 of 3:   No Man Left Behind...Unless You're With the Queen Mary:  The Highs and Woes of War

_________

Photos are express property of AndiGrant.com and are not to be used without prior written permission.  All Rights Reserved.

* msnbc, **The Launch of the Queen Mary †Jestsetters Magazine ‡gocalifornia.com, ‡‡inetours.com