One of the main people behind the ship coming to Wilmington was Thomas S. Craig, Jr., advertising executive for the city's WECT-TV, member of Wilmington American Legion Post 10 and World War II veteran. On January 9, 1959, he set up a battleship committee which was the reason the state got the ship.
Sadly, just after the North Carolina arrived, on September 24, 1961, there was an air show at the Wilmington airport and he caught a ride with WECT personnel aboard an Air Force C-123 carrying members of the Army's Golden Knights for a parachute drop. He also planned to take a photo of the ship's future home.
It stalled on takeoff, crashed and burst into flames, killing three immediately. Craig was severely burned and rushed to the Army burn center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He died there October 14th, the day the battleship opened to the public. On October 15th, the flag of the USS North Carolina was lowered to half mast.
Thanks, Mr. Craig. --GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
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