Salvage Man: Edward Ellsberg and the U.S.Navy - Hardcover

Alden, John D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1557500274 ISBN 13: 9781557500274

Publisher: Naval Institute Press, 1997

Synopsis

Few American naval officers have been as unconventional as Edward Ellsberg and still managed to rise to the rank of rear admiral. This probing biography shows Ellsberg time and again confronting the Navy's conservatism, service politics, and professional jealousies to literally salvage the unsalvageable. Author John Alden vividly describes Ellsberg's first public success in 1925 when he raised the sunken submarine S-51. Two years later he made headlines again during an attempt to save six men trapped in the S-4.In 1941 Ellsberg managed to refloat two Italian dry docks that everyone considered unsalvageable. Then as Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's salvage officer for North Africa, he unblocked the sabotaged port of Oran, raised more dry docks, and rescued torpedoed ships. In 1944 he was instrumental in preparing the artificial harbors that made the Normandy landings a success. These World War II accomplishments earned Ellsberg the Order of the British Empire but only reluctant notice from his own navy, although he exerted a lasting influence on U.S. submarine recovery operations.Taking full advantage of Ellsberg's extensive collection of papers and archives on both sides of the Atlantic, this insightful study is the first to focus on the determined admiral. A man of many talents. Ellsberg also published a number of books, including the very popular On the Bottom, which brought the story of salvaging to public attention.

About this title

Synopsis:

A biography of an unconventional naval officer who confronted the Navy's conservatism, service politics, and professional jealousies in his work salvaging sunken docks and vessels and rescuing men trapped in them. Includes b&w photos. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

About this edition

• Publisher: Naval Institute Press
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 1557500274
• ISBN 13: 9781557500274
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 301