Battleship North Carolina

Join Haunted Nights on our first ever investigation aboard the historic & haunted Battleship North Carolina! This decorated ship is one of the most haunted locations in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

Tickets to our investigation include free admission to the ship during normal business hours the day of the event for a tour! Any guest with an investigation ticket can report to the ticket booth during the day to receive their free tour. Just mention you are with the Haunted Nights paranormal event & show the attendant your ticket for our event via email or printed out. 

Guests will be asked to arrive between 6:20PM-6:40PM for check in & history. The investigation will run from 7:00PM-3:00AM. During our investigation guests will have access to areas normally restricted to all tour types! Our investigation will be a free roam style investigation, guests will be permitted to investigate with Haunted Nights staff or on their own. Only selling a limited number of tickets to our events allows us to give guests the freedom to move around on their own while still having a great investigation. We encourage guests to bring any paranormal equipment they have to utilize during the investigation. There is also ample equipment available for you to use during the night if you do not have your own!

No one under the age of 14 will be permitted. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

All sales final. No refunds.

History

Keel laid October 27, 1937, New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York. First battleship to be constructed in sixteen years and first of 10 fast battleships. Launched June 13, 1940. Commissioned on April 9, 1941 the ships armament included nine 16-inch/45 caliber guns in three turrets and twenty 5-inch/38 caliber guns in ten twin mounts. Consisting of 144 commissioned officers and 2,195 enlisted men, including 86 Marines. During World War II, North Carolina participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific area of operations and earned 15 battle stars. During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, August 1942, the Battleship’s anti-aircraft barrage helped save the carrier Enterprise, thereby establishing the primary role of the fast battleship as protector of aircraft carriers. One of her Kingfisher pilots performed heroically during the strike on Truk when she rescued ten downed Navy aviators on 30 April 1944. In all, North Carolina carried out nine shore bombardments, sank an enemy troopship, destroyed at least 24 enemy aircraft, and assisted in shooting down many more. Japanese radio announcements claimed six times that North Carolina had been sunk, she survived many close calls and near misses with one hit when a Japanese torpedo slammed into the Battleship’s hull on  September 15th, 1942. A quick response on the part of the crew allowed the mighty ship to keep up with the fleet. By war’s end, the Ship lost ten men killed in action and 67 wounded. The Battleship was decommissioned June 27, 1947. 

Death's

George E. Conlon, August 24, 1942, strafing during Battle of the Eastern Solomons

September 15, 1942, torpedo hit, bow port side

Albert Speers Geary (washed overboard) Oscar Callaway Stone Ingwald Nels Nelson William Osborne Skelton Leonard Edward Pone The torpedo attack victims were buried in the Army Cemetery on the island of Tongatabu.

Kingfisher recovery accident, April 6, 1945: Eldon Emmet Means

Friendly Fire, April 6, 1945, hit on director #5, port side.

Edward Emil Brenn John Malcolm Watson Carl Elmer Karam Jr. They were buried at sea.

Crew Who Died in the Line of Duty

Robert Alexander Nelson, June 5, 1943, Noumea, accidental firing of aircraft machine gun Thurman Thompson, March 7, 1942. Died of a skull fracture when struck by a shell handling tong which carried away while being hoisted up the track of aft #3 barbette, knocking him from the 2nd deck to the 2nd platform.

Other Deaths

Millard Rae Nieman, February 15, 1944. Died from septicemia and buried at sea. Frank Merck, died in an accident onshore (Noted in Tarheel 3/7/42) Henry Julian Kobierski, September 27, 1943. Found dead in his bunk. Coronary artery disease Norman Gilliam, March 19, 1944. Drowned while on a recreation party. Earl Julian Winthrop, January 22, 1945. Transfer from the Ticonderoga and he was buried at sea.

*History & Photo provided by Battleship NC

Paranormal Reports

Guests & staff aboard the ship have described many different paranormal encounters. Shadows dart down hallways, in & out of doors & across rooms. Voices, footsteps & the sounds of men working have been experienced throughout the ship. Full bodied apparitions have been seen along with doors & hatches opening on their own! Guests have reported objects being moved on their own & being touched by unseen hands in many areas of the ship. There is no shortage of activity to experience once you step on board the most decorated battleship from World War II.