In the mid 70s, early in my career as a merchant ships officer, I was aboard a containership running between the East Coast and northern European ports. Couldn’t understand how I secured this desirable job in the union hall until I met the captain who was a real horses rear end.
When we got to the bottom of the English Channel, we picked up a North Sea Pilot, Captain Pitt in this instance. He had local knowledge of the Channel and North Sea, would provide assistance conning the ship between ports, would be aboard the ship about two weeks. I was a watch officer, spent quite a bit of time with him on bridge watches and really enjoyed his company. He was the quintessential English gentleman, soft spoken, understated, and very polite, incredibly experienced. Had sailed all over the globe.
When we were passing by the area where the Normandy Invasion occurred our ship captain came up on the bridge and engaged Captain Pitt in a monologue about how he’d been involved in the event as a third mate on a Liberty Ship. After he’d run his mouth for a while, he asked Captain Pitt if he had made”that show.” Captain Pitt replied that he was elsewhere. In a condescending manner the ship’s captain asked what he was doing that was so important.
Captain Pitt looked him directly in the eye, and said that he was conning (piloting) ships in and out of Malta.
Malta had been heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe, never fell, the people were practically living underground. It was a wonderful zinger. The captain was so self-centered. I don’t think he realized what a clown he was.
Over the years I was on several ships with Captain Pitt, always a pleasant experience. On one ship, the captain, who was a wonderful guy became friends with Captain Pitt and they visited each other in both the States and England.
Kevin G
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
When we got to the bottom of the English Channel, we picked up a North Sea Pilot, Captain Pitt in this instance. He had local knowledge of the Channel and North Sea, would provide assistance conning the ship between ports, would be aboard the ship about two weeks. I was a watch officer, spent quite a bit of time with him on bridge watches and really enjoyed his company. He was the quintessential English gentleman, soft spoken, understated, and very polite, incredibly experienced. Had sailed all over the globe.
When we were passing by the area where the Normandy Invasion occurred our ship captain came up on the bridge and engaged Captain Pitt in a monologue about how he’d been involved in the event as a third mate on a Liberty Ship. After he’d run his mouth for a while, he asked Captain Pitt if he had made”that show.” Captain Pitt replied that he was elsewhere. In a condescending manner the ship’s captain asked what he was doing that was so important.
Captain Pitt looked him directly in the eye, and said that he was conning (piloting) ships in and out of Malta.
Malta had been heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe, never fell, the people were practically living underground. It was a wonderful zinger. The captain was so self-centered. I don’t think he realized what a clown he was.
Over the years I was on several ships with Captain Pitt, always a pleasant experience. On one ship, the captain, who was a wonderful guy became friends with Captain Pitt and they visited each other in both the States and England.
Kevin G
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
