Investigation #1

Members on case:

Team 1 : Dave, Sandy, Shannon, Sydney, Tyler, Chris, Shanna with guests Kate, James and Catherine.
Team 2: Kevin, Dan, Catherine, Mike, Jason, Jonathan and guest Wes
Team 3: Carolyn, James, John, Jeff, Cathy, and guests Mike, Darren and Chris

History:

The Buffalo Naval Park consists of 3 vessels. USS Croaker (submarine), USS The Sullivans (destroyer) and USS The Little Rock (cruiser).
USS Croaker (SS/SSK/AGSS/IXSS-246), is a Gato-class submarine. She was launched on 19 December 1943 and commissioned on 21 April 1944. Built as part of the effort to assemble a major submarine force just prior to and after the U.S. entry into World War II, USS Croaker was sent to the Pacific to wage a war of attrition against Japan’s merchant marine and Navy. USS Croaker had 6 WWII pacific war patrols, was awarded 3 battle stars, and claimed 11 Japanese vessels including a cruiser, four tankers, two freighters, an ammunition ship, two escort craft, and a minesweeper. After WWII, USS Croaker was converted and re commissioned as SSK-246 under the Hunter-Killer conversion program with a streamlined sail, snorkel, long range sonar, and machinery noise reduction. Routine cruises were made to the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean until the submarine was placed out of service in 1968. The submarine then participated in various submarine operations as a Naval Reserve trainer from 1968 to 1971 until stricken from the Navy Register in 1971.
USS The Sullivan’s (DDG-68), is an Arleigh Burke-class "Aegis" guided missile destroyer. She was named for the five Sullivan brothers — George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert Sullivan, aged 20 to 27 – who lost their lives when their ship, USS Juneau, was sunk by a Japanese submarine. She was launched April 4, 1943. The Sullivan’s served with distinction in WWII, took part in intense combat in the Marshalls, Carolines, Mariannas, and Philippines, rescued many survivors from downed planes and damaged or sinking ships, and earned nine battle stars for her service. The Sullivan’s also served in the Korean War, the Cuban Blockade and assisted in the rescue efforts for the nuclear submarine USS Thresher. Commissioned on September 30, 1943 and Decommissioned in 1965.
USS Little Rock (CL-92/CLG-4/CG-4) was completed during or shortly after World War II. Commissioned in mid-1945, she was completed too late to see combat duty during World War II. After an initial South American cruise, she spent the next few years serving off the east coast of the U.S., in the Caribbean, and in the Mediterranean. In the late 1950s she was converted to a Galveston-class guided missile cruiser. She was re commissioned in 1960 as CLG-4 (and in 1975 re designated CG-4). Little Rock is the sole surviving member of the Cleveland class. Decommissioned November 1976.

Claims:

The Naval Park is home to three retired vessels, the USS Croaker, USS The Sullivan’s, and USS Little Rock. All three ships are reported to be haunted, but it is the USS The Sullivan’s which has the most tragic history, and is reported to be the most haunted. When the USS The Sullivan’s was decommissioned in the 1960s, paranormal activity was observed on the ship. The mildest of this activity was batteries frequently dying on the ship, flickering lights, strange knocks, and ghostly voices. One tour guide reported having a torso with a burned disfigured face approach him at a fast rate of speed. One group reported they observed the radar scanner turned on and functioning, even without power. The most haunting occurrence on the ship revolves around a portrait of the five Sullivan brothers that hangs on the ship. It is reported that it is impossible to take a picture of this portrait. Every picture successfully taken has a mysterious mist that covers the face of George Sullivan. That’s if the batteries on the camera work long enough to take a picture. It is believed that the USS The Sullivan’s is haunted by the ghost of George Sullivan, consumed by guilt for not being able to rescue his brothers. George roams the ship, desperately seeking his brothers, just like he did in the days before his death.

Investigation:

The evening couldn’t have been more perfect. Nice breeze and clear. The team was already pretty exhausted from the extensive tour of the ships prior to starts. 25 of us on these vessels. Past members, special guests, members of COPS and an auction winner that paid $500 to a charity to be there. Teams were separated into 3, and equal shifts set aside on the 3 boats. Kevin’s team started on the Little Rock. Even prior to us getting equipment ready the team had heard a smashing sound coming from the galley, that later on that night we discovered was a chain on a freezer. So unsure how that occurred as we hadn’t gone to that part of the ship yet.. Kevin’s team experienced a lot of electrical hits and many voices. Carolyn’s team didn’t fair quite as much excitement on that ship as more the Croaker. Where they had seen lights and heard voices. The exact same spot where Dave’s team felt and saw the same thing. Lights, voices and noises.
The street noise did play a part but many audacity tests showed only the one ship being the Sullivan’s would affect.
The claim on the Sullivan’s that you can’t take a clear picture of George. Debunked. We managed to take clear shots of all the pictures. The nature of the plastic covering affects the flash. Nothing more.
We did get 2 EVP Carolyn got one in the missile house of the Little Rock, stating to lie down. Dave got one in the Croaker telling us not to go in there. The last one we have verified on video.

Conclusion:

I would suspect that the ships have a level of activity. The metals may be conducive to saving energies. The EVP have made enough of a question to return on. We are going back in October of 2015. Smaller crew, less contamination and more focus on certain areas and tests.

Videos:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

PHOTOS from this investigation

Investigation #2

Members on case:

Team 1: Dave, Cathy, Catherine and Chris
Team 2: Sandy, Dan, Carolyn and John

Investigation:

This time we returned with a much smaller crew, two teams of 4. Because of the sheer size of the Little Rock both teams investigated together. While all together we experienced doors rattling and saw shadows down in the museum. We then split off to investigate the other ship and submarine. While on board the Sullivans Dave’s team experienced the sound of snoring. This night was much quieter than our previous visit. Previously the submarine appeared to have the most activity but this time The Croaker was very quiet. Such a great location, hope to return some day.

Conclusion:

Even though this visit had much less activity, our previous visit had quite a bit. Looking at both visits I would have to say there is definitely a possibility of something being present on board these ships

Video:

EVPs

Snoring

PHOTOS from this investigation