Colonel William A. Phillips

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USCGC William Flores (WPC-1103) is a Sentinel-class cutter homeported in Coast Guard District 7, Miami, Florida.[3][4][5]

Design

Like her sister ships, she is equipped for coastal security patrols, interdiction of drug and people smugglers, and search and rescue. Like the smaller Marine Protector class she is equipped with a stern launching ramp.[4] The ramp allows the deployment and retrieval of her high speed water-jet powered pursuit boat without first coming to a stop. She is capable of more than 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) and armed with a remote controlled 25 millimetres (0.98 in) M242 Bushmaster autocannon; and four crew-served Browning M2 machine guns.

Operational history

On 1 April 2016, William Flores intercepted a small boat with twelve Cuban refugees on board.[6] The refugees had gone off course, and had entered Bahamas territory.[citation needed]

Namesake

She is named after Seaman Apprentice William Ray Flores who died during the sinking of USCGC Blackthorn. At the cost of his own life Flores stayed aboard the capsizing cutter and used his belt to tie open a life jacket locker door. This action allowed life jackets to float on to the water as the cutter went down. He further distributed life jackets to shipmates in the water.[7] In November 2011 Flores was honored by having the third Coast Guard Sentinel-class cutter named after him.[8][9][10]

References

  1. ^ "Third Fast Response Cutter Delivered to the Coast Guard" (Press release). United States Coast Guard. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  2. ^ "Coast Guard Cutter William Flores commissioned in Tampa, Fla". Coast Guard News. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  3. ^ Young, LT Stephanie (29 November 2011). "Third fast response cutter launched". Coast Guard Compass. United States Coast Guard.
  4. ^ a b Chardy, Alfonso (18 October 2012). "Coast Guard unveils its newest cutter; base will be Miami Beach". Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014.
  5. ^ Carpenter, Rhonda (5 November 2012). "Coast Guard Commissions Third Fast Response Cutter, William Flores". Defense Media Network. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013.
  6. ^ Mia Whylly (5 April 2016). "34 Cubans apprehended over the weekend". The Freeport News. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016. The United States Coast Guard Vessel (USCG) William Flores brought 12 Cuban migrants to the Lucayan Harbour Friday, April 1 and handed them over to a team of officers headed by SIO (Senior Immigration Officer) Jerome Hutcheson.
  7. ^ McMahon, Patrick (7 February 1980). "'Hard right rudder': 'Blackthorn' skipper gave command too late, crewman testifies". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1B.
    —— (7 February 1980). "'Hard right rudder' (continued)". St. Petersburg Times. p. 8B.
  8. ^ Diaz, Monika (28 November 2011). "Coast Guard remembers former crewman's actions, 31 years later". WFAA. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011.
  9. ^ "Third Fast Response Cutter Launched by Coast Guard". Maritime Executive. 30 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Getting his due Coast Guard hero receives honor posthumously". Fort Worth Star Telegram. 17 September 2000.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_William_Flores_(WPC-1103)