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The USS Eldridge is the naval vessel alleged to have been rendered invisible and teleported in October 1943. Its deck logs and war diary place it in New York and the Bahamas during the alleged experiment window, directly contradicting the legend.
Overview
The USS Eldridge (DE-173) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy on August 27, 1943. Built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, its primary mission was escorting Allied convoys across the Atlantic and Mediterranean during World War II. The ship completed nine successful convoy escort voyages before being redeployed to the Pacific theater. After being decommissioned in 1946, it was transferred to the Greek Royal Hellenic Navy in 1951.
The USS Eldridge is most known for its association with the "Philadelphia Experiment," a hoax alleging that the Navy rendered the ship invisible and teleported it in October 1943. The Navy has firmly denied these claims, citing the ship's deck logs and war diary as evidence of its actual wartime activities. This supposed experiment was claimed by merchant mariner Carl M. Allen. An alternative explanation suggests the experiment may reference a degaussing (deperm) procedure.
controversies
The USS Eldridge is infamously linked to the "Philadelphia Experiment" legend, which alleges that in October 1943, the U.S. Navy conducted cloaking and teleportation experiments on the ship. According to the hoax, the ship disappeared from Philadelphia and reappeared in Norfolk, Virginia.
The U.S. Navy denies these experiments and cites the ship's official deck logs and war diary as evidence of regular wartime activities.
An alternative explanation is that the claims refer to a degaussing (deperm) procedure to protect ships from magnetic mines, conducted on the USS Engstrom.
Key Programs & Events
Philadelphia Experiment Allegations
Allegations surfaced regarding a supposed experiment in which the USS Eldridge was rendered invisible and teleported, a claim the U.S. Navy denies.
Laid Down
The USS Eldridge was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.
Known Personnel
alleged crew member
Claimed participation as Edward Cameron in alleged radar invisibility experiments that supposedly caused time travel
Self-claimed participant as Edward Cameron on the USS Eldridge, a supposed U.S. Navy invisibility/radar project.