Bill Wormstedt's Titanic

Bill Wormstedt's
Titanic

Like many other people interested in the Titanic disaster (pre-Cameron, anyway), I first got 'hooked' by reading Walter Lord's book "A Night to Remember". In my case, this occurred when I was a teenager in the early 1960's. As this was the only book easily available at the time, the interest died down to be replaced by many other things. When Robert Ballard discovered the wreck in 1985, I became interested again, and started searching out and buying other new books on the subject.

In addition to writing some short bios for the Encyclopedia Titanica site, following are several other articles I have written about the Titanic:

(NOTE: Sharp eyed readers may notice that the online articles Fire and Ice (Or What You Will) and Time and Again: Titanic's Final Hours are no longer available on this website. Both articles (revised and updated) are in the new book Titanic: Solving the Mysteries. For details on this December 2019 book, see below)

Titanic: Which People Were in What Lifeboat - A New Study   The results of four years of research, this article from 10 noted Titanic researchers details, where possible, which lifeboat each survivor escaped the sinking Titanic . - Brand New May 2023

'Abandoning The Titanic', Abandoning Reality: The Truth About the SS Mount Temple   In November 2020, a new programme aired on PBS in the United States. Aired as an episode of the Secrets of the Dead series, it was entitled Abandoning the Titanic. In certain other countries, the programme aired under the title Titanic: A Dead Reckoning. The show featured a number of major historical errors; indeed, its very premise was historically flawed. Our article details these many historical errors.

Proven Facts about the Titanic   Over the years, many incorrect 'facts' have been stated, and continue to be repeated. Here are the proven facts, as researched by a number of respected historians

The Confusing Accounts of Quartermaster Rowe A comparison of George Rowe's 1912 US and British Inquiry testimonies, with his decades later statements in the 1950s and 1960s

Titanic: The Lifeboat Launching Sequence Re-Examined by Bill Wormstedt, Tad Fitch and George Behe. A new look at the lowering order of the lifeboats as they left Titanic, to develop a revised timeline

Titanic Lifeboat Occupancy Totals by Bill Wormstedt & Tad Fitch. New research into how many survivors got off in each of Titanic's lifeboats

An Analysis of the Bodies Recovered from the Titanic

The Facts: What Did the Survivors See of the Break-up of the Titanic? For very many years, many of us thought the Titanic sank intact. And many thought, and still think, that most of the survivors also said she sank whole. But what did the people who testified at both Inquiries actually say? Did most *really* say it sank whole?

Shots in the Dark - Did an Officer Commit Suicide on the Titanic in the Last Stages of the Sinking?

The Lifeboats of the Titanic - A comparison of the revised timeline to the British Inquiry timeline, along with additional information regarding crew in charge of the lifeboats, and a comparision of lifeboat occupancy.

An Examination of David Gleicher's Lifeboat Launch Sequence by Bill Wormstedt, Tad Fitch and George Behe. A number of discussions at Encylopedia Titanica have prompted us to write an analysis of David Gleicher's lifeboat launch timeline, which differs from our own in a number of key points.

Miscellaneous - Various photos relating to the Titanic - the grave of Albert Horswill, 1999 photos of the Nomadic

Titanic Voices Index - An index to the book Titanic Voices - available in both an online version, and downloadable versions

Guest articles:

Titanic in 366 Days - an entire new book in PDF format, relating Titanic to every day of the year, by Graeme Jupp

The Final Seconds before Collision By Bruce A. Trinque

The Goldenbergs By Phillip Gowan

Comments about any of the above articles? E-mail me by clicking here.

In addition, I am the co-author on three books about the Titanic! Click on the book covers or links to see more:

Report into the Loss of the SS Titanic: A Centennial Reappraisal

By Sam Halpern, Cathy Akers-Jordan, George Behe, Bruce Beveridge, Mark Chirnside, Tad Fitch, Dave Gittins, Steve Hall, Lester J. Mitcham, Captain Charles Weeks, and Bill Wormstedt
The History Press; December 2011.

No individual historian can possibly be an expert on every aspect of his chosen topic, and - as a result - historical errors have a way of creeping into written histories covering most historical subjects. This has been especially true in the case of the Titanic disaster - a subject that has seen a century’s worth of historical errors, misconceptions and outright deceptions gradually become an accepted part of the historical record. Indeed, such errors first began making their appearance during the official Titanic inquiries in 1912, when the vast body of testimony - and a lack of sufficient time to digest or analyze that testimony - resulted in a number of erroneous conclusions being made.

The present book is a radical departure from that early tradition, since it has been written by a coalition of experts who have spent many years digesting the original inquiry testimony as well as evaluating a bounty of additional evidence that has come to light in the hundred years since 1912. Each of the book’s co-authors is a recognized specialist in their chosen area of study, and each chapter has been exhaustively researched, analyzed and referenced utilizing the very best evidence that is currently available. The book describes and quantifies the sinking of Titanic as it actually happened, and it authoritatively disproves a number of long-standing myths about the disaster that have taken root over the past ten decades; surprisingly, though, the book also demonstrates that a number of so-called ‘legends’ about the Titanic disaster are actually based in solid historical fact.

On a Sea of Glass: The Life and Loss of the RMS Titanic

By Tad Fitch, J. Kent Layton and Bill Wormstedt

One hundred years after the sinking of the Titanic, the history of that ship is commemorated in this 2012 incredibly comprehensive volume. Authored by Tad Fitch, Bill Wormstedt and J. Kent Layton, three well-known and highly respected researchers of the disaster, this book reveals the history of the Titanic as you have never read it before. From the personal stories, to the most accurate timeline of events during the sinking of the ship yet compiled, to the common misconceptions - nothing is beyond this volume's scope. Did ship's officers shoot passengers, or did one commit suicide? Was the Titanic switched with her similar sister ship Olympic? Was Titanic's construction of a poor nature, contributing to her loss? What became of Captain Smith and Thomas Andrews? How did the ship's final five minutes play out, from a technical perspective? Was the ship trying to make New York on Tuesday night rather than Wednesday morning? All of these questions, and many more, are answered within this volume.

The narrative reads chronologically, taking the reader from the ship's initial concept, through construction, launch, fitting out, trials, and her disastrous maiden voyage. It is backed up by the team's many years of research into the subject, and the collective knowledge of other researchers — such as Sam Halpern, George Behe, Mike Poirier, Bruce Beveridge and many more — has been tapped to bring you one of the most accurate and informative texts ever written on the subject. More than just a dry dissertation of facts, this volume's text will engage and engross the reader, placing you aboard the ship in way you may never have thought possible before...

This volume is also packed with photos and illustrations, including a full-color section.

Titanic: Solving the Mysteries

By Mark Chirnside, Tad Fitch, Ioannis Georgiou, Steve Hall, Samuel Halpern, J. Kent Layton and Bill Wormstedt

The sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912 is one of the best-remembered, and most-scrutinised, moments of the twentieth century. Yet ever since the disaster, there have been lingering mysteries, questions that seemed utterly impossible to answer.

In recent years, a string of allegations have also been made to the effect that the Titanic was suffering from a fire in one of her coal bunkers during the maiden voyage. Televised programs, media broadcasts, and even a new book would have the public believe that Titanic was all but a blazing inferno before she even struck the iceberg, and that it was the fire that actually doomed the ship.

Then there is the question of the time difference between ship’s time and time on shore on the night of the disaster – a complex navigational mystery that has a direct bearing on understanding key aspects of how events played out on that fateful night.

Now follow an international and world-renowned team of Titanic and maritime historians and researchers as we attempt to solve two of the most important, and most publicized, mysteries of the Titanic disaster.

Recreating Titanic and Her Sisters: A Visual History

By Tad Fitch, J. Kent Layton and Bill Wormstedt

In their newest book, authors Tad Fitch, J. Kent Layton and Bill Wormstedt collaborated with a group of very talented up-and-coming artists who work in a variety of mediums, physical and digital, to tell the story of Titanic and her sisters through words and pictures. This book will tell the history of the Olympic-class ships in one volume that is absolutely packed full of exciting art and other recreations that bring the ships to life as never before.

Recreating Titanic is a book you will not want to miss. It is designed to take all of the research and writing that we have done on the Olympic-class ships over many years — which is spread across a number of books, original articles, monograms, and even real-time sinking animations that we have worked on — and present it in one succinct and informative place. The book has a primary narrative punctuated by numerous informative boxes covering oft-asked questions or frequently-misunderstood details regarding the liners.

Illustrated with full color throughout.

Visit the official website for the book for more specifics and details about the content, as well as page previews: http://atlanticliners.com/recreatingtitanic/

Photo sites - Titanic gatherings

Titanic Symposium - Castine Maine

Florence SC - January 2002

Florence SC - August 2003

Florence SC - October 2005

Toledo OH - September 2006

Branson, MO - June 2011

In addition, following is a list of my favorite Titanic web-pages, focusing on the historical aspects of the tragedy:

George Behe's Titanic Tidbits - an interesting series of articles about various aspects of the disaster such as:

What music did the Band play that night?
Did a man save himself by dressing as a woman?
What about the Californian?

Tad Fitch's Author Page - an overview of Tad's books, both old and new.

Michael Tennaro's Titanic Book Site is back!

Roy Mengot's The Wreck of the RMS Titanic - Details of Roy's award winning wreck model, along with details of the break-up of the ship.

The Titanic Inquiry Project - The full texts of the 1912 Titanic Inquiries - both American and British. Available online, or as a downloadable file.

Sam Halpern's Titanicology - A prolific author, Sam has a number of online articles spotlighting the technical aspects of the disaster.

Mark Chirnside's Reception Room - Mark has written a number of books on the Titanic, Olympic and Brittanic, and other ocean liners of the period.

Paul Lee's Titanic Pages - New, fresh research into many aspects of Titanic, plus a look at some of the original survivor documents from Walter Lord's collection

Art's Titanic Model - Details in photos and text, of one of the most accurate Titanic models available. Modeled by Art Braunschweiger.

My home page

	*Report into the Loss of the SS Titanic: A Centennial Reappraisal* By Sam Halpern, Cathy Akers-Jordan, George Behe, Bruce Beveridge, Mark Chirnside, Tad Fitch, Dave Gittins, Steve Hall, Lester J. Mitcham, Captain Charles Weeks, and Bill Wormstedt The History Press; December 2011. No individual historian can possibly be an expert on every aspect of his chosen topic, and - as a result - historical errors have a way of creeping into written histories covering most historical subjects. This has been especially true in the case of the Titanic disaster - a subject that has seen a century’s worth of historical errors, misconceptions and outright deceptions gradually become an accepted part of the historical record. Indeed, such errors first began making their appearance during the official Titanic inquiries in 1912, when the vast body of testimony - and a lack of sufficient time to digest or analyze that testimony - resulted in a number of erroneous conclusions being made. The present book is a radical departure from that early tradition, since it has been written by a coalition of experts who have spent many years digesting the original inquiry testimony as well as evaluating a bounty of additional evidence that has come to light in the hundred years since 1912. Each of the book’s co-authors is a recognized specialist in their chosen area of study, and each chapter has been exhaustively researched, analyzed and referenced utilizing the very best evidence that is currently available. The book describes and quantifies the sinking of Titanic as it actually happened, and it authoritatively disproves a number of long-standing myths about the disaster that have taken root over the past ten decades; surprisingly, though, the book also demonstrates that a number of so-called ‘legends’ about the Titanic disaster are actually based in solid historical fact.
	On a Sea of Glass: The Life and Loss of the RMS Titanic By Tad Fitch, J. Kent Layton and Bill Wormstedt One hundred years after the sinking of the Titanic, the history of that ship is commemorated in this 2012 incredibly comprehensive volume. Authored by Tad Fitch, Bill Wormstedt and J. Kent Layton, three well-known and highly respected researchers of the disaster, this book reveals the history of the Titanic as you have never read it before. From the personal stories, to the most accurate timeline of events during the sinking of the ship yet compiled, to the common misconceptions - nothing is beyond this volume's scope. Did ship's officers shoot passengers, or did one commit suicide? Was the Titanic switched with her similar sister ship Olympic? Was Titanic's construction of a poor nature, contributing to her loss? What became of Captain Smith and Thomas Andrews? How did the ship's final five minutes play out, from a technical perspective? Was the ship trying to make New York on Tuesday night rather than Wednesday morning? All of these questions, and many more, are answered within this volume. The narrative reads chronologically, taking the reader from the ship's initial concept, through construction, launch, fitting out, trials, and her disastrous maiden voyage. It is backed up by the team's many years of research into the subject, and the collective knowledge of other researchers — such as Sam Halpern, George Behe, Mike Poirier, Bruce Beveridge and many more — has been tapped to bring you one of the most accurate and informative texts ever written on the subject. More than just a dry dissertation of facts, this volume's text will engage and engross the reader, placing you aboard the ship in way you may never have thought possible before... This volume is also packed with photos and illustrations, including a full-color section.
	Titanic: Solving the Mysteries By Mark Chirnside, Tad Fitch, Ioannis Georgiou, Steve Hall, Samuel Halpern, J. Kent Layton and Bill Wormstedt The sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912 is one of the best-remembered, and most-scrutinised, moments of the twentieth century. Yet ever since the disaster, there have been lingering mysteries, questions that seemed utterly impossible to answer. In recent years, a string of allegations have also been made to the effect that the Titanic was suffering from a fire in one of her coal bunkers during the maiden voyage. Televised programs, media broadcasts, and even a new book would have the public believe that Titanic was all but a blazing inferno before she even struck the iceberg, and that it was the fire that actually doomed the ship. Then there is the question of the time difference between ship’s time and time on shore on the night of the disaster – a complex navigational mystery that has a direct bearing on understanding key aspects of how events played out on that fateful night. Now follow an international and world-renowned team of Titanic and maritime historians and researchers as we attempt to solve two of the most important, and most publicized, mysteries of the Titanic disaster.
	Recreating Titanic and Her Sisters: A Visual History By Tad Fitch, J. Kent Layton and Bill Wormstedt In their newest book, authors Tad Fitch, J. Kent Layton and Bill Wormstedt collaborated with a group of very talented up-and-coming artists who work in a variety of mediums, physical and digital, to tell the story of Titanic and her sisters through words and pictures. This book will tell the history of the Olympic-class ships in one volume that is absolutely packed full of exciting art and other recreations that bring the ships to life as never before. Recreating Titanic is a book you will not want to miss. It is designed to take all of the research and writing that we have done on the Olympic-class ships over many years — which is spread across a number of books, original articles, monograms, and even real-time sinking animations that we have worked on — and present it in one succinct and informative place. The book has a primary narrative punctuated by numerous informative boxes covering oft-asked questions or frequently-misunderstood details regarding the liners. Illustrated with full color throughout. Visit the official website for the book for more specifics and details about the content, as well as page previews: http://atlanticliners.com/recreatingtitanic/