In 1928, the ship was sold to the Richfield Oil Company, who owned many gas stations throughout the west coast of the U.S.[2] Larry Doheny’s homeport was Los Angeles.

[4] Larry Doheny was on her way to Portland, Oregon from Long Beach, California and was loaded with 66,000 barrels of Bunker C Crude Oil.

The number 3 tank exploded which set the bridge afire and the port side buckled as a 14-foot hole opened six feet below the waterline.

The surviving 40 crew members were rescued by USS Coos Bay, a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender.

The ship sank thirteen hours after the attack about 36 miles offshore of Cape Sebastian, although the precise location is still unknown.