Atlantic Ocean – March 15, 1973
P3-A Orion
U. S. Navy Photo
On March 15, 1973, a U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion with five men aboard left Brunswick Naval Air Station for a routine training flight over the Atlantic Ocean. While on the flight, the aircraft crashed into the sea about 40 miles south of the air station due to an unknown cause. Coast Guard and Navy aircraft sent to search for the missing plane reported debris floating on the surface, but no sign of survivors.
The aircraft was assigned to Patrol Squadron 10, (VP-10), based at Brunswick.
There is a bronze plaque honoring the memory of the crew at the Brunswick Naval Museum at the former Brunswick Naval Air station.
Those aboard the aircraft were identified as:
Lt. Cmdr. John E. Boyer of Lewistown, Penn.
Lt. Grover R. Caloway, age 28, of McGhee, Ark.
Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Jeremiah K. Sullivan, Jr., of York, Penn. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132360463/jeremiah-k-sullivan
Machinist 1st Class Wayne C. Clendonning, of Vanceboro, Maine. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/181152004/wayne-c-clendenning
AW2 Reginald Lee Walker, of Bristol, Ind. To see a photo of AW2 Reginald Walker go to www.findagrave.com, memorial# 147983699. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147983699/reginald-lee-walker
Sources:
Providence Journal, “5 Are Believed dead In Crash Of Navy Plane”, March 16, 1973, page 22.
Providence Evening Bulletin, “Navy Hunts 5 Lost In Sea Crash”, March 16, 1973, page 8.
Providence Sunday Journal, “Navy Ends Search”, March 18, 1973, page B-7
www.findagrave.com
