Ayer, Massachusetts – July 10, 1944
On July 10, 1944, an F6F-3 hellcat, (Bu. No. 26333), was taking off at Ayer Navy Auxiliary Air Field when the aircraft lost power just after becoming airborne and fell back onto the runway. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair, but the pilot survived, receiving non-life-threatening injuries.
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report dated July 10, 1944