Charlestown Auxiliary Naval Airfield Memorial

Charlestown Auxiliary Naval Airfield Memorial

Charlestown, Rhode Island

    Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Field began operations in September of 1943.  Ensign George H. W. Bush trained there in 1944.  The field was decommissioned January 30, 1974, and is today known as Ninigret Park.   

     During its years of operation, 62 airmen lost their lives in accidents at the field.  At the bottom of this page are some links relating to the names on the memorial.      

     Click on images to enlarge.

Memorial to the 62 men who lost their lives at Charlestown Auxiliary Field, Charlestown, R.I.

Names of those on the memorial.
CLICK TO ENLARGE

Sign for Charlestown Auxiliary Landing Field
Charlestown, R.I.

     Links to some of the names on the memorial that tell their story: 

1.      Ensign William Haley Brown – September 14, 1943
2.      Ensign Thomas James Schmidt – September 27, 1943
3.      Ensign Curtis Leroy Johnson – December 23, 1943
4.      Ensign James G. Canning – February 16, 1944
5.      Ensign Herbert Leslie Woods – March 16, 1944
6.      Ensign Edward R. Sladek – April 1, 1944
7.      Ensign Stephen Luther Smith – April 17, 1944
8.      Lieut. Robert Charles Stimson – April 17, 1944
9.      Ensign James P. Gannon – May 14, 1944
10.      Ensign Gerald Vivian Brosteaux – July 13, 1944
11.      Ensign Arthur Joseph Stockus – September 12, 1944
12.      Ensign Robert L. Skinner – September 22, 1944
13.      Ensign Frank Thomas Romain – September 22, 1944
14.      Ensign George Kenneth Kraus – October 19, 1944
15.      Ensign Merle H. Longnecker – October 19, 1944
16.      Ensign Norman F. Day – October 26, 1944
17.      Ensign Maynard F. Lednum – December 3, 1944
18.      Ensign Robert I. Lane – December 18, 1944
19.      Lt. (Jg.) Bruce S. Little – January 4, 1945
20.      Ensign John Malcolm Roe – February 1, 1945
21.      Ensign Robert L. Herrin – February 1, 1945
22.      Ensign Jack R. Gross – February 3, 1945
23.      Ensign Pierce H. Beach – February 10, 1945
24.      Ensign Thomas William McSteen – February 25, 1945
25.      Lt. (Jg.) William E. Stakely – March 9, 1945
26.      Lt. (Jg.) Howard G. Boren – March 9, 1945
27.      Lt. (Jg.) Kenneth B. McQuady – March 2, 1945
28.      Ensign Vincent A. Frankwitz – April 3, 1945
29.      Ensign Joseph F. Koll – May 8, 1945
30.      Lieutenant David W. Allen – May 29, 1945
31.      Ensign George R. Miller – May 31, 1945
32.      Ensign John J. Zayak – June 3, 1945
33.      Lt. (Jg.) George A. MacBride – June 29, 1945
34.      Lieutenant J. A. Guice – October 11, 1945
35.      Ensign Shannon R. Caulk – November 3, 1945
36.      Ensign James F. Wagner – November 3, 1945
37.      Ensign Kenneth W. Barnes – December 13, 1945
38.      AOM3/C Charles O. Henninger – December 13, 1945
39.      Ensign Clinton G. Thornton – March 8, 1946
40.      Ensign Coy A. Stephenson, Jr. – April 22, 1946
41.      ARM2/c Walter J. Edwards – April 22, 1946
42.      Commander Joseph W. Runyan – August 11, 1946
43.      Lieutenant Alfred G. Elpern – September 4, 1947
44.      Lieut. Commander Minuard F. Jennings – November 18, 1947
45.      Lieut. Commander Marshall J. Lyttle – November 18, 1947