Charlestown, Rhode Island – December 27, 1957
Douglas Skyraider
U. S. Navy Photo
On the morning of December 27, 1957, a U.S. Navy AD-5W Skyraider aircraft with a crew of three aboard was flying over Block Island Sound heading towards the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Airfield, when the engine began trailing smoke. The plane went down in the water off the shore of Charlestown, and the crew escaped before it sank. The crash was witnessed by two helicopter pilots at the Charlestown Field who immediately took off to attempt a rescue.
Two men were rescued from the frigid water by the crew of the first helicopter and transported to shore for treatment of hypothermia. The second helicopter remained at the scene and attempted to rescue the third crewman but he succumbed to the cold before reaching shore.
The deceased crewman was identified as Aviation Technician 1st Class John J. Young, 31.
Sources:
Evening Bulletin, “Navy Man Dead Dead In Plane Crash”, December 27, 1957.
Evening Bulletin, “1 dead In Air Crash; Copter Rescues 2”, December 28, 1957.
Providence Journal, “Quonset Flier Dies In Crash”, December 28, 1957.
