Norwell, Massachusetts – December 13, 1954
F-94 Starfire
U.S. Air Force Photo
On the night of December 13, 1954, an Air Force F-94C Starfire jet fighter, (Ser. No. 51-5628), took off from Otis Air Force Base in Falmouth, Massachusetts, for a routine flight. The pilot was Lieutenant Alfred M. Yahanda, (25), who was accompanied by a radar observer. While passing over the metro Boston area the aircraft caught fire. The radio observer was ordered to bail out which he safely did, and came down in the town of Hanover. Meanwhile Lt. Yahanda saw that they were over a populated area so he remained with the aircraft to prevent civilian casualties on the ground. Seconds before impact he successfully ejected as the jet crashed and exploded in a wooded area of Norwell.
The men were assigned to the 58th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Otis Field.
The following year, Lt. Yahanda was honored by the town of Norwell by being mentioned in the town’s 150th annual report, thereby making his deed part of local history.
It appears that Lt. Yahanda remained in the service retiring a Lieutenant Colonel, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/271298668/alfred-minoru-yahanda
Sources:
Providence Journal, “Heroic AF Pilot Lands Firey Plane” December 14, 1954, pg. 14.
Evening Bulletin, (RI), “Town Report Cites Pilot’s Heroism”, March 7, 1955.
Falmouth Enterprise, “Airman Is Honored In Town Report”, March 11, 1955.
