Narragansett Bay, R. I. – December 29, 1951
Douglas Skyraider
U. S. Navy Photo
Just before 6 p.m. on the evening of December 29, 1951, Ensign Roy C. Pickler took off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station in an AD-3 Skyraider aircraft, (Bu. No. 122844), for a night training flight that would involve night touch-and-go landings at the Quonset airfield. Once airborne, Pickler was directed to join three other aircraft already in the air, and all four aircraft were put in a holding pattern to await further instructions. About fifteen minutes later the aircraft were directed to a lower altitude, and shortly afterward it was noted that one aircraft had disappeared.
A red emergency flare was then spotted in the water and two crash-rescue boats were dispatched. Ensign Pickler was recovered from the water unconscious, about a half-mile southeast of the Quonset pier. All efforts to revive him failed.
Ensign Pickler was assigned to VC-12 stationed at Quonset Point.
Source: U. S. Navy Accident Report dated December 29, 1951.
