Off Provincetown, MA. – September 8, 1953

Off Provincetown, Massachusetts – September 8, 1953

     On the morning of September 8, 1953, a Twin Cessna belonging to Cape End Air Service traveled from Provincetown to Logan Airport in Boston where it discharged it passengers.  While waiting to make its return trip to Provincetown with three passengers, it was struck by a heavy gust of wind caused by the take-off of a large Convair passenger aircraft.  The gust pushed the Cessna into a loading ramp causing a hole to be punctured in the fuselage. 

     With this aircraft unable to make the return trip, a single-engine Stinson plane normally operated by another airline, was hired to carry the three passengers to Provincetown. 

    The plane took off at 10:00 A.M. with good weather and visibility.  As the plane was nearing the western coast of Provincetown the pilot radioed the he was having engine trouble, and moments later the plane plunged into the water about a mile off Race Point.  A Coast Guard rescue boat set out to the scene, as did private boats in the area. 

     The 26-year-old pilot, and a 41-year-old woman passenger were rescued, but a 69-year old woman, and a 36-year-old male passenger drowned before help could arrive.     

     Source:

     The Provincetown Advocate, “Two Lost As Plane Crashes In Sea Mile Off Race Point”, September 9, 1953 

Cape Cod Bay – October 3, 1944

Cape Cod Bay  – October 3, 1944

 

OS2U Kingfisher
U. S. Navy Photo

     On October 3, 1944, a U. S. Navy OS2U Kingfisher aircraft was flying 700 feet over Cape Cod Bay when a muffled thud was heard from the motor followed by an immediate loss of power.  The pilot made an emergency landing in the water and awaited rescue from a nearby Coast Guard boat.  The aircraft was towed to shore by the Coast Guard.

     Source:

     U. S. Navy accident report dated October 3, 1944.     

 

Cape Cod Bay – May 18, 1944

Cape Cod Bay – May 18, 1944

 

U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy photo

     At 1:07 a.m. in the early morning hours of May 18, 1944, a flight of two U. S. Navy F6F Hellcats took off from Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Field in Rhode Island for a night-training flight.  The mission was to make practice bombing runs on a designated target anchored in Cape Cod Bay.  According to the navy report of this incident, the training-flight was termed a “Masthead Bombing Flight”. 

     The weather was clear with visibility at six-plus miles, with a cloud cover at 8,500 feet. 

     One of the aircraft, (Bu. No. 42520), was piloted by Lt. (jg.) James Francis Corroon, Jr., (25), and the other, (Bu. No. 42221), was piloted by an Ensign De Masters.  Both aircraft were assigned to VF-74.      

     On the previous day, Lt. (jg.) Corroon had flown over the target during a daylight training flight, and was therefore familiar with its location.

     At 2:50 a.m., after both aircraft had finished making their mock attack runs on the target, Ensign De Masters radioed to Lt. (jg.) Corroon that he was returning to base.  Corroon answered, “This is thirty-three, Roger, out.”  This was the last radio transmission from  Lt. (jg.) Corroon.  Despite a careful search of the entire area, no trace of the missing pilot or his aircraft was ever found.

     Investigators were unable to come to an exact conclusion as to the cause of the disappearance. 

     Lt. (Jg.) Corroon was born in Freeport, Long Island, N.Y. in 1919, and received his wings in 1942.  To see more, click on the link below. 

 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84612092/james-francis-corroon

     Source:

     U.S. Navy Crash Investigation Report      

Atlantic Ocean – August 30, 1972

Atlantic Ocean – August 30, 1972

 

     On August 30, 1972, a Beechcraft Musketeer took off from Provincetown, Massachusetts, bound for Beverly, Massachusetts, with four men aboard, and crashed into the water enroute.  On man was rescued, but the aircraft and the other three men remained missing.

     Three years later, on June 3, 1975, a fishing boat dragging its nets about ten miles off shore of Cape Cod brought up a portion of the fuselage.    

     Source: Providence Evening Bulletin, “Plane Fuselage Found 3 Years After Crash”, June 4, 1975.

Cape Cod Bay – March 25, 1954

Cape Cod Bay – March 25, 1954

    

F-94 Starfire U.S. Air Force Photo

F-94 Starfire
U.S. Air Force Photo

     At 12:45 p.m., on March 25, 1954, 2nd Lt. Boyd L. Erickson, 24, was killed when the F-94 Starfire jet he was piloting crashed in Cape Cod Bay near Orient during a routine training flight.

     The newspaper account mentioned that there was a radar observer aboard who was “missing”.  He was not identified.  

     Lieutenant Erickson was from Grand Forks, North Dakota, and he’s buried there in Memorial Park Cemetery.  He was survived by his wife Dona Mae Erickson.

     Lieutenant Erickson entered the U.S. Air Force in early 1951, and began his pilot training in August of 1952.  He received his wings and officer’s commission August 1, 1953, and had been assigned to Otis Air Force Base at the time of the accident.

     Sources:

     Falmouth Enterprise, “Pocasset Pilot Dies In Crash Of Aircraft”, March 26, 1954        

     Findagrave.com  Memorial # 24523991

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