from author and historian Jim Ignasher
Charlestown, Rhode Island – October 15, 1943
TBF-1 Avenger
U. S. Navy Photo
On October 15, 1943, a lone pilot flying a TBF-1 Avenger, (Bu. No. 47438), was practicing take offs and landings at Charlestown Navy Auxiliary Air Field when he crashed due to insufficient air speed. The aircraft was a total loss but the pilot was not injured.
The aircraft was assigned to VT-14
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report #44-5161
Charlestown, Rhode Island – September 21, 1943
TBF-1 Avenger
U. S. Navy Photo
On September 21, 1943, a TBF-1 Avenger, (Bu. No. 24126), crashed while making practice landings and takeoffs at the Charlestown Navy Auxiliary Air Field. The lone pilot aboard was not injured, but the aircraft required a major overhaul.
The cause was determined to be a failure of the fuel selector valve.
The aircraft was assigned to VC-43.
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report # 44-5724
Charlestown, Rhode Island – December 9, 1943
TBF-1 Avenger
U. S. Navy Photo
On December 9, 1943, a TBF-1 Avenger, (Bu. No. 23961), with a lone pilot aboard, was making practice landings and takeoffs at Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Field. As the pilot was approaching to land, flying at 90 knots, 100 feet over the water, the engine suddenly lost all power and a successful emergency water landing was made. The pilot was rescued, but the aircraft sank, and was not immediately salvaged due to weather conditions. The aircraft was a total loss.
The aircraft was assigned to VT-13.
Source: U. S. Navy accident report # 44-10172
Charlestown, Rhode Island – August 2, 1945
U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy photo
At 7:55 a.m. on the morning of August 2, 1945, Ensign Walter G. Davies was taking off from Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Field in an F6F-5 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 78413), when the engine suddenly lost all power. The plane dropped back onto the end of the runway where it continued off the tarmac and over an eight-foot embankment where it nosed over onto its back. The pilot was freed by the base crash-rescue team and wasn’t injured. The aircraft was a total loss.
Source:
U. S. Navy crash report dated August 2, 1945
Charlestown, Rhode Island – December 7, 1943
U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy photo
On December 7, 1943, Lt. (jg.) Spero Constantine was making a landing approach to the runway at the Charlestown Auxiliary Naval Air Field when the engine of his F6F-3N Hellcat, (Bu. No. 40354), suddenly lost all power. Unable to make it to the runway, the aircraft landed in the water off the end of the runway and sank. Fortunately the water was only eight feet deep and the pilot was able to extricate himself. Due to its total submersion in salt water, the aircraft was scrapped.
Lt.(jg.) Constantine was assigned to Fighter Squadron 77, (VF-77)
Source: U.S. Navy Accident Report #44-10142, dated December 7, 1943
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