Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Field | New England Aviation History

Charlestown, R. I. – August 30, 1945

January 2, 2019

Charlestown, Rhode Island – August 30, 1945

F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy Photo

On August 30, 1945, an F6F-5, (Bu. No. 78419), was taking off on Runway 7 at Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Field when the engine suddenly lost power and the plane came back down on the tarmac and flipped over. The aircraft was wrecked, but the pilot was not seriously injured.

Source:

U. S. Navy crash report dated August 30, 1945

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Field, Charlestown R. I. History, Charlestown R.I. Plane Crash, F6F-5 Bu. No. 78419, New England WWII Plane Crash, Rhode Island Navy History, Rhode Island Navy Plane Crash, Rhode Island WWII Plane Crash

Charlestown, R.I. – December 7, 1943

March 10, 2018

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