South Kingstown, Rhode Island – March 13, 1943
U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless
U.S. Navy Photo.
On March 13, 1943, Ensign Charles W. Bradley, 22, was piloting a Douglas SBD-4 aircraft, (Bu. No. 01526), taking part in a gunnery practice training flight over southern Rhode Island. The weather was clear, with a cloud ceiling at 5,00 feet, and visibility six miles.
After completing a gunnery run at 3,000 feet, the aircraft was observed to turn over and enter a vertical dive from which it did not recover. Both Ensign Bradley and his gunner, ARM2/c Pat D. McDonough, 22, were killed.
Both men were assigned to squadron VB-23.
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report #43-6221, dated March 3, 1943.
