Near Groton Naval Auxiliary Air Field – June 13, 1944
U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy photo
On the afternoon of June 13, 1944, Lt. (jg.) Robert Shimer took off from the Groton NAAF in an F6F-3 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 41616), for a routine training flight. At some point the engine began streaming smoke while gasoline began to spray from the left wing. Then the engine began running very roughly and Lt. (jg.) Shimer knew he couldn’t make it back to the airfield, so he was forced to make a crash landing in an open area nearby. The aircraft was demolished, and Shimer suffered serious injuries.
Source: U.S. Navy Accident Report, dated June 13, 1944
