Hyannis, MA. – November 19, 1944

Hyannis, Massachusetts – November 19, 1944

 

North American Texan Military Trainer
Author Photo

     On November 19, 1944, a navy SNJ-4 Texan trainer aircraft, (Bu. No. 26865), was landing at Hyannis Airport in a strong cross-wind, when the aircraft ground looped just after touchdown.  The right wing and aileron were damaged, as well as the right landing gear being torn away, and the left landing gear bent.  The propeller was also bent.  There were no injuries.

     Source:  U. S. Navy accident report dated November 19, 1944. 

Hyannis, MA. – September 6, 1975

Hyannis, Massachusetts – September 6, 1975

     On the evening of  September 6, 1975, a civilian twin-engine Beechcraft was making its landing approach to Barnstable Municipal Airport when the aircraft struck a lighted instrument tower near the end of a runway and crashed in a parking lot several hundred yards away on Willow Street.  The plane exploded on impact and all three persons aboard were killed.  At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor, and the pilot was attempting an instrument lending.   

     Sources:

     Boston Sunday Herald Advertiser,”3 Die In cape Plane Crash”, September 7, 1975, Section 2, page 25

     Boston Globe, “New England News In Brief-Cape Crash”, September 8, 1975, page 4

     Westerly Sun, (RI), Three Are Killed In Plane Crash”, September 8, 1975, page 3

     The South Middlesex News, photo and caption, September 7, 1975, page 14A

Hyannis, MA. – May 11, 1944

Hyannis, Massachusetts – May 11, 1944 

Updated July 8, 2019

 

F4U Corsair
US Navy Photo

     On the afternoon of May 11, 1944, navy Lieutenant (Jg.) George E. Orenge was piloting an F4U Corsair, Bu. No. 02665, over Cape Cod, Massachusetts, when the aircraft suddenly caught fire while in flight.  Being over a populated area, Lieutenant Orenge opted to stay with the plane, but was unable to direct it towards an open area, or to make it to Hyannis Airport.  The plane crashed on Barnstable Road about 200 yards from Main Street in the town of Hyannis.  In the process it struck an elm tree and broke in two, pitching Lieutenant Orenge, still strapped to his seat, from the cockpit.  As the aircraft came to rest and was consumed by flames, Lieutenant Orenge landed on the sidewalk in front of 62 Barnstable Road.   

     The homeowner of 62 Barnstable Road, Vernon Coleman, happened to be outside and witnessed the crash.  He later told a reporter from the Cape Cod Standard Times, “I looked up and saw the plane sort of wavering with the motor on fire.” 

     Lieutenant Orenge was transported to Cape Cod Hospital, but remarkably, he’d only suffered some minor bumps, scrapes, and bruises. 

     The cause of the accident could not be determined due to total destruction of the aircraft.  

     It was also reported that he flew another aircraft later in the day.   

F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy Photo

     This crash wasn’t the only one of Lieutenant (Jg.) Orenge’s  naval career.  On November 5, 1943, he was piloting an F6F-3 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 65895), when a tire blew out on landing at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island.  The aircraft went off the runway and struck a truck.  The aircraft needed extensive repairs, but Lieutenant (Jg.) Orenge suffered only minor injuries.

     Sources:

     Cape Cod Standard Times, “Pilot Who Survives Hyannis crash, Goes Aloft Again”, May 12, 1944      

     U. S. Navy accident report #44-14042 dated May 11, 1944

     U. S. Navy accident report #44-9523, dated November 5, 1943.             

Hyannis Airport, MA – June 13, 1942

Hyannis Airport, MA – June 13, 1942

 

     On June 13, 1942, an L-1 military observation aircraft, (Ser. No. 40-282), with two men aboard, lost power and crashed on takeoff from Hyannis Airport.  The plane was wrecked, but the pilot, 2nd Lt. Benjamin H. Shiffrin, and his observer, Raymond D. Cawyer, escaped with minor injuries.

    The aircraft was assigned to the 103rd Observation Squadron based at Hyannis. 

    Lt. Shiffrin received his pilot’s rating on August 15, 1941.    

    Source: U.S. Army Air Corps Technical Report Of Aircraft Accident #42-6-13-2

 

Hyannis, MA – November 20, 1944

Hyannis, Massachusetts – November 20, 1944

     Very little information about this accident.

     On November 20, 1944, Ensign Andrew Charles Butko, 24, was killed in an aircraft crash at what was listed as “Cape Cod Airport” in Hyannis.  (This was likely present-day Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis, Mass.)   

     Ensign Butko was assigned to Quonset Point Naval Air Station at the time of his accident.  He’s buried in McKeesport, Penn.

     Source: Rhode Island Department Of Health death certificate

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