Israel Putnam Airfield | New England Aviation History

Putnam, CT. – April 18, 1936

February 19, 2024

Putnam, Connecticut – April 18, 1936

On April 18, 1936, two men, both employees of the Standard Oil Company, were flying from New York to Putnam Airport so one of the men could visit his son who attended Pomfret School. Upon reaching the airport they saw that red flags had been posted indicating that the airport was closed except for emergency landings due to water saturated fields. The pilot radioed the airport, and the radio operator advised that the airport was in fact closed and that the field was unsafe for landing. Despite the warnings, the pilot attempted to land anyway and damaged the plane upon touchdown when it nosed over in the soft earth. Neither man was injured, but mechanics had to replace the propeller and make other repairs before the plane was airworthy enough to return to New York.

Sources:

Windham County Observer, “New York Plane Damaged Landing At Airport Here”, April 22, 1936.

Putnam Patriot, “Airplane Is damaged In Mishap Here”, April 23, 1936

Putnam, CT. – August 26, 1943

February 19, 2024

Putnam, Connecticut – August 26, 1943

In the early morning hours of August 26, 1943, a 23-year-old Civil Air Patrol lieutenant was piloting a two-seat Taylorcraft airplane when he was forced to land at the Israel Putnam Airport because his main fuel tank was low, and the pump to feed fuel from the reserve tank to the main tank had stopped working. After siphoning gas from the reserve tank to the main tank, he prepared to take off again bound for Hartford.

It was still dark when he attempted to take off, with nothing but boundary lights to guide him. As he reached an altitude of 200 feet the motor suddenly sputtered and stopped. He crash landed with the left wing striking and nose slamming into the ground.

The aircraft suffered severe damage but the pilot only received a broken finger and lacerations. He was transported to Day Kimball Hospital.

The lieutenant was attached to Battery C, Anti-Aircraft Coast Artillery.

Source:

Windham County Observer, “Civilian Air Patrol Plane Crashes Here”, September 1, 1943.