Quonset Point Naval Air Station – June 14, 1943

Updated April 27, 2016

Updated December 15, 2024     

     At 1:45 p.m. on June 14, 1943, Sub-Lieutenant Douglas Hamilton Morgan, (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve), was in the process of taking off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station.  Just after becoming airborne the aircraft suddenly lost power and crashed into a bombsite storage building setting it ablaze.  When crash crews arrived they found Morgan lying on the ground with his clothing on fire.  After beating out the flames they put Morgan into an ambulance.  As they were doing so, a bomb inside the building exploded driving fire crews back.  A few moments later two more explosions occurred sending shrapnel flying in all directions injuring members of the fire crew and damaging the fire tucks.  Windows of nearby buildings were blown out.  Three of the fire crew received serious injuries.

    Members of the fire crew were listed as; J. V. Slatterly, Williams, Quinn, F. Gilchrest, J. McLaughlin, J. Waterman, and W. A. O’Neil.

     Lt. Morgan initially survived the crash, but died the following day.  He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, November 11, 1923, and was 19-years-old at the time of his death.  He was commissioned a midshipman in the R.N.V.R in 1942. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15037579/douglas-hamilton-morgan

     It was reported that Morgan was flying a single-seat aircraft, but the type was not specified. (Possibly a Corsair)  A newspaper account published June 17th mentioned another R.N.V.R. pilot was also killed on June 14 in an air crash in Rhode Island, but no specifics were given.  That pilot was identified as Lieutenant Anthony Max Leslie Harris, 20, R.N.V.R., of Surrey, England.    

     Update 1: It has since been learned that Lt. Harris was killed when his Corsair I crashed behind a church in Tiverton, Rhode Island, on June 14, 1943.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15037581/anthony-max_leslie-harris

      The aircraft piloted by Sub-Lieutenant Morgan was a Corsair I, on loan to the British.  

     (U.S. Navy Bu. No. 18139)

     (British number JT-117)

     Both Lt. Harris and Sub-Lieutenant Morgan are buried in Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island. 

     Sources:

     Woonsocket Call, “Victim Of Bomb Crash In Critical Condition”, June 16, 1943, Pg.1

     Woonsocket Call, “British Aviators Names In R.I. Fatal Crashes”, June 17, 1943, Pg. 1

     University of Edinburgh Roll Of Honor, 1939- 1945

     North Kingstown, Rhode Island, death records #43-36

     www.findagrave.com, Memorial #15037581, and 15037579

     Quonset Point Crash Station Record, June 6, 1943 to November 11, 1943.  Providence College Library.