Quonset Point Naval Air Station – August 18, 1950
F4U Corsair
US Navy Photo
On August 18, 1950, a flight of sixteen F4U Corsairs was returning to the Quonset Point NAS after a formation training flight. As the aircraft were in the process of breaking formation in preparation for landing, two of them, Bu. No. 97173, and Bu. No. 96898 were involved in a mid-air collision. The tail section of #97173 was torn away and the plane plummeted from 1,000 feet and crashed just 15 feet from Hangar 3. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander Robert Lyons Jungklas, did not survive. The other aircraft was also damaged, but landed safely.
The aircraft were assigned to VF-74 at Quonset NAS.
To see a photo of Lt. Cmdr. Jungklas, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/210654567/robert-l-jungklas
Sources:
U. S. Navy Accident Report dated August 18, 1950
The Evening Star, (Washington, D.C.), “Lt. Comdr. Jungkles Killed In Rhode Island Crash”, August 21, 1950
