Off Block Island – February 22, 1943
U.S. Navy Wildcat Fighter
U.S. Navy Photo
On the morning of February 22, 1943, a flight of navy F4F Wildcat fighters was taking part in a low altitude flight tactics training exercise off Block Island. One of the aircraft, (Bu. No. 12045), was piloted by Lt. (Jg.), Edward Enalius Bailey, (24), of Fighter Squadron 16, (VF-16), based at Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island. As Lt. (Jg.) Bailey was making a simulated attack on two torpedo planes he suddenly crashed into the water about two miles off Block Island. Neither the pilot or his aircraft could be recovered.
Lt. Bailey entered service in December of 1940 and received his training at Pensacola Naval Air Base in Florida.
To see a photo of Lt. Bailey click on link below.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35108611/edward-emilius-bailey
Sources:
U. S. Navy report, #43-6049, dated February 22, 1943.
Unknown Newspaper, “Navy Searching For Plane Victim”, unknown date.
