Off Gay Head, MA – April 16, 1942

Off Gay Head, Massachusetts – April 16, 1942 

     On April 16, 1942, A United States Coast Guard amphibian plane went down in the Atlantic Ocean off the town of Gay Head, Martha’s Vineyard.  The plane had been on a routine patrol when it was sent to the area to investigate a reported submarine sighting.    

     Three men were aboard, and all were killed.  The dead were identified as: Lieutenant Robert James Lafferty, 28, of Port Washington, Long island, N.Y., Stephen Hohn Tarapchak, 37, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and William A. Boutillier, 28, of Walla Walla, Washington.  Of the three, only Boutillier’s body was recovered, found wearing a life vest. 

     Debris from the aircraft washed up on a beach in Lobsterville, Martha’s Vineyard.    

     The aircraft was a Grumman JRF-3 #V190. 

Sources:

      New York Times, “3 Are Lost As Plane Crashes Into Sea”, April 17. 1942

     U.S. Coast Guard, Aviators & Aircrews That Did Not Return…  www.uscg.mil/history/ 

Martha’s Vineyard Airport

Martha’s Vineyard Airport

Massachusetts

     The airport was opened in 1942 as an auxiliary air field for the U.S. Navy to train pilots for overseas duty.  After the war it was used for civilian aviation.

Click on images to enlarge.

Vintage Post Card View Of Martha's Vineyard Airport

Vintage Post Card View Of

Martha’s Vineyard Airport

Vintage Post Card View Of Martha's Vineyard Airport

Vintage Post Card View Of

Martha’s Vineyard Airport

Postcard view of a Northeast Airlines plane at Martha's Vineyard.

Postcard view of a Northeast Airlines plane at Martha’s Vineyard.

Martha’s Vineyard – January 6, 1945

Martha’s Vineyard – January 6, 1945

    

U.S. Navy TBM Avengers  National Archives Photo

U.S. Navy TBM Avengers
National Archives Photo

     Just after midnight on the morning of January 6, 1945, navy Lieutenant Robert L. deVeer was making a night training flight from Martha’s Vineyard to Otis Air Field in Falmouth, Massachusetts, when his plane, a TBM Avenger, went down in a wooded area near the Mayhew Memorial Chapel in North Tisbury, on Martha’s Vineyard.  Although seriously injured, deVeer was able to extricate himself from the burning wreckage.  He was transported to Chelsea Naval Hospital for treatment.  

     Source: Falmouth Enterprise, “Injured Flyer Has Home Here”, January 12, 1945

         

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