Charlestown, Rhode Island – October 21, 1959
S2F Tracker
U. S. Navy Photo
On the evening of October 21, 1959, a navy anti-submarine S2F Tracker, (Bu. No. 136690), was taking part in routine field-landing exercises at the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Field, when it crashed and burned in a wooded area north of Route 1, behind the farmhouse at the Prosser Farm, a few hundred yards to the west of Prosser Road near the Watchaug Picnic Area.
Among the fire and rescue workers who responded to the crash was Airman Everett N. Bradbury, (19), a firefighter with the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Field fire department. When he arrived at the scene, the pilot was still trapped inside the burning plane. Without hesitation, he entered the fuselage wearing his fire rain coat and an asbestos helmet. While struggling to free the pilot, a tank aboard the plane containing de-icing fluid exploded, dousing him with the flaming alcohol-based solution. Despite being on fire, he stayed with the pilot and pulled him to safety before collapsing.
He was treated at the scene, and then transported to Newport Hospital by ambulance where he succumbed to his burns on November 2nd. He was cited by the navy for his heroism.
The pilot was admitted to Newport Hospital with serious burns, but he later recovered. The co-pilot also suffered burns, but was treated and released from the hospital. They were the only crew aboard the aircraft when it crashed.
The cause of the crash was determined to be a mechanical failure of the left engine.
Airman Bradbury was from Fall River, Massachusetts.
Sources:
The Westerly Sun, “Three Injured As Navy Plane Crashes At Charlestown Base”, October 22, 1959
The Westerly Sun, “Airman Cited For Heroism At Crash Scene”, October 23, 1959.
City of Newport, R. I., death records.
Additional info supplied by Larry Webster, Aviation Historian, Charlestown, R. I.
