Quonset Point NAS | New England Aviation History

Quonset Point, R. I. – February 7, 1943

June 10, 2019

Quonset Point, R. I. – February 7, 1943

U.S. Navy Wildcat Fighter
U.S. Navy Photo

On February 7, 1943, a navy F4F Wildcat, (Bu. No. 5030), was taking off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station when the engine suddenly lost all power immediately after becoming airborne. The aircraft crashed back onto the runway and required a major overhaul. The pilot was not injured.

This aircraft had been involved in another accident only five days earlier on February 2nd. On that date, BU. No. 5030 was coasting to a stop after having just landed at Quonset Point when it was struck by another Wildcat, (Bu. No. 12149), which was taxiing into position in preparation of take off. The accident was blamed on the pilot of Bu. No. 12149.

Both aircraft were assigned to Fighter Squadron 16, (VF-16).

Sources:

U. S. Navy accident report #43-5849, dated February 2, 1943.

U. S. Navy accident report dated February 7, 1943.

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: F4F Wildcat Bu. No. 12149, F4F Wildcat Bu. No. 5030, New England Navy History, New England WWII Plane Crash, Quonset Point Accident, Quonset Point Crash, Quonset Point History, Quonset Point NAS, Quonset Point NAS Crash, Quonset Point NAS History, Quonset Point Plane Crash, Rhode Island Navy History, Rhode Island WWII Plane Crash, VF-16 history

Quonset Point, R.I. – April 21, 1944

January 9, 2019

Quonset Point, Rhode Island – April 21, 1944

U.S. Navy FM-2 Wildcat
U.S. Navy Photo

At 10:30 a.m. on the morning of April 21, 1944, an FM-2 Wildcat, (Bu. No. 16583), was taking off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station on Runway 5 for a routine training flight. Just after becoming airborne, at an altitude of 30 feet, the engine suddenly stopped. The aircraft fell back onto the runway but there wasn’t enough time or room to stop. The aircraft went off the end of the runway, over a sea wall, and into Narragansett Bay. The pilot was rescued, but the aircraft was a total loss. Inspection revealed fouled sparkplugs to be the cause.

Source:

U. S. Navy accident report #44-13366

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: FM-2 Wildcat Bu. No. 16583, New England WWII Plane Crash, Quonset Point Accident, Quonset Point Crash, Quonset Point History, Quonset Point NAS, Quonset Point Naval Air Station, Rhode Island Navy History, Rhode Island WWII Plane Crash

South Mountain, Vermont – October 24, 1945

March 16, 2015

South Mountain, Vermont – October 24, 1945

SB2C Helldiver
U.S. Navy Photo

On October 24, 1945, a U.S. Navy Helldiver left Burlington, Vt., headed for Quonset Naval Air Station in Rhode Island, when it crashed into South Mountain at the 2,300 foot level, cutting a wide path and scattering wreckage over a large area. Both men aboard were killed.

150 searchers found the wreck site after two days.

The pilot was Ensign Walter G. Smith, Jr., 22, of Kansas City, Mo.

The passenger was 28-year-old Lt. Cmdr. Maurice M. Stone of Raleigh, North Carolina. Stone was the executive officer of a squadron based at Quonset Point, and had arrived in Burlington with his squadron for Navy Day exercises. At some point his hand became infected, and he was being flown to R.I. for treatment when the accident occurred.

Stone was a veteran of the first aircraft carrier based attack on Tokyo, Japan. He was survived by his wife Maureen (Smith) Stone. He’s buried in Savannah, Georgia.

Sources:

Providence Journal, “Bodies of Two Quonset Aviators, Wrecked Plane Found In Vermont”, October 27, 1945, Pg. 1

North Kingstown, Rhode Island, death records #45-100 & 45-101

Filed Under: Vermont - Military Tagged With: Ens. Walter G. Smith Jr., Ensign Walter Guy Smith, Ensign Walter Guy Smith jr., Lt. Comdr. Maurice M. Stone, Maureen (Smith) Stone, Maurice Merton Stone, New England WWII Plane Crash, Quonset Fliers, Quonset Point NAS, Quonset Point Naval Air Station, South Mountain Vermont, Vermont Aviation Accident, Vermont Plane crash, Vermont WWII Aircraft Accident, Vermont WWII Plane Crash

Quonset Point Naval Air Station Insignia

March 13, 2015

Quonset Point Naval Air Station insignia patch

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Quonset Point NAS, Quonset Point Naval Air Station, Quonset Point R.I.

Quonset Point Naval Air Station Vintage Images

November 8, 2015

Quonset Point Naval Air Station Vintage Images

The Quonset Point Naval Air Station was located on Narragansett Bay in the town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

To see hundreds more vintage images of the Quonset Point Naval Air Station one can obtain two books published through Arcadia Press in their Images of America series titled: Quonset Point Naval Air Station, Volumes 1 & 2, by Seam Paul Milligan. Both books are highly informative.

Before the navy base, Quonset Point was a summer community. This real estate ad is from July of 1930.

Vintage Post Card View Of The Former Entrance To Quonset Point, NAS.

Quonset Point Naval Air Station Insignia patch

A Vintage Post Card View Of A Helicopter Over Quonset Point Naval Air Station

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Quonset point Gateway, Quonset Point Insignia, Quonset Point NAS, Quonset Point Naval Air Station, Quonset Point Naval Air Station Vintage Photos