Quonset Point, Rhode Island – May 1, 1944
U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless
U.S. Navy Photo.
On May 1, 1944, an SBD-5 Dauntless, (Bu. No. 28722), was taking off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station. After achieving an altitude of ten feet, the engine suddenly cut out, and the aircraft settled back onto the runway. Just as it did so, the engine suddenly restarted, and as the aircraft began to lift for a second time, the engine once again failed. The aircraft went off the end of the runway and flipped over onto its back. The Aircraft was heavily damaged, but the crew was not injured.
The aircraft belonged to VS-33.
Source: U. S. Navy accident report #44-13737, dated May 1, 1944.
