Quonset Point, Rhode Island – May 2, 1944
On May 2, 1944, a TBM-1D Avenger, (Bu. No. 25430), was due to take off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station to participate in an aerial gunnery training flight. The aircraft was designated to be the “target-tug”, meaning it was to tow a canvas target behind it which other aircraft would take turns firing at.
At 2:00 p.m. the aircraft began its take-off run with the target sleeve attached. As soon as the aircraft became airborne the pilot raised the wheels. At an altitude of 100 feet, the right wing stalled due to recent squadron modifications to it, causing a loss of altitude. At the end of the runway was Narragansett Bay. The target sleeve hadn’t yet become airborne, and began dragging in the water off the end of the runway. Then the right wing stalled a second time and the plane went down in the bay.
There were four men aboard the aircraft; the pilot, a gunner, and two radio-men. (The Avenger generally carried a crew of three) When the plane hit the water one crewman suffered a broken left arm, another a lacerated hand, and the other two were not injured. All were rescued.
The aircraft was a total loss, with its fuselage having broken in half.
The men were assigned to CASU-22 at Quonset Point.
Source: U.S. Navy accident report #44-13795, dated May 2, 1944.