South Kingstown, R. I. – August 4, 1943

August 12, 2021

South Kingstown, Rhode Island – August 4, 1943

 

P-47 Thunderbolt – U.S. Air Force Photo

     On August 4, 1943, two U. S. Army P-47 fighter planes attached to the 378th Fighter Squadron, 362 Fighter Group, stationed at Groton, Connecticut, were on a training flight over South Kingstown, Rhode Island, when they collided in mid-air and crashed. One aircraft went down in Potter Pond, and the other crashed near Succotash Road about a half-mile south of Post Road.  Neither pilot survived. 

     The two pilots were:

     2Lt. Richard Huber, (24), of Glendale, California.  He’s buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.  He was piloting a P-47C, Ser. No. 41-6425.

     2LT. Charles M. Armstrong Jr. (20 or 21), of Austin, Texas.  He’s buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin.  He was piloting a P-47D, Ser. No. 42-8261.  

     Sources:

     Newport Mercury, (R.I.), “Army Investigates Crash Of Bomber”, August 13, 1943, page 8.   This article began with the report of a B-34 bomber crash that occurred in Smithfield, R. I., but this last paragraph contained the report of this accident.

     Providence Journal, “Three Men Perish In Bomber Crash”, August 6, 1943, page 1.  This article began with the report of a B-34 bomber crash that occurred in Smithfield, R. I., but this last paragraph contained the report of this accident.

     www.Findagrave.com  

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

South Kingstown, R.I. – May 28, 1984

December 2, 2018

South Kingstown, Rhode Island – May 28, 1984

     On the morning of May 28, 1984, a Cessna 190 with a pilot and woman passenger aboard left Martha’s Vineyard bound for Ansonia, Connecticut. While passing over southern Rhode Island they ran into poor weather and the pilot decided to land until it passed.  He was familiar with the area, and knew of a small private air strip on Green Hill, off Schoolhouse Road, in South Kingston.  The airstrip was primarily used by the owner for take-offs and landing his ultralight aircraft. 

     The pilot of the Cessna attempted to land but aborted the first two passes.  While attempting his third, the airplane overshot the runway and crashed nose-first into a swamp.  A witness to the accident was the first to reach the downed aircraft which was imbedded in soft marshy material, and discovered that both the pilot and his passenger were not injured.  

     The aircraft suffered significant damage.    

     Sources:

     Providence Evening Bulletin, “2 Escape Injury As Plane Misses Strip, Crashes”, May 30, 1984, page A-5 

     The Narragansett Times, ” Passengers, Pilot Unharmed When Plane Dips Into Swamp”, May 31, 1984, page 3

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Civil Tagged With: , ,

South Kingstown, R.I. – April 10, 1944

July 1, 2017

South Kingstown, Rhode Island – April 10, 1944

 

     On April 10, 1944, a U.S. Navy, North American SNJ-4 Texan, (Bu. No. 26988), with two men aboard, left the Lakehurst (N.J.) Naval Air Station bound for the South Weymouth, (Mass.) Naval Air Station.  The pilot was Herman Walter Smith, age 38, a pilot for the navy, and with him was Daniel Layton Humm, age 34, a civilian.  While passing over southern Rhode Island the men found themselves surrounded by heavy fog.  It was while flying in fog that the aircraft clipped the top of a 60 foot tree, causing the plane to crash and burn about 300 feet beyond, killing both men. 

     The crash occurred just to the north of Walsh Pond, about a half-mile north of Post Road, (aka Route 1), almost in line with Matunuck Beach Road.      

     Source:

     U. S. Navy Accident Report #44-13 053

     Lawrence Webster, Aviation Historian, Charlestown, R.I.     

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

South Kingstown, R.I. – November 26, 1945

June 15, 2015

South Kingstown, Rhode Island – November 26, 1945

Worden’s Pond

   

SB2C Helldiver U.S. Navy Photo

SB2C Helldiver
U.S. Navy Photo

     On November 26, 1945, Ensign Nelson Earl Carter, 22, was killed when the SB2C Helldiver (Bu. No. 65286) that he was piloting, crashed in Worden’s Pond during dive bombing practice.

     Ensign Carter’s body was brought to the Quonset Point Naval Air Station in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, before being sent to Holland, Michigan for burial.  He’s buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland, Plot PH3-C-74-4.  For a photo of the grave, go to findagrave.com, Memorial # 49817091.    

     Ensign Carter had been a recipient of the Air Medal. 

     Sources:

     Larry Webster, Aviation Archaeologist & Historian, Charlestown, R.I.

     North Kingstown, Rhode Island, death records

     Findagrave.com

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

South Kingstown, R.I. – May 31, 1944

June 8, 2015

South Kingstown, Rhode Island – May 31, 1944

Worden’s Pond

     

U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy photo

     At 11:30 a.m. on May 31, 1944, Lt. Jg. Maxwell Michaux Corpening, Jr., 24, was killed when the U.S. Navy F6F-5 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 58317), he was piloting crashed in Worden’s Pond during a training flight.   

     Lt. (jg.) Corpening  was part of a flight of seven Hellcats practicing dive bombing techniques.  According to the U.S. Navy Accident Report, after the fourth dive, the formation was joined by “three strange planes” that were “seen to dive from above and maneuver in weaving stern attacks on the Hellcats, who were in extended column formation.  The flight leader continued to circle and climb as any further bombing runs would have been inadvisable while the other planes were mixed in the formation.”

     The “strange planes” are not identified, however their actions led to the breakup of the formation, which led to a mid-air collision between Lt. (jg.) Corpening’s aircraft and another Hellcat.  The other Hellcat was able to land safely at Groton Naval Auxiliary Air Field.     

     Lt. Corpening’s parents lived in Brookdale, Maryland.  

Sources:

     U.S. Navy Accident Report #44-44697, dated May 31, 1944

     North Kingstown, Rhode Island, death records.  (Many navy deaths during WWII were recorded in North Kingstown, (Not South Kingstown) because Quonset Point NAS was located in North Kingstown.)   

     Evening Star, (Wash. D. C.), “Lt. M. M. Corpening Killed In Crash Of Navy Plane”, June 2, 1944, page A-4

 

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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