South Weymouth NAS – August 13, 1943

South Weymouth Naval Air Station – August 13, 1943   

     On the morning of August 13, 1943, the navy airship K-69, (Bu. No. 30191), was being removed from its hangar at the South Weymouth Naval Air Station when a gust of wind pushed the tail section against the side of the hanger causing a rip in the fabric.  The ship began rapidly deflating as it began to then swing away from the building.  The pilot quickly shut off all switches and abandoned the airship, along with nine other crewmen aboard.  After all hands had left the ship, the ground-handling officer ordered the forward rip paned to be pulled so the rest of the envelope would deflate.  There were 57 men in the ground handling party.   

     The K-69 was repaired and put back in service.

     Source:

     U. S. Navy accident report dated August 13, 1943

So. Weymouth NAS – May 22, 1964

South Weymouth Naval Air Station – May 22, 1964

Weymouth, Massachusetts 

    

Douglas AD-4N Skyraider Naval History And Heritage Command

Douglas AD-4N Skyraider
Naval History And Heritage Command

     On the afternoon of May 22, 1964, navy lieutenant Philip D. Brodeur, 25, was practicing “touch and go” landings in a Douglas AD-5W Skyraider at the South Weymouth Naval Air Station.  On his last approach, a gust of wind caught the plane while it was still in the air and flipped it on its side.  One of the wings touched the ground, but the plane managed to stay in the air barely missing a cluster of homes before crashing behind them.  Lt. Brodeur was killed. 

     Lt. Brodeur was survived by his wife and two children.  He was a 1962 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and is buried in St. Michael Cemetery in Hudson, Massachusetts. 

     To view a photograph of Lt. Brodeur, see www.findagrave.com, Memorial# 107680639.   

     Sources:

     New York Times, “Navy Pilot Killed In Landing”, May 23, 1964

     Larry Webster, Aviation Historian, Charlestown, Rhode Island.  

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