Off Cohasset, MA. – May 1, 1944

Off Cohasset, Massachusetts – May 1, 1944   

TBF-1 Avenger
U. S. Navy Photo

     On May 1, 1944, a flight of navy torpedo bombers from the Squantum Naval Air Station were on a training flight over the water off the coast of Cohasset, Massachusetts, when two of the planes were involved in a mid-air collision.  One of the aircraft was able to remain airborne and return to base, but the other was forced down in the water about 100 yards off Pleasant Beach in Cohasset.  The plane remained afloat long enough for the three occupants to escape in a life raft. 

     The crewmen were identified as Sub Lt. Peter F. Morris of Stratford-on Avon; Sub. Lt. James Rathbone of Waterford; and Air Gunner Patrick Sedgewick, of London.  All three were members of the Royal Navy Air Force.

     None of the men suffered serious injuries.  They were rescued by Raymond C. Hunt, a yachtsmen who’d seen the plane go down, and immediately set a course for it. 

     Although not specifically stated in the news article, the aircraft is believed to have been a Grumman Avenger.     

     Source:

     The Boston Globe, “3 British Flyers Saved Off Cohasset After Planes Collide”, May 2, 1944.  Article submitted by Eric Wiberg, author and historian.  

Atlantic Ocean – September 22, 1948

Atlantic Ocean – September 22, 1948

 

F4U Corsair
US Navy Photo

    On the afternoon of September 23, 1948, navy reserve Lieutenant Carl Thomsen, Jr., (24), took off from the Squantum Naval Air Station in an F4U-4 Corsair, (Bu. No. 81647).  The purpose of the flight was to take part in a gunnery practice exercise about ten miles off the eastern coast of Truro, Massachusetts.  During the exercise the aircraft developed engine trouble and he was forced to make an emergency landing in the sea.  The aircraft sank in twenty seconds, but Thomsen was able to extricate himself and inflate his yellow life vest.  Fortunately, the fishing trawler “North Sea” out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, was nearby and had seen the plane crash.  Within five minutes the crew had rescued the pilot, who was shaken, but not injured.     

     Sources:

     The Provincetown Advocate, “Pilot Is Rescued By Fishing Craft”, September 23, 1948 

     Aviation Safety Network

Squantum NAS – April 6, 1952

Squantum Naval Air Station – April 6, 1952

 

TBM-3E Avenger
U. S. Navy Photo

     On April 6, 1952, a navy TBM-3E Avenger, (Bu. No. 53112), was returning to the Squantum Naval Air Station after a routine familiarization flight.  As the pilot approached Runway 26 from over the water, there was a strong crosswind blowing.  Just before landing, the aircraft suddenly dropped below the level of the runway, and the landing gear struck the erosion preventing rip-rap at the end of the runway.  The impact tore the landing gear away and the aircraft came down on its belly and skidded 200 feet to a stop.  There was no fire. The pilot was not injured, but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.  

     Source: U. S. Navy accident report dated April 6, 1952. 

 

Squantum NAS – May 25, 1945

Squantum Naval Air Station – May 25, 1945

 

North American Texan Military Trainer
Author Photo

     On May 25, 1945, a navy SNJ-4 Texan trainer aircraft, (Bu. No. 27007), landed at the Squantum Naval Air Station in a strong cross-wind and ground looped at high speed causing damage to the left wing, left aileron, propeller, and both landing wheels.  The pilot was not injured.    

     Source:

     U. S. Navy accident report dated May 25, 1945.

Squantum NAS – August 3, 1944

Squantum NAS – August 3, 1944 

 

U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless
U.S. Navy Photo.

     On August 3, 1944, a U. S. Navy SBD-5 Dauntless aircraft, (Bu. No. 54546), made a normal landing at the Squantum Naval Air Station.  Just after touchdown, while the aircraft was still rolling at high speed, the landing gear suddenly collapsed dropping the plane onto the runway where it skidded on its belly to a stop.  The two-man crew was not injured, but the aircraft required a major overhaul.

     Source:

     U. S. Navy accident report dated August 3, 1944. 

Squantum NAS – January 10, 1943

Squantum Naval Air Station – January 10, 1943

 

OS2U Kingfisher without float
U. S. Navy Photo

     On January 10, 1943, a flight of U. S. Navy OS2U Kingfisher aircraft were returning to the Squantum Naval Air station after an anti-submarine patrol flight over the Atlantic.  One of the aircraft, (Bu. No. 5564), landed too close behind the flight leader’s plane, and was caught in its slipstream.  The slipstream caused 5564’s left wing to drop and hit the runway with enough force to dislodge two depth charges, but they did not explode.  5564 was still traveling fast enough for the pilot to give full throttle and remain airborne.  The aircraft circled the field and came in for another landing attempt with flaps 1/3 down.  The aircraft hit the tarmac 4/5 of the way down the runway during which point the left landing gear gave way and the aircraft skidded to a stop.  The aircraft suffered substantial damage, but the two-man crew was not hurt.     

     This aircraft was repaired and put back into service.  It was later involved in another accident on January 15, 1944 when the left landing gear collapsed while making an emergency landing at the Squantum Naval Air Station.  There were no injuries.

     Sources:

     U. S. Navy accident report #43-5635, dated January 10, 1943.

     U. S. Navy accident report $44-10990, dated January 15, 1944.

Squantum NAS – May 20, 1944

Squantum Naval Air Station – May 20, 1944

 

North American Texan Military Trainer
Author Photo

     On May 20, 1944, an SNJ-4 Texan trainer aircraft, (Bu. No. 5660), was in the process of taking off from the Squantum Naval Air Station when the pilot suddenly aborted the takeoff and applied the brakes.  The aircraft nosed over and was damaged.  The undercarriage broke loose, and the left wing, propeller, engine cowling, were all damaged, as well as the engine due to the sudden stoppage.  The pilot and his instructor were not hurt.  

     Source:

     U. S. Navy accident report #44-14365), dated May 20, 1944. 

Squantum, NAS – May 13, 1943

Squantum Naval Air Station – May 13, 1943

 

North American Texan Military Trainer
Author Photo

     On May 13, 1943, a U. S. Navy SNJ-4 Texan trainer aircraft, (Bu. No. 26862), ground-looped upon landing at the Squantum Naval Air Station in Salem, Mass. The left landing gear was buckled, the left wing was warped, and the aileron and landing flaps were damaged.  The pilot and instructor aboard were not injured.

     The aircraft was assigned to VC-31.

     Source:

     U. S. Navy accident report #43-6880, dated May 13, 1943.    

 

NAS Squantum – July 6, 1944

Naval Air station Squantum – July 6, 1944

Quincy, Massachusetts

 

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

     On July 6, 1944, a pilot took off from the Squantum Naval Air Station in an F6F-3 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 40340), for a night training flight.  Almost immediately after takeoff the engine began to sputter and loose power.  The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing on another runway, however there was already other aircraft on it, so he was forced to make a water landing along the shoreline.  The aircraft was damaged beyond repair, however the pilot was unhurt.

     Source: U. S. Navy Accident Report – dated July 6, 1944

Squantum Naval Air Station – January 21, 1945

Squantum Naval Air Station – January 21, 1945

Quincy, Massachusetts

 

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

     On January 21, 1945, Lt. (jg.) Peter Rippa, took off in an F6F-3 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 41789), from Squantum Naval Air station on a routine familiarization flight. 

     As he was returning to the base, he found that the landing gear wouldn’t come down.  After several tires he notified the tower of his situation and was cleared for an emergency landing on Runway 260.  Rippa brought the plane down on its belly and skidded to a stop.  The Hellcat was heavily damaged by Rippa was not hurt.

     The aircraft was assigned to VF-21.

     Source: U.S. Navy Accident Report dated January 21, 1945  

Quincy Bay, MA – July 27, 1917

Quincy Bay, Massachusetts – July 27, 1917 

    

      Little information exists about this early military aviation incident. 

     On July 24, 1917, a severe electrical storm formed over the Boston metropolitan area causing heavy winds and widespread damage.  At the time of its arrival, two military aircraft from the Squantum air training station were airborne on a routine training flight and were caught in the squall and blown out to sea.  The types of aircraft and the pilot’s names were not released by the military. 

     Immediately after the storm, navy boats were ordered to search for the missing airmen in the Dorchester Bay, Quincy Bay, and Hough’s Neck areas.  The search was called off after two hours after both men were found to be safe, however the details of their recovery were also withheld by the military. 

     It was stated in the Meriden Morning Record: “One of the patrol boats were reported to have rescued an aviator from the water of Quincy Bay and another boat was said to have on board a portion of a wrecked machine”     

     The rest of the news article focused on three persons killed by the storm.

     One of those killed was Pvt. James F. Broderick, of the Massachusetts 2nd Field Artillery who was struck by lightning in his tent where the unit was camping in Boxford, Massachusetts.

     Two women were killed when the unfinished building they’d sought shelter in collapsed.

     Source: Meriden Morning Record, “Aviators Caught In Thunderstorm”, July 28, 1917 

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