VA-75 History | New England Aviation History

Charlestown, R. I. – April 12, 1957

April 15, 2026

Charlestown, Rhode Island – April 12, 1957

Douglas Skyraider
U. S. Navy Photo

On April 12, 1957, Ensign Lawrence J. Kubesh was making night-time practice landings and take offs in a Douglas AD-6 Skyraider at the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Air Field. As he was making an landing approach his aircraft crashed and he was killed.

Ensign Kubesh was assigned to VA-75 based at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87520584/lawrence-j-kubesh

Source:

Evening Bulletin, “Quonset Pilot Dies In Plane Crash”, April 13, 1957, pg. 9.

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: Charlestown Rhode Island Plane Crash, Ensign Lawrence J. Kubesh, VA-75 History

Narragansett Bay – August 12, 1948

December 10, 2019

Narragansett Bay – August 12, 1948

TBM-3E Avenger
U. S. Navy Photo

On August 12, 1948, a pilot was to take part in a practice take-offs and landings training exercise at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station. The pilot took of in a TBM-3E Avenger, (Bu. No. 53502), and went out over Narragansett Bay. At an altitude of 600 feet he began a slow right turn and as he was doing so lost visibility and went to instruments. Before corrections could be made the aircraft crashed into the bay. The pilot was rescued, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft was assigned to VA-75.

Source: U. S. Navy accident report dated August 12, 1948.

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: Narragansett Bay History, Narragansett Bay Plane Crash, New England Navy History, Quonset Point Accident, Quonset Point Crash, Quonset Point History, Quonset Point NAS History, Quonset Point Plane Crash, Rhode Island Navy History, TBM Avenger Bu. No. 53502, VA-75 History

Narragansett Bay – August 9, 1948

December 9, 2019

Narragansett Bay – August 9, 1948

TBM-3E Avenger
U. S. Navy Photo

On August 9, 1948, a navy TBM-3E, (Bu. No. 63795), was engaged in making practice touch-and-go landings at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station, when the aircraft lost power and went down in Narragansett Bay. The aircraft sank and was later determined to be damaged beyond repair. The pilot escaped, and was rescued by a Quonset crash boat. Nobody else was aboard the aircraft at the time of the accident.

The aircraft was assigned to VA-75.

Source: U. S. Navy accident report dated August 9, 1948.

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: Narragansett Bay History, Narragansett Bay Plane Crash, Navy History In Rhode Island, New England Navy History, Quonset Point NAS Accident, Quonset Point NAS Crash, Quonset Point NAS History, Rhode Island Navy History, TBM Avenger Bu. No. 63795, VA-75 History