Atlantic Ocean – September 15, 1948

Atlantic Ocean – September 15, 1948

 

F8F Bearcat
U. S. Navy Photo

     On September 15, 1948, a navy F8F-1 Bearcat, (Bu. No. 121561), left the Quonset Point Naval Air Station to rendezvous with the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Leyte, (CV-32), operating off the coast of New England.  As the aircraft was making its landing approach to the carrier the engine suddenly lost all power.  The pilot immediately dropped the belly tank and retracted the landing gear and made an emergency water landing.  The pilot was able to escape before the plane sank and was rescued a short time later.  The pilot suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and the aircraft was not recovered.

     The pilot was assigned to Fighter Squadron 71 at Quonset Point. (VF-71)     

     The accident occurred at 19 degrees 32.5 north/75 degrees27.7 west. 

     Source: U. S. Navy accident report dated September 15, 1948.

 

Quonset Point, R. I. – July 27, 1949

Quonset Point, Rhode Island – July 27, 1949

 

F8F Bearcat
U. S. Navy Photo

     On July 27, 1949, an F8F-1 Bearcat, (Bu. No. 95089), crashed on take off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station.  The aircraft struck a small shed, then a wall beyond it, and then cartwheeled into Narragansett Bay where it came to rest in six feet of water.  The pilot was rescued. 

     The pilot was assigned to VF-71.

     Source:

     U. S. Navy accident report dated July 27, 1949.

 

Atlantic Ocean – November 2, 1948

Atlantic Ocean – November 2, 1948

 

F8F Bearcat
U. S. Navy Photo

     On November 2, 1948, the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Leyte was operating in waters off the coast of New England.  On that day, an F8F-1 Bearcat, (Bu. No. 121542), took off from the Quonset Point Naval; Air Station and landed aboard the Leyte. 

     Later, when the pilot took off from the ship, he did so by going off the bow.  Immediately after take off the Bearcat began running roughly and emitting black smoke.  The aircraft lost altitude and dropped nearly to the water, but the pilot was able to recover and bring his plane up to about 1,000 feet of altitude, at which time he began to circle back toward and around the ship.  (The pilot later reported that the cockpit gauges indicated that fuel and oil pressure were normal, but the cylinder head temperature was 300 degrees.)  As the Bearcat was approaching the aircraft carrier from the rear, the engine lost all power and the pilot was forced to make a water landing.  The Bearcat sank within 90 seconds, but the pilot was able to escape unharmed, and was rescued within minutes. 

     The coordinates of the accident were 37 degrees, 19 north, 70 degrees, 14.5 west.   

     The pilot was assigned to VF-71.

     Source:

     U. S. Navy accident report dated November 2, 1948   

 

U.S.S. Leyte – November 19, 1948

U.S.S. Leyte – November 19, 1948

 

F8F Bearcat
U. S. Navy Photo

     On November 19, 1948, the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Leyte, (CV-32), was operating in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New England.  At about 12:30 p.m., Lieutenant Henry G. Goodloe was returning to the Leyte after a two-and-a-half hour training flight in an F8F Bearcat, (Bu. No. 121632).  As Lt. Goodloe was making his landing approach he was given a “foul deck” wave-off.  Goodloe increased throttle as he passed amidships and suddenly the Bearcat’s engine began to misfire, and smoke could be seen trailing from the aircraft as it began to climb away.  The pilot declared an emergency, dropped the plane’s belly tank, and began getting into position for another landing approach.  As he approached the rear of the ship, he radioed that he was going to have to ditch in the water, and after raising the landing gear, made a flat landing in the sea, but the aircraft reportedly sank within twenty seconds.  Helicopters and destroyers immediately converged on the area but there was no sign of Lt. Goodloe or his aircraft.   

     Lt. Goodloe was assigned to Fighting Squadron 71, (VF-71), based at Quonset Point, Rhode Island.

     Source:

     U.S. Navy accident report dated November 19, 1948

U.S.S. Philippine Sea – January 11, 1949

U.S.S. Philippine Sea – January 11, 1949

 

F8F Bearcat
U. S. Navy Photo

     On January 4, 1949, the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Philippine Sea, (CV-47), left Rhode Island bound for the Mediterranean.  Aboard the ship was Carrier Air Group 7, which included aircraft from Fighter Squadron 71, (VF-71), based at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station. 

     On January 11th the U.S.S. Philippine Sea was operating in the Mediterranean Sea.  At 7:35 a.m. that morning, Ensign Ervin E. Goins was on the flight deck in an F8F-1 Bearcat, (Bu. No. 95165), preparing to take off.  After receiving the take-off signal, Goins began his run, but after only 100 feet the Bearcat’s engine suddenly lost power.  The pilot applied the brakes, but was unable to stop before going over the bow of the ship.  The aircraft crashed into the water and sank immediately, but Ensign Goins was observed in the water floating face down with his parachute still attached and his life vest not inflated.  A helicopter was launched to retrieve Ensign Goins, but his body sank before it could be recovered.

     The cause of the accident could not be determined.    

     Source:

     U.S. Navy accident report dated January 11, 1949      

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