VF-74 History | New England Aviation History

Quonset Point, R. I. – August 18, 1950

January 18, 2022

Quonset Point Naval Air Station – August 18, 1950

F4U Corsair
US Navy Photo

On August 18, 1950, a flight of sixteen F4U Corsairs was returning to the Quonset Point NAS after a formation training flight. As the aircraft were in the process of breaking formation in preparation for landing, two of them, Bu. No. 97173, and Bu. No. 96898 were involved in a mid-air collision. The tail section of #97173 was torn away and the plane plummeted from 1,000 feet and crashed just 15 feet from Hangar 3. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander Robert Lyons Jungklas, did not survive. The other aircraft was also damaged, but landed safely.

The aircraft were assigned to VF-74 at Quonset NAS.

To see a photo of Lt. Cmdr. Jungklas, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/210654567/robert-l-jungklas

Sources:

U. S. Navy Accident Report dated August 18, 1950

The Evening Star, (Washington, D.C.), “Lt. Comdr. Jungkles Killed In Rhode Island Crash”, August 21, 1950

Quonset Point, R. I. – April 11, 1950

February 19, 2019

Quonset Point, R. I. – April 11, 1950

F8F Bearcat
U. S. Navy Photo

At about 11:40 a.m. on the morning of April 11, 1950, two aircraft were making landing approaches to Runway 16 at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station, and due to their approach angles, neither pilot saw the other. The first aircraft to land was a Beechcraft SNB-3, (Bu. No. 67100). The landing was normal, and after touchdown the pilot applied the brakes. Immediately afterward, an F8F-2 Bearcat, (Bu. No. 122639), landed directly behind the Beechcraft and overtook it, plowing into the rear of the aircraft. The Beechcraft was damaged beyond all repair, but its three-man crew was not injured. The Bearcat suffered front end damage, but the pilot was not injured.

The Bearcat was assigned to Fighting Squadron 74, (VF-74).

Source:

U. S. Navy accident report dated April 11, 1950