VF-82 History | New England Aviation History

North Kingstown, R. I. – December 6, 1956

April 9, 2026

North Kingstown, Rhode Island – December 6, 1956

U.S. Navy F2H-3 Banshee,

On the afternoon of December 6, 1956, two navy F2H Banshee jet fighters took off from Oceana, Virginia, for a routine training flight to Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts. As they approached Westover they encountered thick fog and low visibility, and were redirected to the Quonset Point Naval Air Station. By the time they reached Quonset the jets were running low on fuel and it was getting dark. The first jet landed safely, but the second was waved off and ordered to make another approach. As the pilot was doing so his aircraft disappeared from radar. A search was initiated and the wreckage of this jet was found five hours later about 100 yards from an access road leading to the Nike site in Davisville section of North Kingstown. The pilot was deceased.

The pilot was identified as Lieutenant (j.g.) Dean J. Bohs, 24, of New Jersey. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/382462/dean-james-bohs

Lt. (J.g.) Bohos was assigned to VF-82.

Sources:

Providence Journal, “Airman Killed In Plane Crash Near Quonset”, December 7, 1956, Pg. 4.

www.findagrave.com

Information supplied by Larry Webster, Aviation Historian, Charlestown, R. I.

Brunswick, ME. – July 19, 1946

January 22, 2019

Brunswick, Maine – July 19, 1946

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

On July 19, 1946, a flight of F6F-5 Hellcats left Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island for a training flight to Brunswick Naval Air Station in Maine. Upon reaching Brunswick, the aircraft began to land. One Hellcat, (Bu. No. 72606), was making a normal landing when the aircraft was caught in a downdraft and forced into an unpaved area 30 feet short of the runway. Upon touchdown, the left landing gear was torn away. The aircraft then bounced up and became airborne as the pilot applied throttle. He was notified by the tower at Brunswick that a portion of the landing gear was missing, and was advised to return to Quonset Point. Upon his return to Quonset, he made a wheels up landing on the grassy strip alongside the runway. The aircraft suffered heavy damage, but the pilot was not injured.

The aircraft was assigned to VF-82.

Source:

U. S. Navy accident report dated July 19, 1946