Westerly, R. I. – January 15, 1944

Westerly, Rhode Island – January 15, 1944 

     On January 15, 1944, a U. S. Navy Howard NH-1 aircraft, (Bu. No. 29481), with four men aboard, was landing at the Westerly Airport when the right wheel broke away upon touchdown, and the aircraft skidded to a stop.  There were no injures.

     Source:

     U. S. Navy accident report #44-10895, dated January 15, 1944

Westerly, R.I. – August 17, 1966

Westerly, Rhode Island – August 17, 1966

     On August 17, 1966, a Cessna 206 took off from Black Island bound for Westerly Airport.  Aboard the aircraft was the 28-year-old pilot and a 30-year-old woman passenger from New York.  As the plane approached the shore of Westerly, the engine lost power, and the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in the water about 1,600 yards off shore from Weekapaug Beach.  Both escaped the aircraft before it sank, and were rescued a few minutes later by the crew of a two-masted sailboat named Camelot.  A short time later they were transferred to a Coast Guard boat and ultimately transported to South County Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

     Source:  New London Day, “Plane Ditches In Ocean; Pilot, Passenger Saved”, August 18, 1966, page 6     

Westerly, R.I. – August 2, 1945

Westerly, Rhode Island – August 2, 1945

 

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

     On the morning of August 2, 1945, Ensign Walter G. Davies was cleared for takeoff from Runway 32 at the Westerly Auxiliary Naval Air Station.   Just after becoming airborne the engine of his F6F-5 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 78413), lost all power and the airplane came back down on the runway.  The plane touched down near the end of the runway.  Ensign Davies applied full brakes but was unable to prevent the plane from going off the end of the runway and over an eight-foot embankment where it flipped over in trees and scrub brush pinning Davies inside.   There was no fire, and Ensign Davies was rescued a short time later with no serious injuries.  The aircraft was a total loss. The cause of the crash was blamed on faulty engine magnetos.     

     Source: National Archives, AAR W6-45, TD450802RI, via Larry Webster, Aviation Historian, Charlestown, R.I.

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