Westerly, Rhode Island – October 24, 1943
On October 24, 1943, a Grumman TBF-1 Avenger (Bu. No. 06096) piloted by Ensign Ralph E. Sethness, 28, was approaching Westerly Auxiliary Air Field (Today known as Westerly State Airport) when the plane developed engine trouble and crashed on the golf course of the Winnapaug Country Club. (The club was, and still is, located at 180 Shore Road in Westerly.)
The plane came down near the 7th hole and burst into flames. Two local men, Robert C. Gentile, and Benjamin B. York, were the first to arrive at the scene where they found the badly injured pilot lying right next to the burning wreck with live ammunition from the plane’s machine guns starting to go off. With disregard for their own safety, they carried Ensign Sethness fifty feet away and lay him down. No sooner had they done so, the plane’s fuel tanks exploded spraying flaming gasoline all about the area. The flames quickly set off a succession of machine gun rounds, and Gentile shielded the injured man with his body. This lasted for about two minutes until the heat of the flames forced them to move Ensign Sethness another fifty feet away. There they tended to him as best they could until fire and rescue units arrived.
Both men were later awarded the Carnegie Medal of Heroism for their efforts.
The Grumman Avenger generally carried a crew of three men however, on this particular flight Ensign Sethness was alone. The reason for the flight was not stated, nor was the cause of the accident. Ensign Sethness was assigned to torpedo squadron VT-15.
Sources:
The Westerly Sun, “Saw Plane Crash, Shore Road Men Rush To Scene”, October 25, 1943
U.S. Navy accident report #44-9275
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission