Westerly, Rhode Island – November 17, 1943
TBF-1 Avenger
U. S. Navy Photo
On the evening of November 17, 1943, a TBF-1 Avenger, (Bu. No. 47472), with a lone pilot aboard, was approaching the runway at Westerly Auxiliary Air Field at a 500 ft. altitude when the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot attempted to reach the end of the runway in a normal emergency approach but was unable to do so. The aircraft burst into flames on impact, but the pilot escaped without injury. The aircraft was a total loss.
The aircraft was assigned to VT-13.
Source: U. S. Navy accident report #44 – 9745
