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from author and historian Jim Ignasher
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Martha's Vineyard, MA. – February 19, 1946
Martha's Vineyard – February 19, 1946
Cape Poge – Chappaquiddick
U.S. Navy Photo
At 10:48 a.m. on the morning of February 19, 1946, Ensign Cecil M. Richards, 21, and his gunner, Arm2c William Robert Garrett, 20, were in a U. S. Navy SB2C-4E Helldiver, (Bu. No. 21083), participating in an aerial bombing exercise over Cape Poge, Chappaquiddick Island, at Martha's Vineyard. Ensign Richards began his dive at 6,750 feet. After releasing the training bombs on a designated target area, the aircraft was seen to continue in its dive, then roll over and crash into the water at high speed. Both Richards and Garret were killed instantly.
The cause of the accident is unknown.
Both men were assigned to Fighter Bomber Squadron 18, (VB-18), at Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island.
In 2016, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers began removing potentially dangerous ordinance from the Cape Poge area and discovered the propeller, one machinegun, and other pieces from Ensign Richards' aircraft.
U. S. Navy accident report dated February 19, 1946.
(Martha's) Vineyard Gazette, "Two Fliers Lost – First Fatality Since War, Off Cape Pogue", February 22, 1946.
Vineyard Gazette, "World War II Bomber Found Buried At Cape Pogue", by Noah Asimov, May 2, 2019
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: ARM2c William R. Garrett USNR, Cape Poge Navy PlaneCrash, Chappaquiddick Plane Crash, Ensign Cecil M. Richards USNR, Martha's Vineyard History, Martha's Vineyard Navy History, Martha's Vineyard Plane Crash, Massachusetts Navy History, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, New England Navy History, SB2C Helldiver Bu. No. 21083, VB-18 History
Otis Field – September 10, 1944
Otis Field, Falmouth, Massachusetts – September 10, 1944
U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless
U.S. Navy Photo.
Just after 2 p.m. on September 10, 1944, a U. S. Navy SBD-5 Dauntless aircraft, (Bu. No. 54180), with two men aboard, took off from Otis Filed. The pilot was a navy ensign. The second man was Army Sergeant James Edwin Senter, (21 or 22).
The aircraft was seen to climb several hundred feet before it suddenly went into a downward spin to the left. The pilot managed to jump clear of from an altitude of 500 feet, and his parachute opened just before he hit the ground. Although injured, he would survive.
Meanwhile the aircraft crashed just twenty feet away killing Sergeant Senter.
Sergeant Senter is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the army in 1940 at the age of 18. To see a photo of his grave go to www.findagrave.com, Memorial #173920812.
Source: U. S. Navy accident report dated September 10, 1944.
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: Camp Edwards Plane Crash, Falmouth Massachusetts History, Falmouth Massachusetts Plane Crash, Massachusetts Navy History, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, Massachusetts WWII Plane Crash, New England Navy History, New England WWII Plane Crash, Otis AFB History, Otis Air Force Base Crash, Otis Air Force Base History, Otis Field History, Otis Field Plane Crash, SBD Dauntless Bu. No. 54180, Sergeant James E. Senter, Sergeant James Edwin Senter
Williamstown, MA. – October 10, 1958
Williamstown, Massachusetts – October 10, 1958
U. S. Navy Photo
On the afternoon of October 10, 1958, a U. S. Navy twin-engine Grumman S-2 Tracker aircraft left the Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island, bound for Hartford, Connecticut. The plane carried three navy officers and an enlisted man, all assigned to the 32nd Air Anti-Submarine Squadron based at Quonset. When the plane landed in Hartford, the enlisted man exited the aircraft. Then the plane took off bound for Harriman-West Airport in North Adams Massachusetts.
The purpose of the flight was to meet with the airport manager, and to examine the field to see if it was suitable for other navy aircraft to participate in an upcoming airshow being sponsored by the Civil Air Patrol.
At 3:35 p.m., After conducting their business at the airport, the plane took off to return to Quonset Point. It went down the runway in a westerly direction towards the town of Williamstown. According to numerous witnesses, when the aircraft left the ground it began a very step climb. It continued to climb in an almost vertical position until it reached an altitude of about 2,500 feet, when black smoke suddenly belched from one of the engines. Then the plane nosed over and began to fall, but then seemed to recover. It then made a left turn towards the airport as if the pilot was tying to return, and then went down into a wooded area about 500 feet west of the Williamstown-North Adams town line, and about 1,000 feet east of Luce Road.
Witnesses rushed to the crash site. The first to arrive found the aircraft broken in two sections and on fire. When they tried to approach, one of the four auxiliary wing tanks suddenly exploded sending a fiery mushroom cloud 100 feet in the air.
The injured pilot was found a few feet away, having been thrown clear on impact. The pilot was conscious but seriously injured. After dragging him to safety, there was nothing more they could do. The other two men aboard did not survive.
Several clergymen arrived at the scene and gave last rites to the dead.
It was speculated that the cause of the accident was due to unresponsive mechanical controls.
The dead were identified as:
Lt. (Jg.) Louis M Bradshaw, 22 or 23, of Austin Texas. He's buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin.
Lt. Arthur U. Roberge, 27, of Vermont. He's buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
North Adams Transcript, "Two Die, One Saved In Fiery Navy Plane Crash", October 11, 1958
North Adams Transcript, "Witness Stories Agree Plane Climbed Steep, Faltered, Turned, Crashed", October 11, 1958
www.findgrave.com, memorial #26212486, and 49302817.
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: 32nd Air Anti-Submarine Squadron Crash, Grumman S-2 Tracker Accident, Grumman S-2 Tracker Crash, Harriman-West Airport Crash, Harriman-West Airport History, Lieut. Arthur Urban Roberge, Lt. (Jg.) Louis M. Bradshaw, Lt. Arhtur U. Roberge USN, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, Quonset Point History, Quonset Point Plane Crash, Williamstown Navy Plane Crash, Williamstown Plane Crash, Williamstwon Massachusetts History
Taunton, MA. – April 16, 1949
Taunton, Massachusetts – April 16, 1949
U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat
On April 16, 1949, an F6F-5 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 72664), took off from the Squantum Naval Air Station for a training flight. While over the area of Taunton, Massachusetts, the engine began to run erratically, so the pilot looked for an open area to make an emergency landing. Sighting one, he headed for it, but as he was making his approach the engine suddenly stopped running and the aircraft crashed into a wooded area. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was seriously injured.
U. S. Navy Hellcat accident report dated April 16, 1949.
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: F6F Hellcat Bu. No. 72664, Massachusetts Navy History, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, Taunton Massachusetts History, taunton massachusetts Plane Crash
Martha's Vineyard – March 5, 1946
On March 5, 1946, a flight of F8F-1 Bearcats left Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island bound for Martha's Vineyard Naval Air Station in Massachusetts. The purpose of the flight was to practice mock carrier take-offs and landings. As one of the aircraft, (Bu. No. 94827), was making a landing, it went off the runway and into soft dirt where it flipped on its back trapping the pilot. The pilot was extricated with non-life-threatening injuries, and the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The aircraft was assigned to VF-18 at Quonset Point.
U. S. Navy accident report dated March 5, 1946.
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: F8F Bearcat Accident, F8F Bearcat Bu. No. 94827, Martha's Vineyard Naval Air Station History, Martha's Vineyard Navy History, Martha's Vineyard Navy Plane Crash, Martha's Vinyard Plane Crash, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, VF-18 History
Otis Air Force Base – June 27, 1947
On June 27, 1947, a flight of F8F Bearcats left the Quonset Naval Air Station bound for Otis Air Force base in Falmouth, Massachusetts, to conduct practice carrier landings and takeoffs The aircraft were assigned to VF-8A at Quonset.
Once at Otis the aircraft commenced the takeoff and landing exercise. As one aircraft, (Bu. No. 95227), was making its approach for its sixth landing, in came in too close behind the aircraft ahead of it. After landing, the pilot applied the brakes to avoid a rear-end collision with the plane ahead, but at that moment the left brake failed which caused the aircraft to swerve off the runway and onto a grassy area. On the grassy area was a parked truck, which the pilot would have struck had he not intentionally ground-looped the aircraft. After missing the truck, the aircraft went into a small ravine and nosed over onto its back. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but the pilot was not seriously hurt.
U. S. Navy accident report dated June 27, 1947
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: F8F Bearcat Accident, F8F Bearcat Bu. No. 95227, F8F Bearcat Crash, Falmouth Massachusetts History, Falmouth Massachusetts Plane Crash, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, Otis Air Force Base Accident, Otis Air Force Base Crash, Otis Air Force Base History, VF-8A History
Otis Air Force Base – October 17, 1947
On October 17, 1947, an F8F-1 Bearcat, (Bu. No. 95331), left the Quonset Naval Air Station in Rhode Island bound for Otis AFB in Falmouth, Massachusetts. As the pilot was coming into to land at Otis, the engine suddenly lost all power. Realizing he couldn't make it to the service runway, the pilot decided to make an emergency wheels-up landing in the grass nearby. The aircraft received considerable damage as it skidded for about 600 feet before coming to rest. The pilot was not injured.
U. S. Navy accident report dated October 17, 1947
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: F8F Bearcat Accident, F8F Bearcat Crash, F8F-1 Bu. No. 95331, Massachusetts Navy History, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, Otis Air Force Base Accident, Otis Air Force Base Crash, Otis Air Force Base History, Rhode Island Navy History
Beverly, MA. – October 29, 1944
Beverly, Massachusetts – October 29, 1944
On October 29, 1944, a F6F-5, Hellcat, (Bu. No. 58128), was taking off from the Beverly Navy Auxiliary Air Field for a training flight. As the aircraft began to climb the engine began sputtering and then quit. The plane came down and was damaged beyond all repair, and the pilot received non-life-threatening injuries. The pilot reported that when the engine failed all instruments were reading normal. The cause of the crash is unknown.
U. S. Navy accident report dated October 29, 1944.
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: Beverly Massachusetts History, Beverly Massachusetts Plane Crash, F6F Hellcat Bu. No. 58128, Massachusetts Military History, Massachusetts Navy History, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, Massachusetts WWII Plane Crash, New England WWII Plane Crash
Off Harwich, Ma. – May 19, 1946
Off Harwich Massachusetts – May 19, 1946
On May 19, 1946, Lt. (Jg.) Richard M. Kimball took off from the Squantum Naval Air Station in an F6F-5 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 70556), for a routine training flight. His flight path took him over the water off the coast of Harwich, Massachusetts. There he encountered a fog bank lying three to five miles off shore, with a low cloud ceiling of 50 to 100 feet covering the entire area. As he was approaching the shoreline, he began attempting to drop below the cloud ceiling to obtain a visual reference with the ground and while doing so crashed into the water about one-quarter mile from shore. The aircraft broke apart on impact and Lt. (Jg.) Kimball was killed.
U. S. Navy accident report dated May 19, 1946
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: F6F Hellcat Bu. No. 70556, Harwich Massachusetts History, Harwich Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, Harwich Massachusetts Plane Crash, Lt.(jg.) Richard M. Kimball USNR, Massachusetts Navy History, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash
Wilmington, MA. – May 23, 1946
Wilmington, Massachusetts – May 23, 1946
On the morning of May 23, 1946, two U. S. Navy F6F-5N Hellcat aircraft took off from the Squantum Naval Air Station for a tactical training flight. One of the aircraft, (Bu. No. 70927), was piloted by Ensign Stephen J. Pilcher, (22). The other was piloted by his long-time friend, Ensign J. Thomas Holmes, (22). Both men were from Wilmington, Massachusetts. On this particular morning Ensign Pilcher hadn't been scheduled to fly, and was filling in for another pilot.
The pilots proceeded to the area of their home town of Wilmington where they engaged in mock combat flight tactics over the town. While doing so, hundreds of town residents stopped what they were doing to watch the aircraft go through their maneuvers.
At about noon, according to the U. S. Navy accident report, Ensign Pilcher's aircraft was seen to enter a dive from approximately 1,800 feet and pull out while near the ground. He then attempted to regain altitude and the plane went into a slow roll to the right before it nosed over and dove to the ground. The aircraft exploded on impact killing Ensign Pilcher instantly.
Ensign Pilcher's plane came down in a wooded area in Wilmington's Nee Park section, between Cedar and Harris Streets.
Ensign Pilcher is buried in Wildwood Cemetery in Wilmington. To see a photo of his grave go to www.findagrave.com and see memorial #174623672.
There had been no mid-air collision between the two aircraft.
After the accident Ensign Holmes returned to Squantum.
The Boston Globe, "2d Wilmington Man Companion Of crash Victim", May 24, 1946
Town Crier, (Wilmington, Mass.), "An American Patriot And Our Local Heroes", November 14, 2001.
www.findagrave.com, memorial #174623672
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: Ensign Stephen J. Pilcher USNR, F6F-5N Hellcat Bu. No. 70927, Massachusetts Military Plane Crash, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, Wilmington Massachusetts History, Wilmington Massachusetts Plane Crash, Wilmington Military Plane Crash
Hyannis, MA. – August 9, 1946
Hyannis, Massachusetts – August 9, 1946
On August 9, 1946, a navy Lieutenant (Jg.) was taking off from Hyannis Airport in a Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter plane when the aircraft suddenly went into a roll and crashed just after leaving the ground. The unidentified pilot was badly burned in the accident, and the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot was found about forty feet from the burning plane, and was transported to the hospital via ambulance.
Source: Cape Cod Standard Times, "Navy Pilot Badly Hurt As Plane Crashes, Burns Near Hyannis.", August 9, 1946, page 1.
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: Cape Cod Military Plane Crash, Cape Cod Navy Plane Crash, Hyannis Massachusetts Aviation History, Hyannis Plane Crash, Massachusetts Aviation History, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash
Martha's Vineyard, MA. – May 8, 1945
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts – May 8, 1945
At 2:00 a.m. on the morning of May 8, 1945, an F6F-5N Hellcat, (Bu. No. 70543), was approaching the runway of the Martha's Vineyard Naval Air Station when one of the wings clipped an unlighted obstruction which caused the aircraft to crash. The plane suffered considerable damage, but the pilot was not seriously injured.
Source: U. S. Navy crash report 4-45
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: F6F-5N Hellcat Bu. No. 70543, Martha's Vineyard Plane Crash, Martha's Vineyard WWII History, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, Massachusetts WWII History
Atlantic Ocean – May 1, 1958
Douglas AD-4N Skyraider
On May 1, 1958, U.S. Navy Lieutenant(jg.) Willaim C. Cox, 25, of Wickford, Rhode Island, was piloting a Douglas AD-5 Skyraider on a training flight off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. At 11:30 a.m. he reported that he had an emergency and was bailing out from an altitude of 2,000 feet. No position was given.
Two witnesses reported seeing the plane go down in Vineyard Sound about 8 miles west of Martha's Vineyard, about half way between Noman's Land and Cuttyhunk Islands, but did not see a parachute. A search was instituted, but neither Lt. Cox or his aircraft were recovered.
Cape Cod Standard Times, "Navy Plane, Body Found Off Vineyard", July 10, 1958. This headline refers to a WWII navy Hellcat that was found in the waters off Martha's Vineyard with the pilot's remains still inside. The last part of the article mentions Lieutenant (jg.) Cox's accident. The two incidents were not related.
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: AD-5 Skyraider Crash Martha's Vineyard, Lieutenant (jg.) William C. Cox, Martha's Vineyard Naval History, Massachusetts Aviation History, Massachusetts Navy Aircraft Accident, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash
Braintree, MA – April 4, 1939
Braintree, Massachusetts – April 4, 1939
On April 4, 1939, a flight of six U.S. Navy biplanes were cruising at 2,000 feet over the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, as part of the launching ceremony for the Navy's new aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Wasp, (CV-7). (The Wasp was launched April 4, 1939, and commissioned April 25, 1940. )
While passing overhead, the aircraft began to execute a maneuver where each in turn would roll over and dive downward. As they were doing so, the second and third planes in the formation collided in mid-air, and both crashed as a result.
The incident was witnessed by West Williams, a flight instructor who was flying another airplane nearby at the time. West told reporters, "The second plane was just torn to pieces and plunged downward and crashed into a house, setting the house afire. There were just pieces of fabric left floating down. The pilot of the (other) plane may have been stunned for a moment and then tried to regain control. The ship staggered and partially righted itself and then shot down in a power dive. It seemed to hit a house about half a mile away from the first, and went up in flames."
Both planes came down in the neighboring town of Braintree. The first slammed into the home at 26 Edgemond Road, which was occupied by 74-year-old William Madden. Madden escaped the burning house with only minor injuries, but died of a heart attack later in the day.
The second plane hit the roof of 30-32 Shepherd Avenue. J. C. Kirkbride of the Cities Service Company's refinery saw the second plane glance off the roof of the house where it then "bounced the length of two city blocks, and plowed into the living room of another house."
John Tower, a World War I veteran, suffered sudden death as he tried to assist at the site of the second crash.
Another employee of the refinery told reporters he saw the body of one aviator lying on the ground with his parachute partially opened.
Each plane carried a pilot and an observer. The dead were identified as:
Lieutenant Commander Waldo H. Brown, 43, of Milton, Mass. (Naval Reserve) (There is a memorial to Brown at Wychmere Beach in in the town of Harwich, Massachusetts.)
Aviation Cadet Ellsworth Benson,26, of Newton, Mass. (Naval Reserve) Buried in Arlington, National Cemetery, Section 6, Site 9183.
Aviation Chief Carpenters Mate Walter Kirk, 40, of Quincy, Mass. (Naval Reserve)
Aviation Chief Machinists Mate John Ausiello, 35, of Revere, Mass.
Woonsocket Call, "Navy Biplanes Fall On Houses At Braintree", April 4, 1939, Pg. 1
The Palm Beach Post, "Fatal Air Crash Mars Launching", April 5, 1939
(Book) NAS Squantum: The First Naval Air Reserve Base by Marc J. Frattasio, C. 2009
Cape Cod Chronicle, "Waldo Brown: The Man Behind The Wychmere Jetty Memorial" November 6, 2003
www.findagrave.com – Ellsworth Benson
New York Times, "Wing-Crash Kills Four Navy Fliers", April 5, 1939
Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: Braintree Massachusetts Aviation Accident, Ellsworth Benson, Historic Massachusetts Military Plane Crash, John Ausiello, Lt. Cmdr. Waldo H. Brown, Massachusetts Airplane Crash, Massachusetts Aviation Accident, Massachusetts Military Plane Crash, Massachusetts Navy Plane Crash, USS Wasp CV-7 launching accident, Walter Kirk, West Williams