Narragansett Bay – December 5, 1943
U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless
U.S. Navy Photo.
On December 5, 1943, a Douglas SBD-4 Dauntless aircraft, (Bu. No. 10543), took off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station for a training flight. Shortly after take off, while at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the engine suddenly caught fire and lost power. The pilot was forced to make an emergency water landing in the frigid waters of Narragansett Bay in the vicinity of Conimicut Point. The aircraft sank but the pilot and gunner were able to escape with minor injuries.
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report #44-10109, dated December 5, 1943.
