from author and historian Jim Ignasher
Martha’s Vineyard – September 10,1943
U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless
U.S. Navy Photo.
On September 10, 1943, a pilot was practicing take-offs and landings in a Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, (Bu. No. 28216), at the Martha’s Vineyard Navy Auxiliary Air Field. While making an approach in cross winds, the aircraft crash-landed. The aircraft was badly damaged but the pilot was not injured.
The pilot was assigned to VC-43.
Source:
U. S. Navy report #44-8549, dated September 10, 1943.
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts – February 7, 1945
U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy photo
On February 7, 1945, a navy pilot took off from Martha’s Vineyard Auxiliary Naval Air Station in an F6F-5 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 70333), for a routine training flight. About 45 minutes later, the pilot reported that he had engine trouble and was given clearance to return to the naval station. By the time the pilot returned to the field, a coating of snow and ice covered the runways. The plane touched down and began to skid. It then proceeded to crash through a stone wall and was wrecked. The pilot was injured because the shear pin on his harness broke loose, but the extend of his injuries were not specified.
Source: U.S. Navy Accident Report, dated February 7, 1945
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