Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts – July 22, 1940 

     On July 22, 1940, a Sikorsky amphibian (No. 807) was landing in the inner harbor of Vineyard Haven, when the plane lost power and crashed into the water killing a husband and wife.  The accident occurred about 200 feet inside the entrance of the inner harbor, and was witnessed by the crew of a nearby Coast Guard boat.  

    The dead were identified as Mr. and Mrs. Julius Aderer of New York City.

    The pilot of the aircraft, Charles G. Fredericks of Flushing, N.Y. suffered multiple cuts due to breaking through a window to escape the half-submerged airplane.  A passenger aboard, Ruth Weckman, 8, was pulled unconscious from the craft, and rescuers used moth-to-mouth recessitation to reviver her.   

    The wrecked plane was towed to shore by the schooner Alice E. Wentworth.  

Source: Falmouth Enterprise, “Two Killed In Seaplane Crash”, July 23, 1940.