VS-33 History | New England Aviation History

Quonset Point, R. I. – April 26, 1944

March 12, 2019

Quonset Point, Rhode Island – April 26, 1944

U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless
U.S. Navy Photo.

On April 26, 1944, an SBD-5 Dauntless, (Bu. No. 54260), was approaching to land at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station when the pilot discovered that he couldn’t lower the landing gear. He began to circle the airfield in an attempt to fix the problem but was unable to do so. With fuel running low, he made a wheels-up emergency landing at the base. The aircraft suffered extensive damage, but the crew was not injured. The accident was due to mechanical failure.

The aircraft was assigned to VS-33.

Source:

U. S. Navy report #44-13575, dated April 26, 1944.

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: New England WWII Navy History, New England WWII Plane Crash, Quonset Point Accident, Quonset Point NAS Crash, Quonset Point R. I. Crash, Rhode Island Navy History, Rhode Island WWII Plane Crash, SBD Dauntless Bu. No. 54260, VS-33 History

Quonset Point, R. I. – May 1, 1944

March 11, 2019

Quonset Point, Rhode Island – May 1, 1944

U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless
U.S. Navy Photo.

On May 1, 1944, an SBD-5 Dauntless, (Bu. No. 28722), was taking off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station. After achieving an altitude of ten feet, the engine suddenly cut out, and the aircraft settled back onto the runway. Just as it did so, the engine suddenly restarted, and as the aircraft began to lift for a second time, the engine once again failed. The aircraft went off the end of the runway and flipped over onto its back. The Aircraft was heavily damaged, but the crew was not injured.

The aircraft belonged to VS-33.

Source: U. S. Navy accident report #44-13737, dated May 1, 1944.