1953 — Mar 22, USN PBM out of Naval Operating Base Trinidad missing N of Dom. Rep.–all 11

–11 Aviation Safety Network. USN Martin PBM Mariner missing 100M N of Dominican Rep.
–11 Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Martin PBM-5…Atlantic Ocean: 11 Killed.”
–11 USnamemorialhall.org. “John G. Wick, LTJG, USN.
–11 VPNavy.org. “U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. B_-34 Mishap.”

Narrative

Aviation Safety Network Database, USN PBM Mariner missing 100M N Dom. Rep. 1953:
“Date: 22-Mar-1953
….
“Type: Martin PBM-5S Mariner
“Owner/Operator: United States Navy (USN)
“Registration: 85151
….
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11
“Other fatalities: 0
….
“Location: 100 mi N of Dominican Republic – Atlantic Ocean
….
“Nature: Military
“Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
“Narrative: Went missing.”

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Martin PBM-5…Atlantic Ocean: 11 Killed.”
“Date & Time Mar 22, 1953
“Type of Aircraft: Martin PBM Mariner
“Operator: US Navy
“Registration: 85151
“Flight Phase: Flight
“Flight Type: Military
“Survivors: No
“Site: …Ocean…
“Schedule: San Juan – Plymouth
….
“Crew on board: 4
“Crew fatalities: 4
Pax on board: 7
“Pax fatalities: 7
“Total fatalities: 11
“Circumstances: Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean about 200 km
northeast of Turks & Caicos Islands while on a flight from San Juan to Plymouth, Massachusetts. All 11 occupants were killed.”

USnamemorialhall.org. “John G. Wick, LTJG, USN.”

“John was lost on March 22, 1953 when the PBM-5S patrol bomber he was piloting went missing and presumably crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. All eleven men aboard were killed. They were members of Patrol Squadron (VP) 34 and were engaged in an antisubmarine exercise.”

VPNavy.org. “U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. B_-34 Mishap.” :
“VP Mishaps: 22 Mar 53 A/C: PBM “…Mishap Information…” MUNDAY, Tom…” [Updated 27Jun2003]

“VP-34 stationed NAS Trinidad, British West Indies was deployed to San Juan, PR for participation in “Operation Springboard”….

“My recollection was that it was early evening on the 22nd of March, 1953, that EC-10, with it’s full crew and the Aviation Electrician, got airborne about 2000. The aircraft’s hourly position reports were received by the Currituck Operations, once at 2100 and again at 2200. The 2200 report was the last message received.

“Our squadron was scrambled early the next morning to see if we could find the aircraft and possibly any survivors. Most all of the Atlantic fleet on maneuvers also participated in scouting for the missing aircraft. Our aircraft with crew searched for the next 36 hours but to no avail. The search was called off and we returned to “Operation Springboard.”….

“According to web sites Accidents-United States and Honor Roll-United States, it was estimated the aircraft went down at coordinates 2337N & 7007W. It also mentions the aircraft was en route from San Juan to Trinidad….

“Crew Members

“The pilot and plane commander of the doomed aircraft was LTJG. J.D. Wick….
“Co-pilot was LT. M.R. Armour…
“Navigator was LTjg E Radovich.
“The PPC was W.J. Livingston, AD1 and he had D.J. Eames, AD-3, & R.L. Harrington, AD-3 as 2nd & 3rd Mechs respectively.
“The 1st radioman was D.C. McLaughlin, AL2, with R.L. Piersante, AT3, sitting 2nd radioman and R.E. Appelt, ATAN, as 3rd radioman.
“The 1st ordnance was C.E. Holder, AO1 and C.R. West, AOAN, was the 2nd ordnance.”
“The Aviation Electrician, AE1 was also aboard the flight. His name was not mentioned on the Honor Roll-United States web site. I can’t recollect his name….”

[Directly following the entry above is one by “Terry” at pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net dated 7Oct2003. He lists the crew and their roles differently. {We breakout his paragraph into separate lines}:

“Crew missing:

Lt(jg). John Glen Wick (pilot),
Lt. Emil (nmi) Rakovich (co-pilot),
Lt. Mark Robert Armour (navigator), AD1.
Wallace J. Livingston (Plane Capt), AD3.
Daniel Josiah Fames (2nd mechanic), AL2.
Glenn D. McLaughlin (1st radioman), AO1.
Clarence Edgar Holder (1st ordnanceman), ATAN.
Howard Edward Appelt (3rd radioman), AD3.
Robert Lee Harrington (3rd mechanic), ATS.
Leonard J. Piersante (2nd radioman), and AOAN.
Charles Ray West (2nd ordnanceman).”

Sources

Aviation Safety Network Database, Flight Safety Foundation. USN Martin PBM Mariner missing 100M N of Dominican Republic, 22-March-1953. Accessed 6-30-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/237762

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Martin PBM-5…Atlantic Ocean: 11 Killed.” Accessed 6-30-2023 at: https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-martin-pbm-5-mariner-atlantic-ocean-11-killed

USnamemorialhall.org. “John G. Wick, LTJG, USN.” Accessed 6-30-2023 at: https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JOHN_G._WICK,_LTJG,_USN

VPNavy.org. “U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. B_-34 Mishap.” Accessed 6-30-2023 at: http://www.vpnavy.org/vp34_mishap_1950.html