1950 — June 1, US Navy P2V-2 Neptune emergency lndg. crash, Quonset Point NAS, RI– 9

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard, 9-1-2023, for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–9  Aviation Safety Network. USN P2V02 Neptune landing crash, Quonset Pt. NAS, RI, 6-1-1950.

–9  New England Aviation History. “Quonset Point NAS – June 1, 1950, Rhode Island.”

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1950:

“Date:                          Thursday 1 June 1950

“Type:                         Lockheed P2V-2 Neptune

“Operator:                   United States Navy

“Registration:              122454

….

“Total:                         Fatalities: 9 Occupants: 12

….

“Location:                   Quonset Point NAS, RI

“Phase:                        Landing (LDG)

“Nature:                       Military

“Departure airport:      ?

“Destination airport:    Quonset Point NAS, RI

“Narrative:                   Crashed and burnt during emergency landing.”

(Aviation Safety Network. USN P2V02 Neptune landing crash, Quonset Pt. NAS, RI, 6-1-1950.)

New England Aviation History:

“One of the worst military aviation accidents to occur in Rhode Island in terms of loss of life occurred on June 1, 1950, at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station.  On that day, a P2V-2 Neptune aircraft, (Bu. No. 122454),  left Jacksonville, Florida, and landed at Quonset to refuel before proceeding on to Newfoundland.  After the brief stop-over, the Neptune resumed its journey. 

“Shortly after leaving Quonset, a fire developed in one of the engines forcing the pilot to declare an emergency and turn back. As the aircraft was making its final approach on runway 34, a strong gusty cross-wind suddenly caught the wing and flipped it over while still in the air. The plane crashed down on the runway and the fully loaded fuel tanks exploded. The pilot and co-pilot managed to escape through emergency hatches, but the other nine men aboard were killed.

“The dead were identified as:

Lt. (Jg.) Clarence R. Plank, 25…buried in Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice, NE.

Ensign David M. Arter, 23.  He’s buried in Lisbon Cemetery in Lisbon, Ohio.

Midshipman Clarence A. Payne. (No further info.)

Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Francis J. Mc Swiggan, 34…Beverly, New Jersey.

Chief Aviation Electrician’s Mate Huilette E. Fountain, 29…Birmingham, Alabama.

Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic Clarence A. Thorson Sr., 27.  New Orleans, LA.

Chief Aviation Electricians Mate Harvey D. Thomas…Dallas, Texas.

Aviation Machinist Mate John A. Seger, 27…Salinas, California.

Aviation Ordinance Mate 1st Class Peter Rapnick. 

“The aircraft was assigned to AP-3 based in Jacksonville.

“Source: Troy Record, June 20, 1950

               222.findagrave.com

Sources

 Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1950. USN P2V02 Neptune landing crash, Quonset Pt. NAS, RI, 6-1-1950. Accessed 9-31-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19500601-1

New England Aviation History. “Quonset Point NAS – June 1, 1950.” 12-12-2016. Accessed 8-31-2023 at: https://newenglandaviationhistory.com/quonset-point-nas-june-1-1950/

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