"...I was on fire crew practicing on a Saturday when one of our "Turkeys", TBM3E, I believe it was #622, went into an apartment bldg on the downwind leg of final after a mail run to Rome from Naples in 1955, killing my roommate, Chief Norman, APC, and 2 Army hitchhikers who had grabbed a ride. We rushed to the scene which was close to the Capodichino airport and managed to foam the area and retrieve the bodies. There was one survivor, an AM2, who was 8 days from his 30 year retirement. Can't remember his name. He had also ditched a TBM in the Pacific in WWII and survived. Guess he lived a charmed life. There were also a woman and child killed when the engine broke off and entered the building as the wings folded and the plane dropped back upside-down into the street. A nightmare of a day which has, of course, remained a vivid memory. Hope some other Shipmate may still be around who can recall the good and bad of that era. Like to hear from them..." Contributed by Ralph E. DeLange ralphdelange@juno.com [05DEC2000]

"FASRON-77 Page"

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