![]() The Navy Hymn Sailor Aviators Version Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep Its' own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to thee, for those in peril on the sea. Lord, guard and guide the men who fly Through the great spaces in the sky. Be with them always in the air, In dark'ning storms or sunlight fair. O, Hear us when we lift our prayer, For those in peril in the air. But when at length our course is run, Our work for home and country done, Of all the souls that flew and sailed, Let not one life in thee be failed, But hear from heaven our sailors cry, And grant eternal life on high. May all our departed shipmates rest in peace. ![]() Three survivors, two bodies and parts of the wreckage have been recovered since the mishap and the search for the remaining bodies and wreckage is being continued. A Japanese cargo boat, the Daiichi Kokka Maru, was near the area and heard the explosion and and saw fire on the water. The ship went to the scene and picked up the three sailors and searched for more survivors but no one else was seen in the water. The survivors, LT Clinton Jackson, USN, 34, LT(jg) Melvin Dalbey, USN, 26, and Niumea Tagaloa AL3, 33, were immediately brought to the Facility hospital where they were treated for severe cuts and bruises. They were confined to the hospital for further treatment. "I took my eyes off the instruments when the plane was about 100 feet in the air to adjust the engine controls. Before I was able to look back at the instruments the plane struck the water hard. Fire shot into the cockit and the plane broke up and sank," LT Jackson stated. The survivors inflated their Mae Wests and bobbed to the surface, near the wreckage and fire. They climbed into a life raft, that inflated automatically, and several minutes later were picked up. The two bodies were recovered Sunday and a search was started to find the aircraft and remaining men. The USS Safeguard is assisting in the search and has divers aboard. Three memorial services were held yesterday for the dead at the MCAF Chapels. A Protestant service was held at 10:15 a.m. followed by a Latter Day Saints at the Protestant Chapel. A Requiem Mass was celebrated at the MCAF Catholic Chapel at 11:45 a.m. Listed as dead are: Robert J. Bartkowski, AE3, 21 Cleveland OH (Recovered) Donald R. Neilsen, PR1, 34 Seattle, WA (Recovered) LT(jg) Robert F. Cody, 23 San Francisco, CA Nicholas Chepult Jr., ADC, 39 Cleveland, OH Robert P. Smith, AT1, 24 San Jose, CA James G. Williams, ATCA, 36 Santa Clara, CA "L" "A" Haggerty, ADR3, 22 Waco, Texas Harold F. Rohn, AO1, 32 Spokane, Wash. There were three survivors so far from among the 11 aboard the two-engine Marlin P5M-1 aircraft which plunged into the water after takeoff early Sunday. They were picked up shortly after the crash by a Japanese cargo boat, which also found two bodies. The survivors suffered minor injuries. A NAVY spokesman said hopes were "dim" for any more survivors. The survivors were listed as Lt. COlington W. Jackson, Santa Ana, Cal.; Lt. (j.g.) Melvin Dalbey, Walnut Creek, Cal., and Aviation Electronicsman 3/C Niumea Pagaloa, Los Angeles. They were thrown clear when the plane crashed, before it burst into flames and disintegrated. Cause of the crash was unknown. Piloted by Major R. D. Baade, of Lincoln Neb., the helicopter developed engine trouble while assisting the USS Safeguard in the search for the wreckage of a Marlin P5M that crashed here Sunday. Both Maj. Baade and the only crewman, Pfc. T. L. sutner, of Kingsford Mich., were picked up immediately by a MCAF crash boat and brought to the Facility Hospital where they were released after a complete medical examination. The helicopter had been in the air for about twenty minutes before the mishap occurred. Maj. Baade and Pfc. Sutner are assigned to the MCAF Operations Department.
![]() "VP-48 Mishap Summary Page"
|