VP-92 Mishap
1940's
MISHAPs: 01 FEB 42 A/C: PBY-5A Location: NAS Alameda, California Strike: No BUNO: 7254 Cause: After one hour of flight, pilot attempted to lower landing gear preparatory to making some field landings. The gear did not extend completely and hydraulic gauge pressure fell to approx. 200lbs. per square inch. Side wheels and nose wheel were extended manually. The mechanic reported a leak of hydraulic fluid on the starboard landing gear strut. On approach to a landing the hydraulic gauge suddenly indicated a normal reading. A normal landing was made and brake tested and found to be effective. Pilot taxied back to the parking area at approx. one mile distant. On reaching the squadron area pilot attempted to turn and brakes failed completely and suddenly. Plane surged forward out of control and struck a parked PBY-5A #7265 150-ft away. Both aircraft;Replacement of major parts. Crew: Pilot LT George A. Hatton, USN/Ok, and Eight passengers ok. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [26NOV2002]
MISHAPs: 14 MAY 42 A/C: PBY-5A Location: Beane Field, Lucia, British West Indies Strike: Yes Death: None Injured BUNO: 7249 Complete failure of power plant (undertermined cause) at 200-ft altitude necessitated force landing in open sea, resulting in dismemberment of starboard wing. Heavy sea prevented towing by small boat into quiet water. Wind and sea forced plane into reef and abandonedment of craft necessary. Favorable weather and available gear permitted salvage of all parts of aircraft except shell and wings. Damage: Starboard wing broke off 8-ft from tip. Hull and center section and port wing panels sunk after other salvage completed. Crew ok: Pilot Lt(jg). Herbert Eugene Hanset, Ens. D. H. Groose, Ap1c. P. E. Fulgham, Amm2c. W. M. Terry, Amm2c. A. J. Kuhn, Rm3c. B. R. McKinnies, and Sea2c. C. M. Cryderman. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [21JUN2001]
MISHAPs: 23 AUG 42 A/C: PBY-5A Location: NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Strike: No BUNO: 7264 Cause: Normal power landing effected. Plane settled on water, ran for 300yds, porpoising slightly. Port wing dropped, dug in, effecting water-loop of 270deg. Plane taken in tow and beached successfully. Damage: Port and starboard wing tip float assembly damaged, port outboard retracting strut fitting ripped off. Port and starboard panel struts damaged. Port and starboard outer wing panel skin punctured. Floats can be repaired. Crew Ok. Pilot Ens. C. Chenglis, AV-N USNR, Ens E. J. Winter, USNR, AMM1c Clarius J. Ritter, ARM3c Charles W. Ross, Sea2c Elmer Johnson, AMM1c Paul C. Virostek, and ARM2c Billy R. McKinnies (struck top of head, unconscious for 4 mins). Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [03DEC2002]
MISHAPs: 21 SEP 42 A/C: PBY-5A Location: NAS Great Exuma, British West Indies Strike: Yes BUNO: 7247 Cause: Pilot circled and dragged landing area. Approach was begun on instruments and due to darkness, no flare path was laid out or had been requested and no lights to aid landing were illuminated. He asserts a faint horizon was visible although dark clouds in direction of landing obsorbed morning twilight. A few seconds after shift to contact flight, plane struck the surface and sank in several minutes. Damage: Both engines salt water immersion. Hull submerged in 8-ft of water. Port wing tip float torn loose and strut assembly mangled. Nose wheel weld between pilots seat burst open, extensive damage bottom bow and hull. Crew OK. Pilot Ens. R. J. Finnie, Ens. J. W. Orzel, Ens. B. S. Stevens, Nap. W. E. Edwards, Amm3c. H. M. Lovin, Sea2c. E. L. Bilbrey, Rm2c. B. R. McKinnies, and Sea2c. P. F. Malone. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [04JUL2001]
MISHAPs: 13 NOV 42 A/C: PBY-5A Location: 3mi.NNW, of Casablanca Airport Indies Strike: Yes BUNO: 7274 Landed in open field. reserve gasoline and previously consumed in successful submarine attack. Damage:"Stricken" Pilot Lt. H. S. Blake and crew (crew not listed on report)/OK. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [08JUL2001]
MISHAPs: 11 APR 43 A/C: PBY-5A Location: NAF Port Lyautey, Morocco Strike: Yes Death: 5 Dead/3 Injured BUNO: 7251 Cause: Crashed on take-off Contributed by Bob Moran rmoran1@roadrunner.com [25MAY99]
"...Aircraft was observed to make normal take-off on 4,947 foot concrete runway. Aircraft becoming airborne about 1,000 feet before reaching end of runway. Power was reduced after leaving the ground and gear started to retract. Aircraft struck on level ground at some elevation as runway 1,300 feet from the end of the runway and slide 60 feet on its keel and caught fire. Observers heard reapplication of power, left the ground for 115 feet, struck ground again, skidded and tumbled for 215 feet and the fuselage came to rest of its starboard side headed 80 degree's to left of take-off path. Forward part of fuselage landing gear, wing center section and starboard engine burned as well as one bomb and a large area of grass at scene. Gross weight of plane was 33,705 lbs. Trouble board recommends relocation of landing gear control valve so that pilot will not have to reach so far to use. Pilots seen to have a general tendency to retract landing gear before reaching a safe altitude. Pilots of the squadron have frequently been warned against this technique. Crew: (Pilot) LT(jg) John Henry Muller/Killed, (Co-Pilot) CAP Pat F. Fulgham/Killed, RM2 James Phillip Severson/Killed, AMM2 Nick John Strozzi/Killed, (Navigator) LT(jg) John Francis Hart/Seriously Injured, RM2 Donald Louis Bennett/Seriously Injured, and SEA2 Charles Leon Spiceland/Seriously Injured..." Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [Updated 13JUL2001 | 23DEC2000]
"....In the 11APR43 LU(jg) Hart, ARM2 D. L. Bennett and S2 C. L. Spiceland were injured survivors. Also change P.F. Pulgham to P.F. Fulgham...Bob Moran rmoran1@roadrunner.com..." [30DEC2000]
MISHAPs: 09 MAY 43 A/C: PBY-5A Location: NAF Port Lyautey, Morocco Strike: No BUNO: 7245 Cause: Plane was scheduled for local daylight hop, gross weight 29,200lbs. After flying on instruments for 1.5hrs., practice landings were made, gross weight at that time was 28, 200lbs. After three touch and go landings, a normal power approach was made on a northernly heading to N-S runway. The 2nd pilot was making the landing supervised by Lt(jg). Aubert. Whites approach seemed normal, however, he apparently reduced power prematurely, or due to gusty wind conditions, undershot the surfaced runway by 20-ft. Port main wheel struck a 24-in dirt shoulder about 18-in below the level of the south end of the runway. Port landing gear collapsed. Plane traveled for about 1500-ft down runway with port wheel dragging on runway. From this point on, thee plane traveled a gradual curved path to the left, coming to rest about 50-ft from west side of the runway. Damage: After member lower V strut port landing gear broken in two. Port landing gear was twisted out of line. Both main tires damaged. Hull bottom and keel abraised severely near main step. Crew Ok. Pilot Lt(jg) Richard J. Aubert, AV-N USNR, Ens J. M. White, AV-N USNR, AMM1c S. Herman (FO), ARM2c A. W. Delo (FO), and 1st Lt Crowley, US Army. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [06DEC2002]
MISHAPs: 18 JUL 43 A/C: PBY-5A "...I was a crew member of VPB-92 P-1 that went down in the Atlantic July 18, 1943. We were returning to base from a routine patrol when we thought we had a sighting. The pilot Lt.(jg) R.J. Finnie decended to get a closer look. Oil was noticed coming from our starboard engine. The oil pressure dropped to zero and the engine was shut down. We were approx. 300 miles from NAAF Agadir, French Morocco. Our plane started to lose altitude. It was then decided to drop our DC's and get rid of our guns and ammunition. We still could not gain any altitude. Next went the fuel from one of our wing tanks. When the pilot switched over to the other fuel tank, the port engine quit. At that time I was up in the front turret feeding the twin 30's and ammunition between the pilot and co-pilots legs to another crew member. I worked faster than fast and got the heck out of there because that was the worst place to be. Lt. Finnie had to make a very dangerous dead stick landing in swells fifteen to twenty feet high. After five or six heavy contacts with the tips of the swells, P-1 hit one with a jolt, a shutter,and finally came to rest. It was amazing after such a landing the aircraft popped only a few rivits. We were thankful very little water entered because we could not turn on our bilge pumps. We were now approximately 65 miles south of NAAF Agadir, French Morocco. We were also fortunate to have seven life jackets. We broke out both life rafts. A two man and a four man. The two man did not inflate. There were three officers and four enlisted men and a four man life raft. A choice we never had to make. Most of us were sea sick and the shared box of Fanny Farmer butter creams (compliments of my wife) didn't help the situation. After spending a sleepless night, daylight put in an appearance. To this day, I can still visualize our mech crawling out on the wing while the plane was bobbing up and down. He reached over and pulled out the ladder from the wing, climbed down, raised up the cowling and discovered a loose oil hose. He tightened the clamp, secured the cowling and ladder and crawled back and received a big from the rest of the crew. Lt Finnie primed both engines, turned on the starboard engine switch. It started. Turned on the port engine. It started.Miracle #2 achieved. With the wing floats up,we gained enough speed to become airborn. Miracle #3 accomplished.It was a great sight to see that landing strip in NAAF Agadir, French Morocco after floating for 16 hours. We made one of our better landings. Shipmates were lined up along the runway waving and cheering. Their prayers and ours were answered. The Skippers comments: "Excellent crew, experenced, dependable, prepared for any emergency, mission accomplished. In Dec 1943 two crews were selected to pick up two replacement aircraft Norfolk. Our crew was one of them. A nice 30 day leave was included...Bob Moran rmoran1@roadrunner.com..." [02AUG99]
MISHAPs: 23 NOV 43 A/C: PBY-5A Location: ATL Strike: Yes BUNO: 7265 Cause: Aircraft was engaged in a scheduled local daylight routine training flight with a crew of five Officers and four enlisted men. The aircraft was carrying relatively light load, consisting of 600 gallons of gasoline, 100 gallons of oil, 2 Mk44-325lb depth charges, thirty miniature practice bombs. The estimated gross weight was approximately 28,100lbs. Weather was average with scatter cumulus clouds at 2000 to 2500-ft altitude. Wind from 230 deg, force 10 to 11 knots, visibility 20 to 25-miles with slight haze. Sea conditions moderate to calm, small waves and slight swells. Aircraft was seen to make a simulated anti-submarine attack upon a slick marker dropping one depth charge from an altitude of approximately 100-ft. The aircraft continued on a straight course at same altitude for approximately 1 to 1.5miles, leaving a trail of heavy and persistent white smoke for approximately three-quarters of a mile from position of bomb drop. Aircraft was seen to make a sharp right turn as the turn progressed the aircraft lost altitude until starboard wing came in contact with water, shearing it loose from the hull which immediately sank.The wing section remained afloat for approximately twenty to twenty-five minutes and had a small fire burning in the center section. Wing at the time was minus both engines. Finally wing submerged and sank leaving only oil and gasoline slick and a wing tip float in the water surface.The airplane and its engines, and all equipment are a total loss. Under classification of accident is assigned as 100% undetermined or doubtful as percentage weights cannot be assigned under the different headings due to lack of information. Adm Report Opinion:After dropping point on downwind run, pilot experienced a loss of power and attempted a 180deg turn into the wind, but had insufficient power and altitude to complete turn, resulting in plane flying into water while in a turn. Crew Killed: Pilot:Lt(jg).Fred Douglas Wright USNR, Lt.Einer Gronlund Larsen A-V(N) USNR, Lt(jg).Robert Irving Ashman, Jr. A-V(N) USNR, Ens.Percey L. Speaker,Jr. A-V(N) USNR, Ens.George Edward Custer AOP USNR, Amm1c.Ija Leslie Kivett, Jr. USN, Rm3c.Clifford Joseph Atkinson USNR, Aom3c.Ned Wilkinson Stanley, Jr. USNR, and Sea2c.Louie Wlater Timmons USN. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [Updated 01AUG2001 | Updated 23DEC2000 | 17MAR98]
VP-92 Mishap "...Funeral.." Contributed by MORAN, Bob rmoran1@roadrunner.com [27DEC2007]
"...In the 23NOV43 Ens. Custer was also a casualty as were enlisted crew Kivett, Atkinson, Stanley, and Timmons...Bob Moran rmoran1@roadrunner.com..." [30DEC2000]
"...In the 11/23/43 VPB-92 mishap Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net (17MAR98) - we lost the entire Crew of 92-P-2. Five officers and 4 enlisted (just for the record)...Bob Moran rmoran1@roadrunner.com..." [11NOV99]
MISHAPs: 06 DEC 43 A/C: PBY-5A Location: NAF Port Lyautey, Morocco Strike: No BUNO: 7268 Cause: Nose wheel collapsed landing, after hitting bomb crater which was filled with gravel the same colors as the runway. Damage: Keel, plates from bomb-sight base to 14-in. aft of #2 bulkhead, lower 16-in of #1 bulkhead with nose wheel door-locks, door lock valve, nose wheel unlocking jack, nose wheel locking bar bracket and hydraulic lines very badly damaged. Crew & pass Ok. Pilot Lt(jg) John M Bowswell, AV-N USNR, Ens R. M. Clarkson, AP1c H. Kushner, AMM2c C. A. McBroom, ARM3c W. M. Herman, Sea2c S. E. Thompson, 2nd Lt D. W. Ponce, US Army, and 2nd Lt J. F. Surgrue, US Army. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [04DEC2002]
MISHAPs: 04 FEB 44 A/C: PBY-5A Location: NAAF Agadir, French Morocco Strike: No Death: 00 BUNO: 7263 Cause: We were coming in for a landing in NAAF Agadir, French Morocco on 2/4/44 after a routine patrol with P-29 when the brake locked on the port wheel. The tire blew causing the landing gear to collapse. P-29 ended up off the runway. The port wing also incurred major damage. No injuries to the crew Contributed by Bob Moran rmoran1@roadrunner.com [BUNO Updated 31MAY2001 | 26MAY99]
"...BUNO was 48371 not 7263..." Contributed by Bob Moran rmoran1@roadrunner.com [14DEC2004]
MISHAPs: 19 OCT 44 A/C: PBY-5A Location: NAS San Juan, Puerto Rico Strike: Yes BUNO: 048370 Cause: Upon a normal water landing, nose wheel doors carried away, knocking hole in vertical bulkhead of nose wheel compartment. Plane sank before it could be beached, or before it could be reached by rescue craft and before salvage boats could arrive. Crew OK. Pilot Lt. Robert B. Kerr USNR, Lt Richard J. Aubert USNR, Rm2c Donald R. Beers USNR, Amm3c John B. Shafer USNR, Amm2c Leo S. Peterman USNR, Amm3c George H. Burke USNR, Amm1c Norman Hughes USNR, and Amm2c Raymond B. Westerman USNR. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [13AUG2001]
MISHAPs: 00 XXX 00 A/C: P2V-2 "...Remember being in the P2V that broke it's back on landing..." Contributed by Charles "Chuck, Charlie" Viau, AW1 USNR TAR cviau@beld.net [17MAY99]
MISHAPs: 26 JUL 78 LOCATION: So. Wey TYPE: Airframe Failure SRIKE: No DEATHS: 00 BUNO: 151352 CAUSE: Tape Vents
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