VPNAVY VP-9 Mishap - Soviet Shot Down 22JUN55 - No Loss Of Life
http://www.vpnavy.org
VPNAVY Address

MishapVP-207 MishapMishap

1940's

Mishaps --- 06 FEB 43 A/C: PBM-3C Marina Location: NAS Corpus Christi, Texas Strike: Yes BUNO: 6533 Cause: SANK AT ANCHOR Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [Updated 18OCT2003 | 25MAR98]

Plane was anchored overnight with full equipment, gross weight 56,000lbs., tunnel hatch cover properly secured in place. Rough seas caused severe pitching of plane with frequent complete submergence of tunnel hatch. Pitching of plane and battering of water from outside, caused the hatch cover to be knocked completely out. Water entered at rapid rate because of heavy loading of plane. Crew did not notice hatch was knocked out until large quantity of water had already entered waist compartment. When the crew moved to back to the waist hatch to take some additional action, the additional weight forced tunnel hatch completely under water. Water then entered through hatch at so rapid rate the crew abandoned ship through top or deck hatch. Plane sank to a level slightly about the deck and was hauled out and turned over to A&R for disposition on afternoon of 6 Feb.

Inspection showed there was a failure of hatch cover securing mechanism under heavy battering against hatch cover by outside water pressure. Two of the four self-contained securing pins were forced back completely into section of hatch cover and were thereafter inoperative and useless. Failure occurred at hollow duralumin rods that connect securing pins with security handle.

Strike damage: Salt water entered major part of hull, outer part of left wing, first lower part of tail surfaces, left wing tip float torn off and landing flaps and flap mechanism damaged.

Crew ok:

ENS L. M. Holland, USNR (In charge of security watch aboard plane)
AMM1 Russell M. Bassett, USN
ARM3 Joseph Vaszauskas, USN
S2 Frank P. Taglairini, USN


Mishaps --- 06 FEB 43 A/C: PBM-3C Marina Location: NAS Corpus Christi, Texas Strike: Yes BUNO: 6521 Cause: SANK AT ANCHOR Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [Updated 18OCT2003 | 25MAR98]

Aircraft Accident Card #43-5884
Aircraft: PBM-3 BUNO: 6521
Squadron VP-207
Date: 6 FEB 43 (0715)
Location: Nas Corpus Christi,Tx

Plane loaded to about 56,000lbs had been anchored overnight with storm winds and rough sea conditions being encountered during early morning. Tunnel hatch cover had been knocked out by heavy seas and its securing mechanism damaged so that hatch cover would not be properly secured. Plane was shipping considerable water and was dragging anchor.orders were issued to et under way at day light, taxi into lee and attempt to beach plane. Pilot did not take into account sufficiently the heavy weight of plane due to water shipped aboard and attempted to turn plane in the confined breakwater area by improperly using engines. Plane did not respond and headed for concrete breakwater. Pilot was late cutting switches and bow struck breakwater at a point one foot below turret.

Repairable damage: Bow turret roller path bent. Plexiglas turret dome broken, frame around turret twisted and cracked in places. Skin of hull around turret and aft from 3 warped and stressed.

Crew Ok:
Pilot George D. McCormick, AV-N USNR
AP1 Dean O. Fleming, USN
AMM2 Louis C. Dreessen, USNR
ARM3 Richard H. Hector, USN
S2 Walter F. Rachels, USNR
AMM2 John Chalmers, Jr., USNR


Mishaps --- 11 FEB 43 A/C: SNJ Strike: Yes BUNO: Unknown Death: 2 Cause: ENSIGN Thomas M. Clapp, Jr. and ENSIGN Hamilton Jones was killed in unexplained crash of SNG they were flying on familiarization and training hope. Plane Lost. United States Atlantic Fleet - Air Force - Patrol Bombing Squadron 207 War Diary

History - Tap To Enlarge Thumbnail History - Tap To Enlarge Thumbnail

Is there anyway to learn about any further information about Hamilton Jones? The only information we have comes from the attached letter signed by FDR. Hamilton perished at sea presumably on Feb. 12, 1944; he was assigned to Patrol Squadron 207 of the Atlantic area. We gave our oldest son Hamilton as a middle name (great uncle died without leaving any descendants). My son will be commissioned into the Air Force (12/2017) and as our gift to him, we will give him the attached letter we have from FDR on the event of Hamilton Jones’ death while on patrol. Any help or information that you can provide on Hamilton Jones would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely Dennis Merdian dennisinchili@gmail.com [05DEC2017]


MishapsMISHAPs: 21 MAR 43 A/C: PBM-3C Marina Location: Off San Juan Harbor entrance, Puerto Rico Strike: No BUNO: 6511 Cause: Landing accident in heavy seas; Major damage(over-haul) Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [25SEP98]


Mishaps --- 13 MAY 43 A/C: PBM-3C Marina Location: SAN JUAN, PR. Strike: Yes BUNO: 6520 Cause: FIRE IN AIR, HARD LNDGING. SANK IN 10 mins. 600' Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [25MAR98]


Mishaps --- 20 AUG 44 A/C: PBM-3S Marina Location: N. BERMUDA Strike: Yes DEATHS: 8/MISSING BUNO: 6717 Cause: Purpose of flight: Training. Anti-submarine bombing and instrument flying. Analysis: Insofar as we have been able to determine there were not witnesses to the accident. After a through investigation, it is the opinion of the Board, that the plane crashed &caught fire (or exploded) from cause undetermined, and sank in 900-ft of water. Only parts of plane recovered were right and left wing floats, partially burned seat cover from either flight engineer's seat, radiomen's seat, or radar operators seat; partially burned rubber life raft &aux gas tank. Crew missing: Pilot Lt(jg) Stanley Charles Smith A-VN USNR, Ens Joe Billy Longhorne A-VN USNR, AMM2 Marion Daniel Colvard USNR, AMM3 Fleming (n) Whitney USNR, S1c Will Mitchel Haire USNR, ARM2 Robert Chester Taylor USNR, AOM1 Joseph Ellsworth Cook USNR, and AOM1 James Lloyd Noel USN Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [Updated 27JUL2003 | 25MAR98]

UPDATE "...Belleville Sons Honor Roll - World War II - Robert Chester Taylor..." WebSite: Belleville Sons Honor Roll http://www.nutleysons.com/bel_w2_taylor_rob_c.html [24DEC2005]

(Sept. 7, 1944) -- Robert C. Taylor, 24, of Bremond Street, radioman, 2/c, was killed on a patrol mission off Hamilton, Bermuda, on Aug. 20.

Seaman Taylor is the son of Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, Bremond Street.

Taylor entered the Navy in May 1942.

Most of his Navy service was spent in Panama.

On Aug. 20, 1944 : Lieutenant (jg) Stanley C. Smith and seven crewmen were killed in a crash approximately 25 miles north of Bermuda while on an ASW practice bombing hop. Cause of the crash was unknown.

According to U.S. Navy archives:

PBM-3S: #6717;VP-207; Aug 20, 1944 (1030): 20mi. North of Bermuda;

Purpose of flight; Training. Anti-submarine bombing and instrument flying.

Analysis:

Insofar as we have been able to determine there were not witnesses to the accident. After a through investigation, it is the opinion of the Board, that the plane crashed & caught fire (or exploded) from cause undetermined, and sank in 900-ft of water. Only parts of plane recovered were right and left wing floats, partially burned seat cover from either flight engineer's seat, radiomen's seat, or radar operators seat; partially burned rubber life raft & aux gas tank.

Crew missing: Pilot: Lt. (jg). Stanley Charles Smith A-VN USNR, Ens.Joe Billy Longhorne A-VN USNR, AMM2c. Marion Daniel Colvard USNR, AMM3c. Fleming (n) Whitney USNR, S1c.Will Mitchel Haire USNR, ARM2c. Robert Chester Taylor USNR, AOM1c. Joseph Ellsworth Cook USNR and AOM1c. James Lloyd Noel USN

Taylor, 21, (sic) an aviation radioman, was slated to return to States the next day to begin radio training.

Robert C. Taylor
Aviation Radioman, Second Class, U.S. Navy
United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: August 20, 1944
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at East Coast Memorial
New York City, USA

UPDATE "...My Great Uncle, Will Mitchell Haire, served on the VP-207 and was killed when his plane crashed 20 AUG 44. I would like to know if anyone has any further information on him than what's on this site. I would also love to have any pictures of him that anyone would have. "GOD BLESS YOU ALL."...Robert Hooks rhooks@sw.rr.com..." [19JUL2005]

UPDATE "...In 1944, Will Mitchell Haire was at the US Naval Operating Base. His plane, a USN Martin PNB Mariner 6717, one of the nine aircraft of VP-207 crashed 25 miles north of Bermuda on 20 August 1944. All eight crew members were missing, presumed killed. The squadron had been in Bermuda for only three months, since June. It had replaced VP-201 which had served in Bermuda from September 1943 to June 1944. The rest of Haire's squadron remained in Bermuda until June 1945..." http://www.bermuda-online.org/milquit.htm [02JUL2003]

UPDATE "...My great uncle Mitchell Haire was part of VP-207. He was a Seaman 1st class and from what I can gather his last duty station was NAS Coco Solo, Panama, Canal Zone. He was killed Aug 20, 1944 25 miles north of Bermuda. If anyone has any information it would be great to here from you...William M. Hooks highperformance@earthlink.net..." [24JAN2002]


Mishaps --- 17 APR 44 A/C: PBM-3S Marina Location: UPHAM, CZ Strike: Yes BUNO: 6715 Cause: ENG FIRE ALL CARGO JETTISONED, FORCE LANDED AT SEA,150mi. NNE, ALL RESCUED Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [25MAR98]


Return
"VP-207 Summary Page"