Charlestown in Washington County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)

Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat Crash

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 14, 2017

1. Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat Crash Marker

Inscription.
U.S. Navy
NAAF
Charlestown, R.I.

On Friday, March 2, 1945 at 2215 hours, Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat Buno 71418 crashed shortly after takeoff from runway 22, where it exploded and burned on the ice-covered waters 500 Ft off shore. LTJG Kenneth Bruce McQuady, USN, was 21 years of age at the tme of his accident and was killed on impact. This Hamilton-Standard hydromatic propeller is from McQuady’s aircraft, which was recovered from Ninigret Pond in 2004. It has been placed here as a memorial to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while training at “Charlietown.”

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters • Military • Notable Events • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is March 2, 1945.

Location. 41° 22.342′ N, 71° 39.873′ W. Marker is in Charlestown, Rhode Island, in Washington County. Marker is on Park Lane south of Old Post Road (Rhode Island Route 1A), on the left when traveling south. Marker is inside Ninigret Park, south of the park entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5 Park Lane, Charlestown RI 02813, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Liberty Tree Memorial

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Ninigret (approx. 1.1 miles away); Fort Ninigret Marker (approx. 1.2 miles away); General Joseph Stanton Monument (approx. 2.8 miles away); Samuel Ward Birthplace Site (approx. 5.8 miles away); Seventh Day Baptist Minister's Monument (approx. 7.2 miles away); First Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hopkinton (approx. 7.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlestown.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Field

Also see . . . Grumman F6F Hellcat.
The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second half of the Pacific War. (Submitted on March 13, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat Crash Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 14, 2017

2. Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat Crash Marker (wide view)

Propeller from McQuady’s aircraft (<i>located behind marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 14, 2017

3. Propeller from McQuady’s aircraft (located behind marker)

US Navy Auxiliary Landing Field Sign (<i>near marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 14, 2017

4. US Navy Auxiliary Landing Field Sign (near marker)

Ninigret Park Sign (<i>near marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 14, 2017

5. Ninigret Park Sign (near marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 403 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 12, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 5. submitted on March 13, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.