The museum is run by volunteers and they are especially proud of a World War II Hellcat in their possession. It was discovered on August 13, 1993 when the Massachusetts Army National Guard was flying to Nantucket with a maintenance team to pick up one of its helicopters. The crew chief spotted a plane in the water from 6000 feet. The crew thought that it was a plane that had ditched in Nantucket Sound and quickly notified Cape Approach. The Coast Guard was notified an HH-60 from their base on Cape Cod. A rescue swimmer was deployed and he discovered that it was an old plane covered in fishing nets. In early September the diver identified the aircrat as an F6F-5 Hellcat.
In December 1993 a team of underwater technicians raised the aircraft. It was brought to the ferry boat deck at Oak Bluffs and meticulously dismantled while being kept constantly hydrated to preserve further corrosion.
The appropriate Naval Authorities wsere informed that the recovery had taken place. Formal requests were made to the Navel Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, for permission to retain the aircraft on a permanent loan basis from the Navy Department. After eleven months of negotiations permission was granted thereby allowing the Quonset Air Museum to preserve, restore and display the Hellcat.
The plane was one of seven Hellcats that on April 3, 1945 flew a control intercept familiarization fligh off the southern New England coast and were in the vicinity of Nantucket Sound when one of them reported a loss of oil pressure. The pilot, Ensign Vincent A. FRANKWITZ, USNR, was ordered to turn to Martha's Vineyard. He decended rapidly to below a 600 foot overcast and his engine seized. The aircraft made a successful ditching or seemed to do so. Ensign FRANKWITZ was sighted several times during the following twenty minutes before he disappeared. The water temperature was 42 degrees. He was never seen again.
Once restored the aircraft will be dedicated to the Ensign's memory and to all the Navel and Marine aviators who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.
The Musuem is open on weekends from 10 AM to 3 PM. Mr. MULLIGAN said that the museum has 18 first-line displayable aircraft and photos can be taken. In fact, if you like, you can even sit in one of the cockpits and pretend you're a kid again.
SITES OF INTEREST:
Quonset Air Museum
Aviation Enthusiast Corner on Quonset Air Museum
Saraotga Museum
Pictures of some of the museum planes
Close Window
Back to Meeting Page
Back to Opening Page
Home Page
PVHistory@yahoo.com