List of Navy Accidents
This page is a research workbook for my reference. I am compiling a list of dates that the US Navy JD-1s were sent to the depots for repairs. Repairs are distinctly different than Overhauls, which are standard maintenance and include things like engine swaps based on the TBO hours for that engine. It is also different from Conversion or Rework, which could involve adding or removing components (like the nose-mounted radar), or converting the planes into the Drone Carrier versions or experimental test beds. Repairs, under the Navy's definitions, are exclusive to damage. That implies that either the plane crashed, the plane struck something, or something struck the plane. The purpose of this list is to create a single page reference that I can use to attempt to locate accident reports which will confirm or deny these cases and provide additional information.
Possible Accidents
This is a list of possible accidents that may have occurred. This is based on being assigned to a Repair Facility and also having the codes G6, H6, HO, M6, or MO assigned to it.
| Date | Bureau Number | Unit | Location | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1945 | 57991 | This plane was sent to Overhaul & Repair Facility Norfolk for "minor repairs and was there for 7 months. Although this may have been standardization from XJD-1 to JD-1. | ||
| Apr or May 1946 | 77143 | This plane was sent to "Norfolk" (Overhaul & Repair Facility Norfolk) and was "Awaiting Reconditioning" for many months and then was dropped from the inventory. | ||
| May 1946 | 77142 | This plane was sent to Overhaul & Repair Facility Norfolk for "Repairs". | ||
| Aug 1946 | 57990 | The plane went to Overhaul & Repair Facility Norfolk for "Minor Repairs" and was there for 10 months. Although this may have been standardization from XJD-1 to JD-1. | ||
| Aug 1958 | 77148 | This plane was placed in "Repair" (G6) status for 5 months while assigned to VU-7 at Brown Field. It never went to the depot, which suggests minor damage only, but the G6 code almost certainly indicates an accident of some type. It was repaired on-site and returned to service. | ||
| Dec 1959 | 57991 | This plane, while assigned to VU-1, was transferred by Surface ship to NAS Alameda where it was summarily stricken from the inventory due to excess damage. Since the plane had to be ferried by boat to NAS Alameda, it leads me to believe that an accident occurred while assigned to VU-1. |
Confirmed Accidents
I have not yet requested any of the Naval Accident Reports, the data below comes from newspaper articles.
| Date | Bureau Number | Unit | Location | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 1954 | Pt. Loma, CA | A JD-1 crashes into the sea near Pt. Loma, CA due to right engine on fire. | ||
| 5 May 1955 | Black Rock Desert, UT | A twin engine target tow plane, Douglas JD-1 Invader,[50] the U.S. Navy variant of the Air Force B-26, crashes six miles south of the Jackson Creek Ranch[51] in the Black Rock Desert. A McDonnell F2H Banshee cut the tow cable, the target plane went into a dive and crashed. One enlisted man bailed out and survived, three others killed. The Banshee returned to Fallon Naval Auxiliary Station with a gash in its wing.[52]
50 - "Three Killed at Navy Base". Daily Herald, Provo. 6 May 1955. 51 - Derrel S. Fulwider (Winter–Spring 1986). "From Resource Management to People Management: Reflections of a Federal Land Manager". The Humboldt Historian: 5–7. 52 - "Plane Blast Fatal to 3". Los Angeles Times. 6 May 1955. p. 1. | ||
| 2 Mar 1956 | Albuquerque, NM | Crash near ALB, NM when JD-1 and USAF F-86 sabre jet collide in mid-air. |