Pilot 2nd
Lt. William H. Holden
Ditched April 17, 1945 at 1615
AIrcraft History
Built by Vought.
Mission History
On a ferry mission from Homestead Field Molokai
to Ewa Field. Twenty minutes in the air, he was 10 mi bearing 085 deg
from Diamond Head, when he noticed his RPM fluctuating. Soon afterwards
his oil began to spray on his windshield and his engine lost all
power. His engine was wind milling when he stalled into the water
in a three point attitude at approximated at 90 knots. He was
cut slightly over the right eye climbing from the floating plane. Lt.
Holden reported all engine instruments registered correctly, except the
cylinder head temperature which was broken before the takeoff.
Time of the accident was 1615, weather was CAVU with a 13 knot wind. Location
at time of ditching was 085 deg 4 mi from Diamond Head. Cause off
accident was 100% power plant. It crashed off Makapu'u
point, on the east side of Ohau.
Wreckage
Rediscovered around 1995. Today a popular dive site.
References
Thanks to Captain Bruce Diving for this information
Contribute
Information
|