The Terrifying, Deadly Plane Crash In Rhode Island That Will Never Be Forgotten
By Jessica Wick|Published November 01, 2019
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Jessica Wick
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Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
Life in Rhode Island is peaceful and quiet overall, which is just the way we like it. And while we aren’t immune to tragedy in the Ocean State, it’s rare that you hear about something as awful as a deadly plane crash. But during World War II, news broke of a young pilot who had met his fate after an Army P-47B fighter aircraft caught fire. A second pilot barely escaped death in the tragedy. And even though the better part of a century has passed since, the crash will never be forgotten.
Rhode Island didn't play a huge role in World War II history, but of course, every state was impacted.
During the war, the Air Force took over the Hillsgrove State Airport in Warwick for training purposes. At the end of the war, the airfield was returned to service as a state airport.
The Air Force's time in Rhode Island was mostly without incident.
Officer Kline, who was just 22, came down on Nooseneck Hill Road in West Greenwich, barely missing a car before crashing in the woods near the highway. The plane caught fire, but the driver of the vehicle that was almost hit was able to extinguish the flames quickly with the help of some other passersby.
Unfortunately, Officer Kline died as he was being removed from the plane. The second P-47B landed farther down Nooseneck Hill Road in the town of Richmond, and that pilot survived.
Witnesses told investigators that the two P-47s had circled the area several times with their wheels down before attempting to land. And while we will never know exactly what happened, the tragedy of a life lost so young (which happened entirely too often in World War II) will never be forgotten.
Had you heard of this tragic plane crash before today? Here’s another glimpse of life in Rhode Island during World War II.
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