On Friday, March 2, 1945, at 2215 hours, a U.S. Navy Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat, Buno 71418, crashed shortly after takeoff from runway 22 at NAAF Charlestown, Rhode Island, exploding and burning on the ice-covered waters 500 feet offshore. LTJG Kenneth Bruce McQuady, USN, age 21, was killed on impact. A Hamilton-Standard hydromatic propeller from McQuady’s aircraft was recovered from Ninigret Pond in 2004 and serves in memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while training at Charlietown.