Operation Mainbrace September 1952

[Seaplanes]

The Norwegian newspaper "Aftenposten" had their correspondent on board "Franklin D. Roosevelt" and he was an eye witness to your grand uncles attempted landing. The newspaper published many artiles regarding exercixe "Main Brace" and they have an historical on-line Archive on www.aftenposten.no. Use Main Brace as search words and limit the time to 1. September 1952 to 31. October 1952. Unfortunately, everything here is in Norwegian but it is the best source I have found.
Your grand uncle had participated in simulated attacks on the town of Bodö and Bardufoss airfield in Northern Norway when he returned to the carrier. Some aircraft had already landed when he came in too low and was flagged off by the landing controller. Your grand uncle possibly misunderstood the signals and continued the landing. The aircraft hook caught a wind barrier on the aft deck. He lost control of the plane that turned over and went over the side of the carrier. One wing crashed into the carriers aircraft lift and the plane went belly up into the sea. The crash site was immediately marked with a smoke"bomb" from a helicopter overlooking the landings. In spite of intensive search, nothing was seen of the aircraft or pilot. The name of the pilot was not released except that he was a well known Second World War Pilot. Hope this is of some value to you.