USN plane accident - USS Altmaha (CVE-18) - 24 Dec 1943

[Leendert]

On 24 Dec 1943 USN chaplain Lt Karl Porter Buswell was killed when the airplane he was in struck the bridge of escort carrier USS Altamaha (CVE-18) after landing. This was off S. California.
Pilot reportedly also killed.

Trying to put a finger what aircraft the men were in.

Thanks for the info.

Regards,

Leendert

Correction: Lt Buswell was not in the airplane, but on the bridge when a/c struck the structure. Another man was also killed, but not clear if this was the pilot

[Rainer]

On 24 December 1943, while qualifying pilots in carrier landings a Grumman FM-1 (BuNo 15480) of VC-68, piloted by Ensign William R. Loren (O-158143) USNR, struck into the port side of the bridge of USS ALTAMAHA (CVE-18) and crashed onto one of the 40mm anti-aircraft gun mounts. The aircraft and the gun were extensively damaged, but the pilot survived. However, the chaplain Lt. Karl Porter Buswell who was observing on the bridge and Seaman Second Class Eual Thomas Rhyne (8496742) USN who was engaged in taking motion pictures from an outrigged platform on the port wing of the bridge were killed.

[Leendert]

Thanks for these more details, Rainer.

Regards,

Leendert