Check Six: HIANG Members Killed in Flight Operations

The 199th Fighter Squadron received Federal recognition on November 4, 1946. Since the start of flight operations, six members have died in flying operations. These accidents occurred in the first eight years of HIANG’s existence.

Since these early accidents, there were several incidents where aircraft were damaged or lost, but the aircrew ejected or evaculated safely. 

The following are summaries of the six flight accidents. The information is from a section of the HANG 25 – History of the Hawaii Air National Guard booklet.

August 9, 1949: 1st Lieutenant Leopold Brady was killed on a landing attempt when his Republic F-47 Thunderbolt crashed on Runway 7 at Hickam AFB after an early morning gunnery mission.

June 15, 1952: During the 1952 summer camp (June 14-28) at Barking Sands, Kaua‘i, Major Carlos W. “Bonny” Bonham, 199th Fighter Squadron commander, was killed in a mid-air collision over the sea between Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility and Ni‘ihau. The other pilot parachuted to safety in the sea.

July 18, 1955: Staff Sergeant Arthur B. Fitzsimmons was killed during an orientation ride when a Beechcraft T-6 Texan II he was riding in, crashed into the sea off Punalu‘u, O‘ahu. The pilot was able to bail out and was rescued.

June 14, 1956: Lieutenant Clinton S. Ballentyne died when his North American F-86 Sabre crashed into the sea off the end of the Kāne‘ohe Marine Corps Air Station runway.

June 21, 1963: 1st Lieutenant Charles F. Johnston was killed when his Convair F-102 Delta Dagger crashed into the ocean 34 miles south of O‘ahu.

January 7, 1964: Major James Y. Sato was killed when his Convair F-102 Delta Dagger crashed into the sea while approaching Honolulu International Airport for landing.

Earlier Retiree News post: Check Six: Major Carlos Willard Bonham