(Known as Thurston)
While conducting refresher training off the coast of Hawaii, Commander McCutchan was involved in an accident while landing on the USS Ranger. Commander McCutchan was the Air Group Commander (CAG) of Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVG-11). On August 24, 1944, Commander George T. McCutchan, piloting an F6F-3 Hellcat, BuNo 40248, commenced a high and fast landing on the USS Ranger (CV-4). The pilot leveled off too high and failed to engage an arresting gear wire. The plane drifted slightly to starboard, struck the island mast with its right wing, scraped off the radio antenna, signal halyards, signal searchlight, long glass and fly control station. The plane then dropped to the number one elevator and cartwheeled over the side, the fuselage breaking to a right angle aft of the cockpit. The plane commenced to sink almost immediately and, since the pilot was not seen to escape from the plane and no trace was found of him by the Destroyer Escort searching the area three minutes later, the pilot was declared missing and is presumed to have drowned.
[from the USS Ranger (CV-4) War Diary]
[Diary entry text courtesy of contributor "Torpedo Squadron 11" (48028139) - added 8 Jul 2019]
While conducting refresher training off the coast of Hawaii, Commander McCutchan was involved in an accident while landing on the USS Ranger. Commander McCutchan was the Air Group Commander (CAG) of Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVG-11). On August 24, 1944, Commander George T. McCutchan, piloting an F6F-3 Hellcat, BuNo 40248, commenced a high and fast landing on the USS Ranger (CV-4). The pilot leveled off too high and failed to engage an arresting gear wire. The plane drifted slightly to starboard, struck the island mast with its right wing, scraped off the radio antenna, signal halyards, signal searchlight, long glass and fly control station. The plane then dropped to the number one elevator and cartwheeled over the side, the fuselage breaking to a right angle aft of the cockpit. The plane commenced to sink almost immediately and, since the pilot was not seen to escape from the plane and no trace was found of him by the Destroyer Escort searching the area three minutes later, the pilot was declared missing and is presumed to have drowned.
[from the USS Ranger (CV-4) War Diary]
[Diary entry text courtesy of contributor "Torpedo Squadron 11" (48028139) - added 8 Jul 2019]
(Known as Thurston)
While conducting refresher training off the coast of Hawaii, Commander McCutchan was involved in an accident while landing on the USS Ranger. Commander McCutchan was the Air Group Commander (CAG) of Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVG-11). On August 24, 1944, Commander George T. McCutchan, piloting an F6F-3 Hellcat, BuNo 40248, commenced a high and fast landing on the USS Ranger (CV-4). The pilot leveled off too high and failed to engage an arresting gear wire. The plane drifted slightly to starboard, struck the island mast with its right wing, scraped off the radio antenna, signal halyards, signal searchlight, long glass and fly control station. The plane then dropped to the number one elevator and cartwheeled over the side, the fuselage breaking to a right angle aft of the cockpit. The plane commenced to sink almost immediately and, since the pilot was not seen to escape from the plane and no trace was found of him by the Destroyer Escort searching the area three minutes later, the pilot was declared missing and is presumed to have drowned.
[from the USS Ranger (CV-4) War Diary]
[Diary entry text courtesy of contributor "Torpedo Squadron 11" (48028139) - added 8 Jul 2019]
While conducting refresher training off the coast of Hawaii, Commander McCutchan was involved in an accident while landing on the USS Ranger. Commander McCutchan was the Air Group Commander (CAG) of Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVG-11). On August 24, 1944, Commander George T. McCutchan, piloting an F6F-3 Hellcat, BuNo 40248, commenced a high and fast landing on the USS Ranger (CV-4). The pilot leveled off too high and failed to engage an arresting gear wire. The plane drifted slightly to starboard, struck the island mast with its right wing, scraped off the radio antenna, signal halyards, signal searchlight, long glass and fly control station. The plane then dropped to the number one elevator and cartwheeled over the side, the fuselage breaking to a right angle aft of the cockpit. The plane commenced to sink almost immediately and, since the pilot was not seen to escape from the plane and no trace was found of him by the Destroyer Escort searching the area three minutes later, the pilot was declared missing and is presumed to have drowned.
[from the USS Ranger (CV-4) War Diary]
[Diary entry text courtesy of contributor "Torpedo Squadron 11" (48028139) - added 8 Jul 2019]
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Indiana.
Family Members
Siblings
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