Navy Plane Crash April 1967-October 1967

[jimschuermann]

Hello...Trying to help my father-in-law get some details about a plane crash that happened in the St Johns river between April of 1967 to October of 1967.  He was stationed at NAS Jax during this time.  He and another gentlemen (W. Stewart-Navy Diver) were responsible for searching and recovery of the pilot's body.  The pilot was either a Lt. Commander in the Navy or a Marine Major.  Any information or articles relating to this would be very much appreciated.  My father-in-law is certain that this crash happened in May 1967 but there is no information online that we can find.

[BridgeTroll]

What type of plane?  We do have this ...

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=12632.0

[cowford]

A Lockheed SP-2H Neptune, BuNo 147946, of VP-30, collides with a US Navy Vought RF-8G Crusader, BuNo 146864, assigned to VFP-62, Detachment 38, NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida, during a heavy rainstorm, near Jacksonville Beach, Florida, crashing on the swampy east bank of the Intracoastal Waterway. The Crusader, which was operating off of the USS Shangri-La,[267] also impacts near Jacksonville Beach. The Neptune was carrying two officers and three enlisted men. The pilot was the only occupant of the jet. All six KWF.[268]

http://everything.explained.today/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1960%E2%80%9374)/

[cowford]

Sept 27th, 1967

[cowford]

MishapsMISHAPs: 27 SEP 67 A/C: P2V-7 P Neptune Location: Jacksonville, Florida Beach Strike: YES BUNO: Unknown Death: 07 Cause: Collided with a US Navy Jet CRUSADER (assigned to Light Photo Sq. 62, NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida) collided over Jacksonville Beach, Florida on Sept 27, 1967....crashing on the swampy east bank of the Intracoastal Waterway. The Neptune was carrying two officers and three enlisted men (LCDR R. H. Ford, LT M. P. Myers, ADR2 C. M. McLarty, ATR2 M. E. Young and AEAN P. R. Huggins)....the pilot was the only occupant in the Crusader jet...a total of 6 people were killed. I was part of the aircrew on that aircraft earlier in that day ... and was asked to give up my position to let a fellow crewman get some needed flight time. I did so. It's been a sad experience to see so many friends lost that day Contributed by Andy Romanisky 103626.44@compuserve.com [10MAY99]

http://www.vpnavy.org/vp30_mishap.html

[cowford]

Here's one that involved the St. John's River in 1969.

26 Oct 1969
Lt. Charles "Spanky" Kelaghan was killed when his A-4 Skyhawk crashed into the St. John's River while making a landing approach to NAS Cecil Field.

http://www.a4skyhawk.org/files/gallery/Complete%20Casualty%20Records

[cowford]

In May of 1969 a P2V Neptune from Roosevelt Roads crashed into the St. Johns while attempting to land at NAS Jax.  One of the eleven on board was killed. 

Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, 1940-2000: An Illustrated History

https://books.google.com/books?id=Op1Pj0UGIGAC&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=list+of+plane+crashes+on+saint+johns+river&source=bl&ots=tVf-W1Fp9g&sig=7BUGiCYgO4s8z2eSl9qRe-8_9GI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjpgZ2q553MAhVF1x4KHaE3CbgQ6AEIWjAJ#v=onepage&q=list%20of%20plane%20crashes%20on%20saint%20johns%20river&f=false

I had no idea there were so many crashes into the St. Johns.

[acme54321]

Here's one that involved the St. John's River in 1969.

26 Oct 1969
Lt. Charles "Spanky" Kelaghan was killed when his A-4 Skyhawk crashed into the St. John's River while making a landing approach to NAS Cecil Field.

http://www.a4skyhawk.org/files/gallery/Complete%20Casualty%20Records

I'm guessing that Cecil Field is a typo here.