David N. Smith and Stan Carr at Earl Carroll's Theatre in Hollywood on August 6th 1943

Three days after this photo was taken Stan Carr goes "in the drink" off the coast of Mexico. Eighteen days later both Stan and David Smith go in the drink near Hawaii.

Stan was involved in two aircraft accidents. This wasn't entirely uncommon as planes were routinely lost due to accidents. It was a dangerous business and there was a "very steep learning curve" for these young men. Stan's first accident happened while flying out of San Diego.

On the evening of August 9th 1943 several VT-1 aircraft took off from NAS North Island San Diego at about 10 PM to do some night flying (in bad weather). At about midnight all the planes returned except Stan's. Ens Garlock the squadron Gunnery Officer provided a great description of what happened to them in a letter written two days later. Attached is that letter with the ditching story on pages 3 & 4 highlighted in yellow. Ens Garlock was killed in an aircraft accident just five weeks later.

Shortly after the ditching Stan visited with family and was able to tell them about the situation. One humorous note to the story, as recalled by brother Bill Carr, was the fact that the life raft can be pulled out from either side of the plane and Stan found himself in a tug-o-war with the pilot Ltjg Wood who was desperately pulling from the other side.

Ens Garlock letter Aug 11th 1943 pg1

Letter pg2

Letter pg3 (ditching story highlighted in yellow)

Letter pg4 (ditching story highlighted in yellow)

Ens Garlock's letter (above) dated August 11th 1943 with the the ditching story highlighted in yellow on pages 3 & 4. Ens Robert Garlock was killed in a midair collision on Sep 19th 1943.

Accident report for the August 9th ditching

Radioman on the ditched plane ARM3c Wilbert J. Hubbard in Hilo Hawaii (still bandaged)

Accident report for the ditching (above). The pilot was Ltjg Leonard Wood and the radioman aboard was ARM3c Wilbert Hubbard (shown still bandaged from the accident in this photo). The plane involved was a model TBF-1 with bureau number 24237.

Note: Stan not mentioned by name in the accident report (presumably because he sustained no injuries). Also, this flight was not entered in Stan's logbook.

Stanley E Carr