USS Little Rock CL 92
Loss of SC-1 Seahawk #35555
Page last updated:
14 May, 2026
08 August 1945
| On Wednesday, 08 August 1945, the USS Little
Rock lost a Curtiss SC-1
"Seahawk" seaplane off the coast of Cuba during an aircraft launch and
recovery
operation. The aircraft sank, however the pilot was rescued. The Navy accident report lists the date as "8/4/45" but this is probably an error. Other records indicate that the ship was secured on 04 August 1945 (a Saturday) because of heavy weather resulting from a hurricane over Santo Domingo. Here are the details as given in the accident report:
An eyewitness account of the acident from CL 92 shipmate John Breslin (S1/C 1945-46) provides this: ".... from my "Air, Aft" lookout post behind the highest aft director, I witnessed and described (on SP phone), our only complete aircraft loss during my time aboard. Ensign Wayne R. Merryman was landing one of our scout planes south of Cuba, on the smoothed-over water surface our ship always created for landings, by making a slowed-down sliding turn. As Ens. Merryman was taxiing up towards our towed recovery netted sled, his plane suddenly nosed over, engine still turning and tail straight up in the air. The pilot was pitched forward out of his cockpit, into a bright, clear sea, teeming with hundreds of visible sharks. I reported the sharks immediately on my SP phone, but they were also clearly visible from all parts of our ship. The OD immediately ordered the rescue whaleboat's crew not to enter the water. But when the swimming pilot was not able to grasp the boathook, my buddy and bunk-neighbor, (whose rack was directly across the aisle), immediately dove over his bow and swam to the pilot who was losing consciousness. Grasping the pilot's life vest collar, "Sully", our Coxswain W.M. Sullivan, swam closer to the whaleboat and then helped push the limp pilot aboard, as others pulled him in. "Sully" did get a Life Saving Medal for risking a plunge into shark infested waters against orders." From: Anthony Mastroianni, S1/C C Div. 1945-46 "Regarding the 8/4/45 loss of our plane.... I remember that incident quite well as I was on duty on bridge and witnessed the accident. Prior to the accident an object was reported in the water. (The) crew manned the 40mm to sink object. It was shortly after that incident, that as we were preparing to retrieve our aircraft, the pilot approached the ship to land, hit a wave, and capsized. Being on duty on the bridge I was called as part of rescue crew that manned the whale boat to retrieve pilot. On that day the weather was fine." |
 |
| This
is a photo of the first launching of a Curtiss SC-1 "Seahawk" from the
USS Little Rock. This official Navy photo, taken on 25 July 1945,
states that the aircraft pilot was "Lt. Frank." Note however that there
is nothing that identifies this as aircraft #35555. Little Rock carried
three (3) SC-1's. Photo generously
donated by Joseph Hekimian |
 |
This
photo, taken immediately after the sinking of SC-1 #35555, shows pilot
Ensign Merryman aboad the motor whaleboat about to transfer onto the USS Little Rock.
Two items worth noting: (1) the soaked sailor standing in the forward part of the whaleboat. This may be Coxswain W.M. "Sully" Sullivan refered to in the above narrative. And (2) pilots apparently wore neckties while flying! Photo generously
donated by Joseph Hekimian |
 |
| This photo shows a boat crew
from
USS Little Rock attempting to salvage aircraft #35555. Note that the
plane is inverted with only the float above the surface. There is
nothing in any records that we have to indicate that the plane was
salvaged. Photo generously
donated by Joseph Hekimian |
For other photos of this event click HERE.
Details regarding the above incident are from various sources. Your input may be invaluable in helping us keep the facts correct.
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