Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1953 Lucky Bag:

JAMES CARTON FLAHERTY

Jim Flaherty, “The Smiling Irishman,” will long be remembered as the man who succeeded no matter how great the odds. Never was greater capacity for work displayed by one individual. Probably no single person in the class of 1953 crammed more into a twenty-four-hour day than did Jim. With a heart as big as Dublin, he was a friend to all. An ex-ROTC, Jim came to Navy via Boston College and later the University of Louisville, fresh from the decks of the USS Iowa. Versed in all matters, even the inner workings of shunt fields. Look for efficiency, punctuality, and an air of cordiality and ten to one there’ll be Jim.

Loss

James was one of three pilots killed when their B-25 crashed north of San Angelo, Texas, on April 7, 1958; he was an instructor pilot with the 3545th Pilot Training Squadron, flying from Goodfellow AFB, Texas.

Other Information

He was survived by his wife, Barbara, and nine-month-old daughter, Deborah Lee. (Information from July 1958 issue of Shipmate.)

From researcher Kathy Franz:

James graduated from Boston Latin school in 1946 with the quote: “Wit, now and then, struck smoothly, shows a spark.” Activities: Golf II, I, Mathematics Club I, Debating Club II, I, Science Club I, Highway Safety Club I, New Year’s Prom Committee I, Usher at Graduation II, Classical Prize IV, III, Fidelity Prize II, 2nd Lieut. 8th Co. 1st Reg. He then went to Boston College. After the Naval Academy, he earned his wings in 1957.

His father James was a newspaper pressman; mother Marjorie; brothers Paul and John.

James is buried in Massachusetts.

Photographs

From the Boston Latin yearbook, 1946