Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1955 Lucky Bag:

JOHN EVERETT COWELL

Thorpe was among the most versatile athletes on the field. Hailing from little Mass, John came to the Academy after learning how to use the slide rule at Worcester Polytechnic. He often baffled various academic departments with his methods but always seemed to come up with the right answer. Standing close to the top in scholastics did not alter Jack’s desire for adventure, and he has been known to see the night lights of Baltimore. Second Class cruise saw Jack perform at the Lord Nelson in Halifax — he was fabulous! Also among Jack’s attributes was his ability at drilling. This was perfected after many Wednesday afternoon practice sessions. Jack used his ability to use a shovel by contributing various articles to the Log.

Loss

John was lost in an aircraft accident on December 17, 1957. He was a member of the 353rd Fighter-Day Squadron, based at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

He graduated from Northampton High School in 1950 and attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and played football. He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Congressman John W. Heselton (R-Mass.) out of a group of 33 taking the civil service examination.

John received the Kiwanis prize for outstanding athletic and scholarship (see photo) and a scholarship to Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

He took primary flight training at Moen Air Force Base in Mission, Texas.

In June, 1956, John flew from Bryant Field, Texas, to Westover, Massachusetts. The Berkshire Eagle reported “Townspeople wondered why the jet flew so low, but found later it was Jack buzzing his home town en route. This was his first cross-country flight.”

On August 14, John graduated from basic flying training and received his wings at Bryan Air Force Base.

He next reported for advanced training on an F86 jet at the Air Force Base in Chandler, Arizona.

His funeral service was held in the Village Congregation Church. Honor guard and active bearers were from the Westover Air Force Base. Burial was in the West Cummington Cemetery.

He is buried in South Carolina, and was survived by his wife, the former Margaret Gay Campbell; two year old daughter, Debora; and eight-month-old son, Bryan. His parents were Stanley and the late Vernice Cowell; four brothers were Robert, Thomas, Raymond and Lorin; two sisters, Judy and Lynn; and maternal grandmother Mrs. Janet Hodkins.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

From The Morning Union on July 11, 1950

From ancestry.com

Memorial Hall Error

John was a 1st Lieutenant, USAF; he is listed in Memorial Hall as a 2LT, US Army.