Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1953 Lucky Bag:

WILLIAM GORDON KIRK

Originally slated for the Coast Guard Academy, Bill spent a year in prep school to get in shape for Navy. Quick to make friends, his inherent good humor always got the best of his momentary flashes of temper. A partial sand-blower, he nevertheless was a bundle of energy when it came to pursuing his favorite pastime, obtaining more advertising for the LOG. Few indeed were the days that did not bring with them new ideas along that line. In the sporting category, boxing and sailing were his chief likes. His ambitions included a pair of Navy wings over his breast pocket.

Loss

William was lost on April 21, 1955¹ when the T-28A he was piloting as an instructor collided with another trainer and crashed. All four pilots were killed.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

A native of Wilkensburg, PA, William moved to Delaware County with his family in 1942. He graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1948 and was on the track team and varsity cross country. He then attended the Admiral Billard Academy in New London, Connecticut, for a year.

William took primary training at Hondo Air Force Base, Texas, and about a year ago earned his jet pilot wings at Webb Air Force Base. He had been assigned flight instruction duty since then. His fatal plane crash was near Big Spring, Texas.

His father William of Drexel Park, Pennsylvania, had planned to meet him at Greater Pittsburg Airport the next morning for a hop in a jet plane.

Survivors are his parents (mother was the former Sarah Gordon) and a sister Mrs. Alice Overton of Westbrook Park, Pennsylvania. Alice graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1945.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook

References