CDR ALBERT J. THOMPSON, USN

Class 1948

Born April 25, 1926

Died July 15, 1964

Age 38

Hometown Manchester, New Hampshire

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1948 Lucky Bag:

ALBERT JAMES THOMPSON

Now that an oasis has been found in the Antarctica you’ll probably hear Aldo advocating skis for torpedo boats . . . Admiral Byrd has a serious competitor and a worthy successor. Coming from the colder climes of New England. . . it is not surprising that he has a preference for winter sports. Skiing is his favorite sport . . he follows it with great energy when he gets back to the New Hampshire mountains on his Christmas leaves. His secret ambition is to buy the slopes of Tuckerman Ravine for his own personal ski slide. Aldo’s tastes are many and varied … he goes all out for classical music . . . but his interests are not all longhair. He likes nothing better than a good party … if its not good to begin with . . Aldo’s mere presence will make things lively before long. Your drag . . . that includes everyone from a midshipman to an admiral … is not safe as long as Aldo’s on the loose. A local shark at bridge — his finesses ranked him with the experts. Always played the roughest contact sports . . . came in a mass of blood and bruises. Academics for him were a soft touch . . . his philosophy that of a happy life. He plans to be one of the future Take her down boys.

Albert graduated from the 22nd Company with the class of 1948-B in June 1948. (The top half of the class academically, designated 1948-A, graduated in June 1947 as the last wartime-accelerated class.)

Loss

Albert was lost when the F-4 Phantom he was piloting crashed into the Mediterranean on July 15, 1964, while operating from USS Enterprise (CVAN 65). Also lost was ENS Joseph Bernard Kelley, Jr.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Albert was executive officer of fighter Squadron 102 at Oceana Naval Air Station. His fatal crash occurred during a training flight. Eyewitnesses said the supersonic fighter apparently went out of control during an intercept maneuver and crashed into the sea. His body was not found. A memorial service was held for him in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at the Naval Air Station, Oceana, Virginia.

His father William was a plumber, mother Ellen, brother William, and sister Dorothy.

He was survived by his widow Marie Agnes (nee Sullivan), two sons, and his parents Mr. & Mrs. William A. Thompson.

Photographs

1948-B 22nd Company

Robert Mitchell, Jr. ‘48 and Baldomero Lopez ‘48 were also in 22nd Company.

Class of 1948

Albert is one of 48 members of the Class of 1948 on Virtual Memorial Hall.