Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1944 Lucky Bag:

Ejnar N. C. Thompson

This Oklahoma edition of “Flip Corkin” entered the Academy via the Navy, where he learned some of the rudiments of his chosen profession. Tommy—nobody knew what the E. N. C. stood for—was well known for his unfailing good humor, a caustic tongue which pricked many bubbles of conceit and excessive dignity, and an inherent willingness to take either side of any question whereon he had conviction. “Oklahoma” fostered a great love and a great ambition, and these have been his life. The former is to result in the first ceremony in the Naval Academy chapel on Graduation Day, and the latter is to continue throughout the years.

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The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Ejnar was lost on March 24, 1960 when his F3H-2 Demon crashed near Moffett Field, California, while returning from USS Hancock. He was the commanding officer of Fighter Squadron (VF) 213.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Ejnar graduated in 1938 from Ardmore High School. National Honor Society, debate team. Class Prophecy: The lion tamer is Ejnar Thompson (He couldn’t train his women, so he’s taming the next best thing). Class Will: Ejnar Thompson leaves his teeth to C. O. Taylor.

Ejnar married Mary Margaret Nichols on June 9, 1943, in the Naval Academy chapel.

In 1951, he was a member of the executive staff of the Naval Academy.

When Ejnar made an instrument approach to Moffett Naval Air Station, all seemed normal although the coast was foggy. He crashed just 100 feet below the 2200-foot summit of Montebellow Ridge. His parachute was open, so he may have tried to eject himself from the disabled plane.

He was survived by his wife Margaret, son Ejnar, daughter Susan, and brothers Capt. Holger Thompson and Chris Thompson. Other siblings were Herman, Jr., and Margaret.

His father was Herman M. of Portales, New Mexico. His mother Christina died in 1931.

From the May 1960 issue of Shipmate:

Tommy entered the Naval Academy from the fleet. After overseas duty during World War II he became a naval aviator. He had a series of aviation duty stations and most recently completed a tour of duty at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in mid-1959.

He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on 4 April. Margaret and the children are residing at 483 Los Ninos W ay, Los Altos, Calif.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Photographs

From The San Francisco Examiner on March 25, 1960

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Bruce Purvis ‘57 was lost while operating from Hancock on the same day in a separate incident.