ENS ROBERT B. BILLINGS, USN

Class 1945

Born July 28, 1922

Died July 30, 1945

Age 23

Hometown Aurora, Illinois

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1945 Lucky Bag:

Robert Burton Billings

Golf 4; Battalion Pushball 3; NA-10, 4, 3, 1; Italian Club 4, 3.

After a year of engineering at Purdue, Bob got a whiff of salt air and headed for the Academy. Coming right along with him were his big bag of golf clubs and his guitar. “Bing” soon became a regular member of the rhythm section of the NA-10, but he was better known for his ten minute jam-sessions just before taps. He kept himself well supplied with feminine addresses; almost every Saturday noon saw him heading for town to pick up one of his numerous drags. Bob’s personality and ability should make him as welcome in the Fleet as he has been among his friends at the Academy.

He was a member of the 8th Company staff (1st set).The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Robert was lost at sea when USS Indianapolis (CA 35) was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Robert graduated from West High School in 1940. Glee Club 1, 2; Lettermen’s Club 3, 4; Student Council 2; Football (played end) 3, 4; Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4; Track 2, 3; Golf 1, 2, 3, 4; Intramural Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4; Class Vice-President 2; Prom Committee. National Honor Society.

His father, Edward Joseph, was a stockbroker; he was also survived by his mother Catherine, and sister Jane. At Purdue he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

He has a memory marker in California.

Photographs

All photos from his high school yearbook.

Harold Moynelo, Jr. ’45 was also lost in the sinking.

Conrad Grove, Jr. ‘45, Lloyd Wyatt, Jr. ‘45, Arthur Day ‘45, James Dawley, Jr. ‘45, Jack Flanagan ‘45, Alfred Sawyer ‘45, Richard Hodsdon ‘45, and John Horn ‘45 were also in 8th Company.

Class of 1945

Robert is one of 58 members of the Class of 1945 on Virtual Memorial Hall.