Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1948 Lucky Bag:

Robert Nicholson Mitchell, Jr.

From Bolivar, “close to Memphis,” Tennessee, Mitch came to the Academy with more than his share of the old Blue and Gold. During plebe summer, Mitch took up track, and in spite of his “I hate to run” motto, he ran right through three years of Academy life. Although the academic grind proved no obstacle to this savvy son of the South, anyone interested can find his Dago book at the bottom of the Severn. Mitch’s big-heartedness and always-willing-to-do-a-favor manner made him everybody’s friend. From Crabtown to the far China Station, this Navy-loving twenty-year man is certain to find success in the Fleet.

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He graduated with the class of 1948-A, the last of the wartime-accelerated classes, in June 1947. (The bottom half of the class by academic standing, designated 1948-B, completed an extra year and graduated in June 1948.)

Loss

Robert was lost on May 24, 1950 when his F4U Corsair plane crashed while he was doing a practice dive bombing run. The crash was about 15 miles southeast of Kingsville.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Robert attended the Bolivar Central High School. He served as an apprentice seaman in the U. S. Naval Reserve at the University of Louisville (Navy V-12) and at the Naval Academy Preparatory School of Bainbridge, Maryland (Navy V-6.) He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Congressman Thomas Murray in June 1944.

While at the Naval Academy, he received class numerals in track and an “cNAc” award in cross country. He visited West Point Military Academy in an exchange program in March, 1947. In May, Robert spoke on “Naval Academy Life and Activities” at a dinner in honor of the Naval Board of Visitors.

In October 1948, Robert left his ship in Arabia as he was transferred to Navy Aviation in Pensacola. He went by plane to Morocco, Gibraltar, Bermuda and Washington. While on leave at home, Robert incurred injuries in an automobile accident.

He was well enough to start his Naval flight training in Pensacola by February 1949. In June, Robert and his roommate, Ensign Nello A. DaRodda (‘48A,) both of Whiting Field, Pensacola, spent the weekend with Robert’s parents in Bolivar. In November, his parents joined him in Pensacola and attended the Navy-Tulane football game.

Robert’s funeral services were held on May 27 at the First Methodist Church of Bolivar.

His father was clerk for the Town of Bolivar, TVA Water & Light. His mother was Jimmie.

He is buried in Boliver, Tennessee.

Photographs

From The Jackson Sun on June 8, 1947

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