LCDR ALAN E. HOSPES, USN

Class 1958

Born October 27, 1934

Died July 31, 1969

Age 34

Hometown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1958 Lucky Bag:

ALAN EVEREST HOSPES

Al took the long route in coming to the Academy, by way of a fleet appointment. He was born in Shanghai, China, but now claims Canada as his home. In his two years with the Fleet, he travelled throughout the Pacific before attending the preparatory school at Bainbridge. In the past four years, Al was a member of the Chapel Choir, and participated in Plebe and Junior Varsity soccer, and battalion golf. His Fleet experience makes him a man who ought to know what he wants in the Navy and his affinity for steam indicates that he should be a success in Naval aviation.

Loss

Alan was lost on July 31, 1969 when the aircraft he was piloting crashed near Flagler Beach, Florida. He was a member of Attack Squadron (VA) 36 based at the Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida.

Other Information

From the November 1969 issue of Shipmate:

Born in Shanghai, China, LCdr. Hospes enlisted in the Navy and served aboard the USS EDMONDS before he attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School at Bainbridge. Following graduation from the Academy in June 1958, he reported to Pensacola for flight training and was designated a naval aviator in Dec. 1959.

LCdr. Hospes had tours of duty with Patrol Squadron 42 based at North Island, Calif., Carrier Warning Squadron 11 and also at the Naval Postgraduate School until 1965 when he reported to Training Squadron 9 based at Meridian, Miss. Lt. Hospes subsequently served with Attack Squadrons 44 and 34 before joining Attack Squadron 36 in 1969. Among other awards he held the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars.

Survivors include his widow Sara and three children Stephanie, Valerie and Alan Bruce of 2850 Birchwood Dr., Orange Park, Fl. 32073; his parents Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hospes of 522 Hycroft Towers, 1445 Marpole Ave., Vancouver, Canada, and a brother Donald E. Hospes of Canada.

From A-4 Skyhawk¹:

July 31, 1969: Lcdr. Alan Everest Hospes perished when his parachute failed to open after ejecting from his stricken A-4C BuNo 149538, which crashed northwest of Flagler Beach, FL.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Alan was an American citizen by right of birth to American parents. He was born in Shanghai, China, when his father was an American steamship representative there. His mother was born in Japan when her father was at the U. S. Consulate in Tokyo.

Alan attended high school in Victoria, B. C., and Prince of Wales school in Vancouver.

In November 1952, Alan enlisted in the U. S. Navy at the Bellingham, Washington, recruiting office.

He married Sara Jo McPhail on February, 21, 1959, in the Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi.

He is buried in Florida.