Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1945 Lucky Bag:

Beverley Randolph

Battalion Track 4, 3, 1; Battalion Bowling 3, 1; Reception Committee 3, 1.

A man well deserving of such a distinguished family, Bev, the only southerner among three New Englanders, had little trouble holding up his end of any discussion. He has a mind of his own that accomplishes whatever he sets out to do. With a weakness for good-looking women and a liking for sports, Randy still found time for frequent bridge sessions. Bev is a true southern gentleman in more ways than one, well-mannered, forceful, and a great exponent for handing out dope, whether good or bad. He’s a man any skipper with be more than happy to get.

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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

From the May 1958 issue of Shipmate:

The tragic news is that Classmate BEVERLEY RANDOLPH was killed in an aircraft accident, flying out of Patuxent Naval Air Station. He is survived by his wife, Beverly, a son, Keith, and a daughter, Anne.

From Wikipedia:

About five minutes before the crash, Bev reported to the control tower and requested landing instructions. About two minutes later he reported in a very calm voice that he had an “indication” of fire in the afterburner section of the airplane. The tower cleared him to land on runway 6 and asked his position. Bev reported that he was 4 miles East and the tower offered runway 31 if desired. Bev said he would try to get in on runway 6. The first indication that anyone had of real trouble came about a minute later when Bev reported that he was going to be short.

From the investigation we have found that there was no actual fire and that the engine had been secured. We are convinced that Bev felt that he could make the field in a “flameout” (no power) landing. By the time he realized he could not make the runway he was over a housing area. He was high enough to eject at this point but he elected to ride the plane into the trees rather than endanger the people below

The date of the accident was April 4, 1958; he was piloting a Grumman F-11. Beverley is buried in Virginia.

Other

From Wikipedia:

Randolph received his “wings of gold” as a Naval Aviator in 1947. He attended the United States Naval Test Pilot School at the Naval Air Test Center, NAS Patuxent River, Maryland

He flew 23 combat missions in the Korean War with Fighter Squadron (VF) 154.

Memorial Hall Error

Beverley is not listed with his classmates for some reason. His headstone indicates he was a Lieutenant Commander, US Navy; the Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1958 holds him as an active duty officer. His omission was discovered via the May 1958 issue of Shipmate.