Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1971 Lucky Bag:

JAMES PATRICK COLLINS

Jim came to the Naval Academy from the western New York town of Orchard Park. Not wanting to take the easy way out he chose an Aerospace Engineering Major. But, without too much overexertion he managed to get by academically. Jim took on more than the normal work load by becoming the Editor-in-Chief of the 1971. When he wasn’t occupied with Lucky Bag business, his favorite pastimes were intramural and girls. When (if?) he completes the yearbook, Jim will take a short tour with the Pacific Fleet before reporting to Pensacola for flight training.

Loss

James was lost on October 31, 1980 when the TA-4J Skyhawk he was piloting crashed on the Utah Test and Training Range. He was flying from Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada.

Other Information

From the January/February 1981 issue of Shipmate:

LCdr. James Patrick Collins USN was killed in the crash of his Navy A-4 aircraft on 31 October 1980 approximately 85 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. Memorial services were held at the Airman Memorial Chapel of the Naval Air Station, Miramar, San Diego, California, on 5 November.

Appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of New York, he was graduated with the Class of 1971. He completed flight training and was designated naval aviator in October 1973 and was assigned to Training Squadron TWENTY-FOUR as a flight instructor. Later he flew with Attack Squadron ONE TWENTY-TWO at Lemoore, California, then deployed on board Coral Sea with Attack Squadron TWENTY-TWO to the Western Pacific. In April, 1979 he reported to Fighter Squadron ONE TWENTY-SIX at Miramar.

LCdr. Collins was qualified as an air combat maneuvering adversary instructor, and served as avionics division officer and aircraft division officer. He had been awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Collins of Orchard Park, New York; and two brothers.

He has a memorial marker in New York.