Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1947 Lucky Bag:

John Lamar Switzer

Here, ladies and gentlemen, we have the eighth wonder of the world, a Naval aviator’s son who doesn’t aspire to be a fly boy. John came from New Mexico Military Institute and always thought the deck we lived on should have been called a stoop. When not playing cards with his Bridge Club, consisting entirely of plebes who wouldn’t dare complain about his playing, John could be found talking to re-exam buddies or admiring his collection of foo-foo juices. To him a smile is about the most useless action of man, a hearty laugh is no more trouble, so why go only half way?

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The Class of 1947 was graduated in June 1946 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

John was lost on November 22, 1959 when the A4D-2N Skyhawk he was piloting crashed in near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

The newspaper reported that he ejected from the plane, his parachute opened, but he was dead when they pulled him out of the water. He was returning to Maryland from California where modification of his plane was tested and evaluated. He stayed the night before with his parents in Pensacola.

In 1930, his family lived in Annapolis; in 1935, in Washington, D.C.; and in 1940, in San Diego. John attended New Mexico Military Institute, and in May, 1943, he was a student at Randles school.

In July 1946, he was stationed in Jacksonville. John married Mary Carroll Brent on December 28, 1948, in the Naval Air Station chapel in Pensacola.

In July, 1952, John was landing signal officer at Barin Field, Foley, Alabama.

In addition to his wife and three sons, he was survived by his parents and sister. His father was a 1921 graduate who commanded two aircraft carriers in World War II and retired a Vice Admiral. His mother was the first woman named to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation Board, in 1992. His younger brother, Wendell Switzer, Jr. ‘53, was lost in a naval aviation accident in 1955.

Memorial

From History of NAS Patuxent River, Maryland¹:

Switzer Road – In honor of Navy Lt. Cmdr. John L. Switzer who lost his life in an A4D-2N that exploded in midair in the Patuxent River, on 21 November 1959

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His younger brother, Wendell Switzer, Jr. ‘53, was also lost in an aircraft accident.

Donald Fantozzi ‘47, John Guild ‘47, and Frederick Sachse, Jr. ‘47 were also in 19th Company.

References