Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1945 Lucky Bag:

William Douglas Counts

Battalion Soccer 4, 3; Chess Club 4, 3, 1; Vice-Pres., 1; German Club 4, 3, 1

A southern rebel from West Virginia, “Willie” came to the Naval Academy after a year of chemistry at Marshall College. At once his pleasant disposition, natural sense of humor, and understanding nature made Bill a wonderful companion. Studies, sailing, dragging, and rope-climbing all came naturally to him. Almost every hop would find Bill out on the dance floor doing the “West Virginia Shuffle.’” Plebe year, when most of us were struggling with academics. Bill was playing chess with a wise expression on his face. His carefree personality has won him many friends among the plebes. as well as among his own classmates. There never was a more amiable rebel.

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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

William was lost when the P2V-7LP Neptune he was aboard crashed while taking off from Wilkes Station, Antarctica, on November 9, 1961.

From VP Navy:

LOCATION: Wilkes Station, Antarctica TYPE: Crash SRIKE: Yes DEATHS: 05 BUNO: 140439 CAUSE: Crashed while taking off from Wilkes Station, Antarctica, Nov 9 1961 in support of Operation Deep Freeze 1962. While taking off from the skiway at Wilkes Station Antarctica the Neptune caught fire and crashed. Of the nine men on board, only four survived. Killed were Dr. Edward C. Thiel, LCDR William C. Counts, LTJG Romauld P. Compton, AMH1 William W. Chastain, and AD2R James L. Grey. A investigation of the crash reported the cause as a collision with the ground following an intense, uncontrollable fire in the landing gear - bomb bay fuel tank area.

(from: United States aircraft losses in Antarctica). WebSite: Antarctic Development Squadron Six http://www.vaq34.com/vxe6/p2v.htm [19APR2008]

An eyewitness account of the crash is titled The All American Boy.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

His father Clement was vice president of a mortgage and loan firm, mother Josephine, and brother Clement.

From the December 1961 issue of Shipmate:

On 9 November 1961 BILL COUNTS, recently attached to VX-6 in the Antarctic, crashed in the P2V he commanded, causing the death of Bill and his crew. The crash occurred at Wilkes Station on a flight to McMurdo Sound. Bill is survived by his widow, Jeannette, and four children, to whom the class extends deepest sympathy.

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Horace Bayless ‘45 was also in 20th Company.