Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1946 Lucky Bag:

William Francis Whalen, Jr.

A self-imposed Red Mike, a prolific arguer, and a good guy—that’s Willie. Despite the incessant struggle with the academics, life was a pacific existence. Give him a Saturday night poker session, a bit of sailing, an occasional uproarious week-end, or a bit of rollicking camaraderie, and “Chief” was content. Song and devilish good- naturedness, plus a ready carton of skags endeared him to wife and buddies alike. After surviving tortuous years together as youngster and first class, we have a wealth of memories—good luck, Willie.

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The Class of 1946 was graduated in June 1945 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

William was lost when his aircraft, a prototype YF-8C Crusader, crashed near NAS Patuxent River, MD, on January 3, 1961. He successfully ejected from the aircraft but his parachute failed to open.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

At Montrose High School in 1941, he was elected president of the junior class and sang in the Mixed Chorus. He then graduated from a naval preparatory school in Maryland in 1942.

Per the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, January 7, 1961: William flew several missions aboard the aircraft carrier Leyte, including two missions in the Mediterranean during the Suez Crisis.

He received three awards for meritorious achievement as pilot of a fighter plane in Fighter Squadron 32 attached to Leyte during the Korean conflict. He also wore two battle stars on his Korean War Service ribbon. He graduated in 1958 from the Naval Test Pilot School.

William was survived by his wife and three children, Kathleen, Michael and Susan. He was also survived by his mother Lena of Binghamton, father Captain William F. Whalen of the Merchant Marine in Seattle, and brother James Whalen, an atomic research physicist in Boston.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Photographs

William in 1941

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Wayne Swanson ‘46 and Chester Penney, Jr. ‘46 were also members of 1st Company.