Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1970 Lucky Bag:

CHARLES DARRELL POTTER

Chuck came to USNA after graduating from Venice High School in Los Angeles, where he excelled in baseball and golf. Never one to become too buried in one field of endeavor, Chuck’s activities have been both varied and valuable. He was a member of the Scuba Club and the Public Relations Club while at Navy, and became one of the Brigade’s best squash players. His academic courses have covered a variety of fields, but have finally centered on Naval Architecture. Chuck, always interested in cars and sports, quarterbacked the lightweight football team and tried to keep his own car running. Chuck plans a future in Naval Aviation as a jet jockey, and if all goes right, a career with NASA in their space program.

Loss

Chuck was killed when his RF-8G Crusader crashed into Burnt Peak in California on December 23, 1976. He was a member of Light Photographic Squadron (VFP) 63.

Other Information

From a newspaper article on December 26, 1976 (submitted by Gary Vine ‘70 via Mike Novak ‘70):

Crash Kills Navy Pilot. A 29-year-old U.S. Navy lieutenant, identified as Charles D. Potter of Poway, was killed when his plane exploded and crashed 26 miles west of Lancaster early Thursday afternoon. The crash touched off a brush fire in the Sawmill Mountains which burned approximately 15 acres before controlled.

Sheriff’s officials said the plane, an F-8, was based at the Miramar Naval Air Station at San Diego. Lt. Potter was assigned to the light photo reconnaissance squadron there.

The crash occurred shortly before 2 p.m. and witnesses said the plane disintegrated before impact. Lt. Potter’s body was found a short distance from the crash scene. Apparently, he had unsuccessfully attempted to eject.

Responding to the scene were military and sheriff’s helicopters with paramedic personnel.

Lt. Potter is survived by his wife, Donna, and four-year-old son, of Poway, and his parents who reside in Laguna Beach.

The fire, pinpointed near Atmore Meadows just above Upper Snake was officially contained at 11 p.m. Thursday.

At the height of the blaze, approximately 150 men, including U.S. Forest personnel, county firemen and camp crews, were fighting to bring it under control. Equipment and men deployed numbered nine engines, three helicopters and four camp crews.

The exact airplane he was piloting was photographed in flight in 1975.

The crash was near the top of the 5,788-foot Burnt Peak, California.

Charles’s Find A Grave page is here.