Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1946 Lucky Bag:

John Charles Thompson, Jr.

Up the Chesapeake a few miles, Johnny transferred his residence from Norfolk to the Naval Academy intent on a Navy career. He was onto the system in short order and could always be counted upon to take advantage of any of the few privileges extended; he could be found in town most any liberty day. The winter terms found John making good in the fencing loft, from which he sent many a man with saber bruises. A happy smile and gay disposition have won Johnny many friends and I can safely say, “He’ll get along.”

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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

John was lost on May 22, 1952 when the airplane he was piloting “crashed just south of Virginia Beach Boulevard ner London Bridge”. He was returning from a “routine night training flight” and was approaching Oceana Naval Air Station at the time.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

John graduated from Maury High School in 1941. Johnny. Technical Preparatory. It’ll be “anchors aweigh” for Johnny after graduation. He’ll train for Uncle Sam at the U. S. Naval Academy. Honor graduate.

His parents, John and Pansy, both worked as clerks in the Navy Yard in Norfolk. His sister was Jeane.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. John was survived by his wife, “Mrs. Louis Day Thompson,” who was visiting her parents in Berlin, Germany.

Photographs

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Jackson Robinson ’46 was also on the fencing team.

Percival Fenton, Jr. ‘46 and Philip Allen ‘46 were also members of 12th Company.