Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1981 Lucky Bag:

David M. Sperling

The advisory board of Sperling Enterprises, Ltd., wishes to use this opportunity to introduce its present chairman. Sperls came to us from P-cola (among other places), after a few years of intermediate travels and higher education. With his partner in crime, Squirrely pursued the famed fast-back and the pair’s financial wizardry and culinary expertise soon became topics of household discussion. Sperls was always off on some new adventure — if it wasn’t Puerto Rico it was Egypt or Australia or wherever the next MAC flight was bound. Despite his unrivaled charm and quick wit, he was unable to gain a cherished position on the Dwevo or Over-cooked Weeners teams, something mild-mannered Sperl regretted throughout his tenure at USNA. Regardless of his immaculate conduct record (!?), the chairman wishes to acknowledge the following delinquency codes: 3115, 5140, 4155, 2175, 2230, 1310, 1550, 1625, etc. In addition, he offers his undying thanks to Mom and Dad and concedes that Mac-o, regardless, you’re TFA.

Loss

David was lost when his KA-6D Intruder crashed at “Mount Taebaeksan while clearing the range near Pusan, Republic of Korea” while on a training mission. He was the bombardier/navigator; the pilot was also lost. They were members of Attack Squadron (VA) 115, normally aboard USS Midway but operating from Atsugi AFB, Japan.

Other Information

From the Pensacola News Journal on July 28, 1984:

Lt. Sperling was a native of Pensacola. He attended school in Lemoore, CA., Monterey, CA and Stuttgart, Germany. He graduated in 1976 Forrest Sherman High School In Italy; letters in Golf and Wrestling, attended Kiski Prep School, Harrisburg, PA (U. S. Naval Academy Foundation Scholarship), U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis 1977-1981 commissioned as Ensign with Class of 81; Bachelor Degree (Aerospace Engineering) Aviation Career: NFO Flight Training, Pensacola, FL, 1982; B/N Training, Whidbey Island, WA 1983; Legal Survival School, San Diego, CA 1983; VA-115 USS Midway (CV-41) Yokosuka, Japan 1983. He became an Eagle Scout 1975 and other recreational activities included Scuba Diving, Golf, Racquet Ball, and was a Junior member of the American Ski Patrol.

Survivors include his parents, Capt. & Mrs. David J. Sperling USN Ret. [USNA 1952], Boonton, N.J.; a sister, Denise Michelle Spinner, Pensacola; a brother, Douglas Mitchell Sperling, Pensacola and his grandmother, Iris S. Perry of Boonton, NJ.

David is buried in Barrancas National Cemetery, Florida.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag