Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1954 Lucky Bag:

Derald Ray Beal

STEEPLECHASE—4.3.2.1. SOCCER—4,3,2,1. FOREIGN LANGUAGES CLUB—4,3. RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB—4,3,2,1. ENGINEERING CLUB—2,1. SOUND UNIT WRNV—4.3,2,1. VARSITY: SOCCER—4.

Referred to as the snorkel by many of his classmates, Derald came to Usnay from the Jayhawker state with a blue and gold heart and a great desire to wear Navy wings of gold. His many passions include music, soccer, swimming, and women, and his battle cry of “Let’s throw a party!” is a familiar sound to many. He managed to keep ahead of the academic departments with little effort. When not planning the next leave or liberty, he helped to keep WRNV on the air. Derald could usually be found on the soccer field, in the natatorium, or in the rack. He is rarely caught without the dope on something, can talk his way in and out of anything, and lives mainly for good times, good food, and flying.

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Derald was a member of 3rd Company staff for the winter set.

Loss

Derald was lost when his AD-6 Skyraider crashed on April 30, 1958. (Information from Class of 1954 via email on June 8, 2017.)

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Born in Leoti, Kansas, he moved to Wichita and attended Robinson Intermediate School. He served in the Representative Assembly in 1947-48 at Wichita High School East and graduated in 1950.

In May 1950, Derald was named a successful candidate for the naval reserve officer training corps.

He married Lois Lillian Meis at the Blessed Sacrament Church on June 19, 1954. Ensign William E. Greer, III, was best man. Ushers were Ensigns John S. Tate, Jack B. Wildman, and Snowden C. Ager.

Both Derald and Greer graduated from the same high school. Stephen was Greer’s best man at his wedding in April 1957.

Derald took formation flying training at Pensacola in January 1955. He then took training at Foley, Alabama, and Kingsville, Texas. He served in the Far East from July 1957 until February 13, 1958.

He was a trophy-winning competitor in the Navy Weapons Meet at El Centro Naval Auxiliary Air Station in April 1958.

From the July 1958 issue of Shipmate:

He was a pilot in Attack Squadron 126 at the time and was formerly with Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 38. Lieutenant Beal was a native of Kansas. As a midshipman, his main extra-curricular interest for four years was in keeping WRNV, the Naval Academy television station, on the air. He was a member of the Alumni Association since graduation.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Lois Lillian Beal.

He was the third member of the class to earn his Wings of Gold as a naval aviator.

Derald has a memory marker in California.

Photographs

From the Wichita Beacon on June 24, 1954

From the Wichita Beacon on November 16, 1954

From the Wichita Beacon on May 24, 1954