Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1975 Lucky Bag:

FRANCIS X. McKEONE

Frank, commonly known to us as Francis or Big Frank, came to our hallowed halls from the large metropolis of Newark, Delaware. A graduate of Salisianum High School, then a graduate of NAPS, Frank is one of the most respected individuals among his peers. He is always seen with a good disposition and a jovial attitude, yet he’s not afraid to stand up for what he believes. Though not recruited for the Track team, Frank was State high school champion in the javelin event, only to be plagued with injuries when he came here. Academics not being one of his stronger assets, he still has an uncanny ability to get the gouge and pass it along. Among his ECA’s is a certain female whose enthusiasm and encouragement have pulled him through USNA. Not a weekend has gone by since youngster year, that he and Janie have not been together. Looking forward to a future in Navy Air, he will definitely be an asset to the program wherever he goes. Whether Frank is career oriented or not, it will undoubtedly be one filled with success. We all have confidence in him. Good luck Mac!

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He was also a member of the 35th Company staff (1st set).

Loss

Francis was lost on December 11, 1977 when his P-3 aircraft struck a mountain on Hierro Island, The Canaries.

Shipmate

From the September 1978 issue of Shipmate:

Appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of Delaware, he attended the preparatory school at Bainbridge, Maryland, prior to reporting to the Academy. Upon graduation with the Class of 1975 he proceeded to flight training at Pensacola, then was designated naval aviator at Corpus Christi in October 1976. After schooling at North Island, San Diego, he reported to Moffett Field for training in the P-3, then began his first tour with VP-11 at the naval air station, Brunswick, Maine. His squadron was deployed in October 1977 for the Azores and Rota, Spain, and the accident occurred while flying out of Lajes Field in the Azores.

He is survived by his widow, Jane, and a son, Matthew.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Francis graduated in 1970 from Salesianum High School in Wilmington. Known as “Big Frank,” he participated in football (tackle, 3rd Team All-State) 1, 2, 3, 4, co-captain 4; track 1, 2, 3, 4; Minuteman 3, 4.

In November 1970, Francis’ brother Lt. James J. McKeone, who recently received his Air Force silver pilot wings at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, was enroute to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, piloting the C-7A Caribou, used in airlift operations. Francis was at the Naval Preparatory School awaiting his appointment to the Naval Academy.

On June 14, 1975, Francis married Jane Zittle Mayer at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Newark. His brother Thomas was best man. Francis’ classmates and Ensigns Rodney Repka, Scott Peterson, David Duffie, Thomas Frey, Craig McClellan and Mark Milliken also attended the military wedding.

Francis and Jane’s son Matthew was born November 27, 1976, at NAS Corpus Christi.

He was also survived by his father James, mother Helen, brothers Capt. James J. of the U.S. Air Force, and Thomas. His father served in the Navy during WWII and the Korean War.

He is buried in Delaware, and is listed on a memorial marker at the site of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station.

Photographs

From the September 1978 issue of _Shipmate_.

From his high school yearbook

From his high school yearbook

From his high school yearbook, "Francis applies pressure on the Conrad quarterback."