Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1958 Lucky Bag:

MASSEY LEW PIERCE

Matt came to a new life at Navy from the whiskey capital of the world. From the moment he first stenciled his gear, he was a keen competitor for the blue and gold, and always demonstrated a willingness and capacity to learn. Competing in all phases of intramurals and extracurricular activities, Matt gained a countless number of friends with his crisp and personable sense of humor. He aspires to travel down Pensacola way after graduation and to win those coveted wings of Navy air.

Loss

Massey was lost on June 15, 1960 when the FJ4 Fury jet he was piloting crashed at Brown Field, Chula Vista, California.

Other Information

From the August 1960 issue of Shipmate:

It is my sad duty to announce the death of Lt. (jg) MASSEY L. “MAT” PIERCE in an aircraft accident near San Diego, Calif. Mat was attached to Utility Squadron Seven at NAAS Brown Field, Chula Vista, Calif. All of those who knew Mat will agree that we have lost a classmate who was an outstanding officer and a fine person. He is survived by his mother, his widow Sallie, and a son.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Massey was flying his Navy FJ4 Fury jet when it crashed and burned at Brown Field. He was taking off for a training mission.

In his teen years, he was a member of Lambda Sigma Kappa Fraternity in Fort Thomas. Purpose “To have a Good Time in the Proper Spirit.” At Highlands High School, he participated in Hi-Y, basketball, and baseball.

Massey was captain of the football and baseball teams his senior high school year. He was a member of the band, the Student Council and took part in dramatics.

He married Sally Miller of Cincinnati. When Massey died, their son Robert Massey Pierce was only 11 months old.

Following graduation, he did flight training at Pensacola and jet training at Beeville, Texas. He won his wings on March 11, 1960, the same day his father died.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook

From his high school yearbook

From The Cincinnati Post on February 20, 1960