Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1953 Lucky Bag:

RANDOLPH CLAY HANBACK

Young Randy first saw the light of day in the Deep South, Warrenton, Virginia. Realizing his error he moved to Washington, D.C., at the tender age of seven. After graduating from Western High he entered active duty as a weekend warrior. Although his first tour of duty was short, Randy was deeply bitten by the Navy-Blue-and-Gold Bug. He entered Sully’s Prep to prepare for the entrance exams. Soccer and dragging brightened the days spent at Navy with dragging taking the honors. Studies took a minimum of time, with letters to his OAO taking up much of the study periods. Skinny fought a losing battle with Chopin, Bizet, and Bach. It’s wedding bells and Wings for Randy.

Loss

Randolph was lost on February 2, 1956 when his AD-5 Skyraider crashed near Naval Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey.

From Find A Grave:

Killed in aircraft accident at NAS Atlantic City, NJ during practice Ground Controlled Approach under actual weather conditions. His last words on the GCA tape were, “Vertigo, vertigo, wherefore art thou vertigo?”

Lt(jg) Randolph C Hanback of Linwood, NJ was attached to Composite Squadron 33, NAS Atlantic City, NJ. He died when the AD-5 “Skyraider” he piloted crashed during a instrument landing through low hanging clouds at their base. The aircraft crashed and burned in a rain-swept swamp between Spruce and Chestnut Streets in Laureldale, NJ, about 1.5 miles from SH-50.

Also killed was Ens. Richard Lynne Sander of Pittsburgh, PA and Ordnance Man 2/c Barnard V Lee of Pleasantville, NJ.

Other Information

He was survived by his wife, Karlene; she remarried and passed away in 2014.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Randolph won letters in soccer and class numerals in soccer and dinghy sailing.

In addition to his wife, he was survived by their 2-year-old daughter Deborah. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. H. Clay Hanback; his father was a Corporal in the Army.

Photographs

From the Press of Atlantic City, February 3, 1956