Photographs

Richard, taken from a group photo in the USS Kearsarge (CV 33) cruise book from the previous deployment in 1961. Source

From the Honolulu Star Bulletin on March 11, 1950

From the Alameda Times Star on June 9, 1960

Naval Academy

Richard was honorably discharged on June 13, 1958 with the note: “Deficient in studies, discharged under honorable conditions and resumed or transferred to prior enlisted status.”

Loss

Richard was lost on May 26, 1963 when the S2F Tracer he was piloting crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.

Other Information

From Redlands Daily Facts of Redlands, California, on May 27, 1963:

The four-man crew of an S2F tracer plane from the aircraft carrier Kearsarge was missing and presumed dead today, the commander of Air Force Pacific Fleet said. The plane crashed during antisubmarine warfare exercises about 150 miles south of Honolulu Sunday. The crew members were Lt. Cmdr. Norris M. Tollefson of Imperial Beach, the pilot; Lt. (j.g.) Richard E. Farrington, of Saratoga, the co-pilot; PO 1/C Ernest H. Gunther, of Imperial Beach; and PO 2/C. Ray Harold Hash, of Chula Vista.

Richard was survived by his fiancé, Judith K. Wolfe of Mission Beach, California, 22, to whom he was to be married on May 29th. She was a teacher at Morse High School. (Information from news clipping.)

He was the son of Captain Elvin L. Farrington, USN, ‘31, who served as Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV 47), and Naval Air Station Alameda. He was also the likely source of a memorial plaque to this son that now hangs on the wall of the second floor of Dahlgren Hall.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In May 1950, Richard joined a new Boy Scout troop formed at Makalapa in Honolulu. His father Commander E. L. Farrington handled the outdoor program. In November, Richard attended the Halloween party given by the Hickam Air Force Base Teen-Age club.

Richard graduated in June 1960, from the Navy’s Aviation Cadet Training Program at Kingsville, Texas.

He next was assigned to Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron 33 at North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego.

Richard’s father was Elwood L. ‘31, mother Jean, brother Lawrence, and sisters Sally and Linda.

From the August 1963 issue of Shipmate:

Dick was a non-grad member of our class but a fine friend and shipmate. His loss will be felt by many.

Richard’s Find A Grave page is here.

Related Articles

Norris Tollefson ‘51 was also lost in this crash.

Memorial Hall Error

Richard is not included with his classmates as an operational loss in Memorial Hall. This error was identified by Matt Robins ‘04; Richard was a squadron mate of Matt’s father.