VIRTUAL MEMORIAL HALL

LTJG RICHARD K. WHITNEY, USN

Class 1962
Born May 13, 1938
Died November 30, 1964
Age 26
Hometown Long Beach, California

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1962 Lucky Bag:

Lucky Bag Portrait

Richard Keith Whitney

Dick, better known as “Rock”, graduated from Long Beach High School in 1956 and later attended Bullis Prep, before coming to the Naval Academy. In his four years Dick became the hi-fi repair man for the Brigade. It was not an unfamiliar sight to find him tangled in someone’s defunct hi-fi equipment. Most people will remember his turntable which played on its side defying the laws of gravity. His vast knowledge of electronics made possible the successful mission of the “oscillators” against the Air Force falcons in 1960. His determination to do a job well made him sought by WRNV, Log and Splinter, Lucky Bag, and the Model Club. To his friends Dick will always be remembered as the “Wizard”.

Loss

Dick was lost when his A-1 Skyraider crashed near Fallon, NV on November 30, 1964.

From the February 1965 issue of Shipmate:

The crash of a prop-driven fighter bomber on the Nevada desert took the life of another of our classmates, Richard K. Whitney, who was killed on 30 Nov. while attached to VA-152. His plane crashed while he was checking on the condition of the pilot of another downed plane.

Dick was an excellent pilot who loved his work and was dedicated to his mission in the Navy. He was a true friend and a fine officer and his untimely passing will be mourned by us all.

He was not married, and is buried in California.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag
From the Lucky Bag

Cyrus Roberts, IV ‘62 and Charles Fryer ‘62 were also members of the Lucky Bag staff.

Class of 1962

Richard is one of 29 members of the Class of 1962 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

← John Fultz, III William Arbogast →
Wiki QR
1962 US Navy Operational loss Fixed Wing Attack Squadron (VA) 152 USNA 18th Company