Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1962 Lucky Bag:

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.

Other Information

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.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Richard’s father was Rear Admiral Rintoul Thomas Whitney. He served for 32 years in the Navy and retired in 1951. He later taught astronomy at Long Beach State College.

Richard was not married, and is buried in California.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

From his high school yearbook

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