★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★
LT William Blanton, Jr. '72, USN was lost on November 2, 1978 when the S-3A Viking aircraft he was aboard crashed near Cubi Point Naval Air Station, Philippines shortly after takeoff. He was the co-pilot; the other three crew members, including Randy Mikal '74, were also killed.
William was born and raised in Wallingford, Pennsylvania. Following graduation from the Naval Academy he served aboard USS Turner Joy (DD 951) off the coast of Vietnam prior to flight training. After he was winged he served in the San Diego area with Air Anti-Submarine Squadron (VS) 37 for about three years.
To Honor! ⚓
https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/WILLIAM_D._BLANTON,_JR.,_LT,_USN