NELS A. GUNDERSON, III, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Nels Gunderson, III, USN '46 was lost on May 2, 1956 when his F2H Banshee crashed on approach to USS Yorktown (CV 10).

In December 1950 he had to ditch his aircraft into the sea off the coast of Korea.

There wasn't much to the landing. Nothing much different from an arrested carrier landing except that when I looked up, the nose started to sink and water started to come in the cockpit. So, I stood up, looked down to see if my raft and chute were there, they were, so I stood on the edge of the cockpit and jumped away from the plane. I inflated my life jacket after I was well clear of the plane, took off my chute and broke out my raft. I inflated the raft and hopped in just as old 509 went down. I estimate this took about 30-45 seconds. So within 1 1/2 minutes my mode of transportation changed.

He was survived by his wife, their three children, his mother, and two brothers.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/NELS_A._GUNDERSON,_III,_LT,_USN

KENNETH A. WADE, LT, USN

LT Kenneth Wade '46 was lost on February 8, 1955 when his F9F2 Panther jet crashed near La Jolla, California. A native of nearby Coronado, the Lucky Bag had this to say about him: "Among the boys who whoop it up in Bancroft Hall, one can always single out our boy, "K.A." Never a complaining note was emitted from Ken as people thronged to his room to borrow the daily necessities. Women never bothered him and he never bothered them; the only thing he dragged to the hops was himself, and that was in a mad effort to get the punch with the cherries in it. There was never a dull moment for the companions of "Carefree Ken," the man who luffed his way through Juice, "K.A." will never slow down as long as there is spice left in life."

During the Korean War he was awarded the Air Medal with three gold stars; there is a photograph of him from ~March 1951 smiling through flak damage to his jet.

Kenneth was survived by his mother.

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/KENNETH_A._WADE,_LT,_USN

LEWIS W. ADKINS, JR., LT, USN

Lewis "Lew" Atkins '46 was "Conscientious and filled with a determination which became even more intense as exam weeks approached, he could be depended on to do a job right. Taut sails and many hours on the soccer field occupied his free time. …when the smoke of battle is blown away, he will be there waiting for the next round."

Lew was lost on February 2, 1955 when the F9F Cougar fighter he was piloting crashed near Otay Mesa, California. He was survived by his wife, Lois, and two daughters, Lynn, age 7, and Gary, age 2.

To Honor!