ANTHONY J.R. BILOTTI, LTJG, USN
Anthony J.R. Bilotti '77
Lucky Bag
From the 1977 Lucky Bag:
ANTHONY JOSEPH RANDOLPH BILOTTI
"TONY"
Tony, our token Italian, has been known to possess many outstanding qualities, not the least of which is his "Golden Throat." An NFO by service selection, Tony will make an excellent bombadier owing to his experience with cigarette ashes. A frustrated artist whose notes look like Picasso’s sketch pad, Tony will be remembered most for his expertise with and on sailboats his last two years and a fling as a rock star youngster year. Tony’s consistent good humor and ability to relate to all kinds of people will be an asset to him as he pursues his Naval career.
ANTHONY JOSEPH RANDOLPH BILOTTI
"TONY"
Tony, our token Italian, has been known to possess many outstanding qualities, not the least of which is his "Golden Throat." An NFO by service selection, Tony will make an excellent bombadier owing to his experience with cigarette ashes. A frustrated artist whose notes look like Picasso’s sketch pad, Tony will be remembered most for his expertise with and on sailboats his last two years and a fling as a rock star youngster year. Tony’s consistent good humor and ability to relate to all kinds of people will be an asset to him as he pursues his Naval career.
Loss
Tony was lost on December 6, 1979 in a A-6E Intruder that crashed in the Mediterranean during practice bombing run at the Avgo Ni Si training range in Crete. He was a bombardier/navigator operating from USS Nimitz (CVN 68) with Attack Squadron (VA) 35.
From The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania) on May 4, 1980:
On Dec. 6 ... an A6 Navy bomber from the Nimitz was practicing bombing runs with live ammunition on a NATO range just northeast of Crete. Navy investigators still haven't determined the cause, but suddenly Lt. (j.g. ) Mark Gontkovic's medium-weight bomber blew up in midair. Both Gontkovic and bombardier Anton Bilotti were killed instantly.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Anthony was a 1973 graduate of Bishop O’Dowd High School, Oakland. Varsity Football 3, 4; Varsity Swimming 1, 2; Varsity Track 3, 4; Junior Varsity Football 2; Ski Club 3, 4; Senior Play 4; Rally Commissioner 1; Musical 3, 4; Block “O” 1, 2, 3, 4; Christian Fellowship 1, 2, 3, 4; Volunteer Service 3, 4; Class Representative 1, 2; Drama 4; Intramural Basketball 3, 4; C.S.F. 2, 3, 4; Mitre 4.
From the March 1980 issue of Shipmate:
Lt.(jg) Anthony Joseph Bilotti USN was killed in the crash of his A-6 Intruder aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea off the island of Avgo Nisi, north of Crete on 6 December 1979. The pilot of the plane, Lt.(jg) Mark Gontkovic USN, Class of 1976, also was killed in the crash. Participating in an operational training flight, the plane was flying off the carrier Nimitz. Memorial services for the two officers were held on board Nimitz on 7 December 1979 at sea.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Lt.(jg) Bilotti at the Naval Air Station Chapel in Alameda, California, on 10 December 1979. Presentation of our grateful country's flag was made by Ens. Virgil V. Moore IV (SC) USN, Class of 1978 and a former member of the Eighth Company at the Academy with Lt.(jg) Bilotti.
Lt.(jg) Bilotti had recently written to his family, telling of his recognition of the danger in which he and his fellow airmen lived and indicating his dedication to the service. He stated, "In order for the air crew to survive, they must have a supreme degree of confidence in both themselves and their machines. They must push themselves in order to really know their capabilities....In this era of complacency, there are still men willing to face these odds, men who are ready to push themselves far into areas that they are unfamiliar with in order to better prepare themselves for that one time that all of their training will come into play."
While at the Academy he had been an accomplished sailor. Designated a naval flight officer on 26 August 1978, he completed the replacement air group syllabus at VS-42 and was assigned to Attack Squadron 35 on 11 April 1979, based at the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred A. Bilotti, of Oakland CA; four brothers and his maternal grandparents.
From Heroes of the United States Naval Academy:
Anthony Joseph Randolph Bilotti was born on March 19, 1955 in Alameda, California to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred A. Bilotti. In 1973, he graduated from Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland California. He was nominated to the United States Naval Academy from California and was a member of the 8th Company and Sailing Team. Midshipman Bilotti made a summer cruise on amphibious transport dock, USS Duluth (LPH-6). Midshipman Bilotti graduated 531 of 928 midshipmen on May 30 1977.
In 1977, Ensign Bilotti was assigned under instruction at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. On August 26, 1978, Ensign Bilotti was designated Naval Flight Officer.
In 1979, LTJG Bilotti completed replacement air group training in the A-6 Intruder assigned to Attack Squadron 42 (VA-42) “Green Pawns” at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
On April 11, 1979, LTJG Bilotti was assigned to Attack Squadron 35 (VA-35), “Black Panthers” flying the A-6E Intruder at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach Virginia.
LTJG Bilotti is remembered by the Tony Bilotti Memorial Trophy at the United States Naval Academy.
Anthony has a memorial marker at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
From Heroes of the United States Naval Academy
Related Articles
Mark Gontkovic '76 was also lost in this crash.
Anthony is one of 16 members of the Class of 1977 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
