BERNARD B. BARILA, JR., LT, USN
Bernard Barila, Jr. '44
Lucky Bag
From the 1944 Lucky Bag:
Bernard Benedict Barila, Jr.
Las Vegas, New Mexico
When "Bernie" arrived, his eyes were in the sky, but his appointment was not the only reason. He had just become a private pilot, and he was firmly convinced that his Navy career must be in the Air Corps. During the winter months he used his shooting eye to pull down high scores for the pistol team. Romance played a great part in his life at Annapolis, a casual date the day before entering had its culmination in a wedding the day after graduation. Not one to take things too seriously, he lived for to-day and in that found his secret of happiness which marks him for continued success.
The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Bernard Benedict Barila, Jr.
Las Vegas, New Mexico
When "Bernie" arrived, his eyes were in the sky, but his appointment was not the only reason. He had just become a private pilot, and he was firmly convinced that his Navy career must be in the Air Corps. During the winter months he used his shooting eye to pull down high scores for the pistol team. Romance played a great part in his life at Annapolis, a casual date the day before entering had its culmination in a wedding the day after graduation. Not one to take things too seriously, he lived for to-day and in that found his secret of happiness which marks him for continued success.
The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Bernard was lost when the aircraft he was piloting crashed while landing at Lost Nation Airport, Willoughby, Ohio, on May 12, 1953. He was a member of Air Development Squadron (VX) 3, based out of NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Information from June 1953 issue of Shipmate.)
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Bernard was a native of Dodge City, Kansas. In January 1938, he participated in a three-day Boy Scout “explorers’ camp” held in the Jemez national forest. He was senior class president at Immaculate Conception school in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Bernard attended New Mexico Normal University through summer 1940. In August 1940, he was selected by the Institute of Aeronautical Science in New York to enter a flying contest at the Curtis-Wright Field at Grand Prairie, Texas. The prize was a $1,000 aeronautical scholarship, but he was unable to compete as he had already entered the Naval Academy.
Bernard married Miriam Elizabeth Stevens on June 10, 1943, in St. Mary’s Church, Baltimore.
After a year of sea duty, Bernard was stationed in Dallas, Texas, in October 1944. He had a son by then; his daughter Susan was born May 30, 1945; and their twin daughters were born December 2, 1951. His son Bernard graduated in 1962 from Annapolis High School.
In May 1949, Bernard was at the Air Station, Patuxent River. In January 1953, he flew from La Guardia field in New York to Sandia base expecting to be stationed there for several weeks.
In May, he was on an administrative flight from Cleveland to the Atlantic City naval air station when his plane crashed.
His father was chief clerk at a steam railroad depot; mother was Glydia, a music teacher and director of an accordion band. His sister was Theresa, and his brothers were Timothy and Jerry. His father died on December 29, 1944.
He was survived by his wife and five children. His wife, Miriam, is buried with him in Arlington National Cemetery.
Related Articles
Elmer Crain, Jr ’44 was also on the rifle and pistol team.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
