ERNEST R. GENTER, JR., LTJG, USN

Ernest Genter, Jr. '52

Date of birth: February 25, 1929

Date of death: March 27, 1957

Age: 28

Lucky Bag

From the 1952 Lucky Bag:

Ernest Redfield Genter, Jr.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This Pittsburgh boy really carved a niche for himself in the hallowed halls of Bancroft. He has a sharp knife! With a few of his shenanigans every once in a while, our burden became just a little bit lighter to take. Ernie anchored the line in batt football plebe year and since held his own on the Radiator Squad. He was never known to bone, yet stood in good stead with the Academic Department. In his spare time he ran the model railroad. The two big interests in his life are a certain sweet girl from the old home town and Naval aviation. It has been said that he had F9F's on the brain, and have you ever noticed his expert doodling in class?

Ernest Redfield Genter, Jr.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This Pittsburgh boy really carved a niche for himself in the hallowed halls of Bancroft. He has a sharp knife! With a few of his shenanigans every once in a while, our burden became just a little bit lighter to take. Ernie anchored the line in batt football plebe year and since held his own on the Radiator Squad. He was never known to bone, yet stood in good stead with the Academic Department. In his spare time he ran the model railroad. The two big interests in his life are a certain sweet girl from the old home town and Naval aviation. It has been said that he had F9F's on the brain, and have you ever noticed his expert doodling in class?

Loss

Ernest was lost on March 27, 1957 when the aircraft he was piloting crashed near Japan. He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 142 and flying from USS Hornet (CVA 12).

Other Information

From San Bernardino (CA) Sun on March 25, 1955:

The pilot of a jet plane in a screaming dive to earth made a detailed report by radio. Navy officers said Thursday [March 24] he may have provided information that will help prevent future crashes. Lt. (j.g.) Ernest R. Genter, San Diego, rode the Navy F9F6 Panther jet down from 38,000 to 15,000 feet. He made a successful parachute ejection and landed safely half a mile from the burning wreckage. Squadron mates heard his description of how automatic mechanism locked in such a way as to turn the plane nose down and of his efforts to regain control.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Ernest graduated from Peabody High School. In the yearbook, “Wants to have college preparation for an engineering career; member of Scholastic Standing Committee, Hi-Y, French Club and Assembly Squad.” He was named to the Naval Academy by Senator Elbert D. Thomas (D., Utah.)
In September 1952, a newspaper reporter on the USS Midway said Ernest was on the island level of the ship. Ernest said his job was “Sort of an apprentice assistant navigator right now. That’s the job I’ll have at the end of the cruise.”
Now a Major in the Military Order of the World Wars, Ernest attended a 5-day convention of that group in Pittsburgh in October 1953. He was co-chairman of special activities for the event. He served as adjutant of the Pittsburgh chapter for 1954.
Besides his parents and wife Marguerite Lynn (Clagett) whom he married on June 11, 1952, he was survived by his son Ernest, his brother Air Force Lieutenant Albert L. Genter, II, stationed in France, who was Ernest’s best man at his wedding, and a sister Louise.