EUGENE S. LYTLE, JR., LCDR, USN
Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31
Lucky Bag
From the 1931 Lucky Bag:
Eugene Smith Lytle. Jr.
Kansas City, Missouri
"Gene"
Gene didn't like Kansas City in the summer time so, after having looked up the various summer resorts, he decided that the Naval Academy on the Severn would suit him to a "T. " So we greeted him with open arms on June 21 —immediately the fun began. For Gene was a fun-loving boy, and his pranks kept us amused during our hours of rest.
Being a real salt. Gene took to the cruises like a duck to water, and with his level head, sensible ideas and good nature, he showed us how to have a good time on the "Pig-iron Monsters."
Academically, Gene gave us a few genuine scares Plebe Year, but ever since, he has proven his scholarly abilities whenever he has so desired.
Although not gracing any Varsity Teams, Gene has been consistent in getting in his share of athletics. Football, gym, and lacrosse have kept him busy the year around, and whenever, by chance, he was not at one of these sports, he was probably in the hospital—Bernar McFadden should have seen this man.
Pep Committee 3, 2, 1 Chairman 1; Reception Committee; Class Gym; Stunt Committee; Assistant Editor "Red Fire"; 2 P. O.
Eugene Smith Lytle. Jr.
Kansas City, Missouri
"Gene"
Gene didn't like Kansas City in the summer time so, after having looked up the various summer resorts, he decided that the Naval Academy on the Severn would suit him to a "T. " So we greeted him with open arms on June 21 —immediately the fun began. For Gene was a fun-loving boy, and his pranks kept us amused during our hours of rest.
Being a real salt. Gene took to the cruises like a duck to water, and with his level head, sensible ideas and good nature, he showed us how to have a good time on the "Pig-iron Monsters."
Academically, Gene gave us a few genuine scares Plebe Year, but ever since, he has proven his scholarly abilities whenever he has so desired.
Although not gracing any Varsity Teams, Gene has been consistent in getting in his share of athletics. Football, gym, and lacrosse have kept him busy the year around, and whenever, by chance, he was not at one of these sports, he was probably in the hospital—Bernar McFadden should have seen this man.
Pep Committee 3, 2, 1 Chairman 1; Reception Committee; Class Gym; Stunt Committee; Assistant Editor "Red Fire"; 2 P. O.
Loss
Eugene was lost when his SBD-4 Dauntless crashed near Cockeysville, Maryland, on February 26, 1943. The aircraft was returning to its base at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, prior to flying aboard USS Lexington (CV 10). The other crewman aboard survived.
He was the commanding officer of Scouting Squadron (VS) 16, which was based at Quonset Point.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
In June 1942, he was still Lt. Cdr at Jacksonville NAS.
Eugene graduated from Westport high school in 1926. Clay Club; Hi-Y; R. O. T. C. Crack Company, ’24; Band, ’25, ’26. “The closer the miss, the bigger the thrill.” Why They Live: Eugene – to be a V. V. Can We Believe That? Yes, when: Gene Lytle leaves you alone with your girl for one minute.
Eugene was appointed to the Naval Academy by Representative E. C. Ellis.
For Christmas break 1929, Eugene brought classmate S. B. Wright (’31) home to visit his family. In September 1930, Eugene spent time with classmate Edward Railsback (’31) at Philadelphia. At Christmas 1931, Eugene arrived home from the U. S. S. Lexington.
Eugene married Anna Gwyn Dearing on June 11, 1932, in the Episcopal church in Coronado Beach, California.
Eugene's father was a life insurance agent. His mother was Rossamond, and his sister was Rebeccah. Eugene and his wife Annagwyn had a daughter Alexandra in 1935. In 1940 Eugene was stationed at Honolulu, and the family was staying at the Brookland Hotel.
He earned his wings as naval aviator #4167 in 1934.
Eugene is mentioned twice in The Royal Works - U.S.S. Lexington A Souvenir of the Neptune party Held 20 May, 1936 in the United States Ship Lexington (on the occasion of the ship crossing the equator). He was a LTjg at the time.
He is buried in Missouri.
Photographs
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
July 1931
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
October 1931
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
January 1932
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
1LT Donald Willis '24 (Scouting Squadron 15-M)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
April 1932
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
1LT Donald Willis '24 (Scouting Squadron 15-M)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
October 1932
LT William Sample '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Jones '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT William Ault '22 (Torpedo and Bombing Squadron (VT) 1S)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3S)
ENS Edwin Kelly '30 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Lance Massey '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3S)
January 1933
LT William Sample '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Jones '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT William Ault '22 (Torpedo and Bombing Squadron (VT) 1S)
LTjg Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5S)
ENS Edwin Kelly '30 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Victor Gaulin '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3S)
ENS Lance Massey '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3S)
April 1933
July 1933
October 1933
April 1934
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27
LTjg Frank Highley, Jr. '30
LTjg Robert Patten '30
LTjg Claud Hughes '30
LTjg Baylies Clark '30
July 1934
LTjg Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
October 1934
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Edwin Kelly '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Victor Gaulin '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
ENS Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS Daniel Gothie '32 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Worthington '34 (USS Lexington)
January 1935
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Edwin Kelly '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Victor Gaulin '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
ENS Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS Daniel Gothie '32 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Worthington '34 (USS Lexington)
April 1935
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Victor Gaulin '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS Daniel Gothie '32 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Worthington '34 (USS Lexington)
October 1935
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS John Eichmann '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (USS Lexington)
January 1936
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Truman Carpenter '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
ENS George Fuller '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS John Eichmann '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (USS Lexington)
April 1936
LT William Eaton '21 (USS Lexington)
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Truman Carpenter '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
ENS George Fuller '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS John Eichmann '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (USS Lexington)
July 1936
January 1937
April 1937
September 1937
January 1938
July 1938
January 1939
October 1939
June 1940
November 1940
April 1941
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