FORT E. LAND, LCDR, USN

Fort Land '42

Date of birth: January 20, 1920

Date of death: November 22, 1945

Age: 25

Lucky Bag

From the 1942 Lucky Bag:

FORT ELMO LAND

Atlanta, Georgia

Lando, Roundy

Fort's sword belt, symbol of years on the hop committee, increases, if possible, his attractiveness to the opposite sex, but all of his efforts are not centered along this line, for every afternoon finds him on the Severn pulling a shell for Navy. An eternal cheerfulness, sense of humor, and ability to laugh at misfortune always help to make life a little easier and happier for those who have known him.

Football 4, 42; Crew 4, 3, 2, 42; Reef Points; Boat Club 2, 1; Hop Committee 3 , 2, 1; Reception Committee 2,1; 2/c P.O.; 2 Stripes.

The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.

FORT ELMO LAND

Atlanta, Georgia

Lando, Roundy

Fort's sword belt, symbol of years on the hop committee, increases, if possible, his attractiveness to the opposite sex, but all of his efforts are not centered along this line, for every afternoon finds him on the Severn pulling a shell for Navy. An eternal cheerfulness, sense of humor, and ability to laugh at misfortune always help to make life a little easier and happier for those who have known him.

Football 4, 42; Crew 4, 3, 2, 42; Reef Points; Boat Club 2, 1; Hop Committee 3 , 2, 1; Reception Committee 2,1; 2/c P.O.; 2 Stripes.

The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.

Loss

From Find A Grave: From the Atlanta Constitution on November 25, 1945:

Lt. Cmdr. Fort Elmo Land, USN, 25, was killed in a plane crash off the coast of California, near San Diego, Friday, the Navy Department has notified his mother, Mrs. Fort E. Land, of 809 Myrtle street, northeast.
A veteran of overseas service, Lt. Cmdr. Land was stationed at San Diego, preparing to go on duty with the fleet at sea. He was promoted to his present rank and made executive officer of a fighter squadron less than a month ago.
Born Jan. 24, 1920, at Macon, Lt. Cmdr. Land was the son of the late Fort E. Land, state superintendent of schools in Georgia. His paternal grandparents were the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Freeman Land, of Vienna, and his maternal grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Barrow, of Madison.
Educated in the Atlanta schools, he attended Georgia Tech for one year, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, before winning in competitive examination Senator Russell’s appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis on Dec. 22, 1937. Graduated from Annapolis two weeks after Pearl Harbor, he served for two years in the Pacific, seeing active service aboard the USS Idaho. He wore the American Theater ribbon, the American Service ribbon, the Pacific Service ribbon with two stars for both north and central areas, and the Atlantic Service ribbon.
He transferred to the Navy Air Corps 22 months ago, receiving his fighter pilot wings at Pensacola on Dec, 26, 1944. From there he was sent for further training to Melbourne, Fla., and was ordered to the Pacific coast three months ago.
Besides his mother, Lt. Cmdr. Land is survived by his sister, Mrs. Alexander H. McLanahan, of New York City; two aunts, Mrs. Max E. Land and Mrs. Ellison Anchors, of Axson, Ga. A half brother, Edward H. Gurr, died five years ago.

There is a news clipping that stated he was in San Diego, California, and on 22 November 1945, as executive officer of Navy Fighter Squadron 80, was killed when his plane crashed into the ocean 15 miles southwest of San Diego. This was reported by the 11th Naval District. He was piloting a hellcat fighter and was on a training flight from nearby Ream filed. His body according the the article which was two days later had not been recovered. Allene Lemons, June 19, 2017

He has a memory marker in Georgia.