FRANK H. DEAN, JR., LT, USN
Frank Dean, Jr. '43
Lucky Bag
From the 1943 Lucky Bag:
FRANK HOMEWOOD DEAN, JR.
Long Beach, California
No state being fortunate enough to claim him, Skip came to our abode on the Severn after a life absorbing the lore of the sea as a Navy Junior. He lost little time getting the jump on academics and always gained his share of the honors. Activities were his glory—in athletics, it was swimming and softball; in extra-curricular work, it was tinkering with the Radio Club, ketching with the Boat Club, and welcoming with the Reception Committee. Yet he still found time for mastering Blackwood, buying "hep" records, dragging his O.A.O., and proving that such versatility can produce only the best shipmate.
He was a member of the swim team.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
FRANK HOMEWOOD DEAN, JR.
Long Beach, California
No state being fortunate enough to claim him, Skip came to our abode on the Severn after a life absorbing the lore of the sea as a Navy Junior. He lost little time getting the jump on academics and always gained his share of the honors. Activities were his glory—in athletics, it was swimming and softball; in extra-curricular work, it was tinkering with the Radio Club, ketching with the Boat Club, and welcoming with the Reception Committee. Yet he still found time for mastering Blackwood, buying "hep" records, dragging his O.A.O., and proving that such versatility can produce only the best shipmate.
He was a member of the swim team.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
From Find A Grave:
published in Our Town, (Narberth, PA) on September 13, 1945 ( https://archive.org/details/OurTownNarberthPA19450913 ):
Wynnewood Man Killed in Crash
Lt Frank Dean, Jr., Dies as Plane Crashes In California
Lieutenant Frank H. Dean, Jr., was killed when a Corsair fighter plane he was piloting crashed on Friday near San Diego, Cal.
The plane crashed in a residential district just East of San Diego's city limits. It demolished two garages, sheared off part of a house and then continued 500 yards across a canyon, struck an embankment and exploded. No one was injured in the house.
Lt. Dean, 23, was graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Long Beach, California, and the U. S. Naval Academy, Class of 1943. Following graduation from the Academy he served on a P-T boat in New Guinea for 16 months and was awarded the Silver Star after his boat destroyed 10 Japanese landing barges on July 20, 1943. He returned to the United States in March, 1944, for training as a flier.
Lt. Dean's father. Captain Frank H. Dean, is a Naval officer on duty at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He is also survived by his mother, a sister, Mrs. Guy C. Leavitt, who married one of Frank Jr.'s classmates, and a brother, Richard.
From the Class of 1943 anniversary book "25 years later…":
Skip was born January 17, 1922 at Long Beach, California, He was appointed from California and reported to the Academy on 23 July 1939. After graduation he went to Motor Torpedo Boat Training in Newport, Rhode Island thence to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Six in the Pacific. For combat action in that area he received the Silver Star Medal. Skip returned to the states in December 1944 and entered flight training which culminated in receiving his wings in January 1945. By June he had reported to Bomber-Fighter Squadron FIVE. It was at this squadron that Skip lost his life on 7 September 1945 in a plane crash on the West Coast. He wore the American Defense Medal with Fleet Clasp, and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal in addition to the Silver Star. Skip was survived by his father and mother Captain and Mrs. Frank Homewood Deane, Sr., USN and a brother Richard Whittingham who resided at 554 Housel Road, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
Frank is mentioned in At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy by Robert J. Bulkley as the CO of PT 114 in 1943.
He was on an area familiarization flight with Bombing Fighting Squadron (VBF) 152 when he crashed.
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