JOHN B. SANGSTER, JR., LCDR, USN
John Sangster, Jr. '48
Lucky Bag
From the 1948 Lucky Bag:
John Bernard Sangster, Jr.
Grinnell, Iowa
J. B. came out of the Tall-Corn State with a big appetite and a much bigger smile. Johnny was always available to drag that extra girl, but he always managed to get the best one. He was never one to let a girl tie him down, or so he said, but at every hop and week-end entertainment J. B. could be seen with a new one, and he was always leading the Flying Squadron back to Bancroft. Although not the smartest man in his class, he never studied when he could be playing basketball or football, eating somebody's food from home, or writing to his following among the fairer sex.
John commanded 16th Company (2nd set). He graduated with the class of 1948-A, the last of the wartime-accelerated classes, in June 1947. (The bottom half of the class by academic standing, designated 1948-B, completed an extra year and graduated in June 1948.)
John Bernard Sangster, Jr.
Grinnell, Iowa
J. B. came out of the Tall-Corn State with a big appetite and a much bigger smile. Johnny was always available to drag that extra girl, but he always managed to get the best one. He was never one to let a girl tie him down, or so he said, but at every hop and week-end entertainment J. B. could be seen with a new one, and he was always leading the Flying Squadron back to Bancroft. Although not the smartest man in his class, he never studied when he could be playing basketball or football, eating somebody's food from home, or writing to his following among the fairer sex.
John commanded 16th Company (2nd set). He graduated with the class of 1948-A, the last of the wartime-accelerated classes, in June 1947. (The bottom half of the class by academic standing, designated 1948-B, completed an extra year and graduated in June 1948.)
Loss
John was lost when the A-3 Skywarrior he was piloting crashed on August 26, 1959 in North Carolina.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
John graduated from Grinnell High School in 1942. College Preparatory – Band 1-2-3-4; Football 2-3-4; Basketball 2-3-4; Honor “G” 4; Annual Board 3-4; Student Council 4; O&B 3-4. John won National Honor for his Alto Saxophone solo II at the State Contest and was in the Saxophone quartet I State Contest. He ran the 440 and 880 relay races in track.
He then attended University of Iowa and was on the football team as a quarterback. John was a member of Theta Tau and also was the Cadet Sergeant of the Second squad, Second platoon, company “C.”
John was stationed in Norfolk when his engagement to Diane Vigeant was announced. When they married on August 20 at the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, he was assigned to the intelligence school at Anacostia, Maryland.
From IAGenWeb:
The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register, August 1959
ARLINGTON BURIAL
FOR JOHN SANGSTERLt. Comdr. John B. Sangster, former Grinnell resident who died in an airplane crash last Wednesday, will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
Memorial services for Sangster will be held Tuesday in Sanford, Fla. Burial will be Friday.
Sangster was piloting a twin-engine jet bomber near Charlotte, N.C., before the accident. The plane suffered a total power failure at 40,000 feet. After attempts to start the engines failed, Sangster ordered the two crew member to parachute to safety.
The crew members left the plane at 16,000 feet. There was danger of crashing in a heavily populated area, and it is believed Sangster stayed with the plane to prevent this.
The plane crashed in a field about 40 miles from Charlotte, taking Sangster down with it.
Sangster is survived by his wife, Diane, and his daughter Gail, who will be two later this year. He graduated from Grinnell high school in 1942, but his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sangster, now live in Nathrop, Colo.
A memorial in Sangster's name has been established at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. Friends can obtain further information by calling Mr. and Mrs. Earl Mathews.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
From the University of Iowa yearbook, 1944
Related Articles
John Fletcher, II '48 was also in 16th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
