LINDLEY M. OSBORNE, LT, USN

Lindley Osborne '44

Date of birth: September 22, 1920

Date of death: August 6, 1952

Age: 31

Lucky Bag

From the 1944 Lucky Bag:

Lindley Murray Osborne

Marianna, Arkansas

Bilged again, that was "Lil Oz's" by-word. He prepared well for all of his classes, but he inevitably drew the wrong slip. Here, as anywhere he may be, "Ozzie" was "one of the boys," working at softball, golf, football, and sailing. He spent his spare time in " bull sessions" and the enjoyment of good music. "Oz" hailed from Ozark county; and, contrary to the common belief, he knew how to wear shoes at the age of five months. He will take to the Fleet a friendly disposition and an eagerness to fight. Murray hopes to follow in the steps of his heroes; Jones, Dewey, King and Popeye.

The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Lindley Murray Osborne

Marianna, Arkansas

Bilged again, that was "Lil Oz's" by-word. He prepared well for all of his classes, but he inevitably drew the wrong slip. Here, as anywhere he may be, "Ozzie" was "one of the boys," working at softball, golf, football, and sailing. He spent his spare time in " bull sessions" and the enjoyment of good music. "Oz" hailed from Ozark county; and, contrary to the common belief, he knew how to wear shoes at the age of five months. He will take to the Fleet a friendly disposition and an eagerness to fight. Murray hopes to follow in the steps of his heroes; Jones, Dewey, King and Popeye.

The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Lindley was lost on August 6, 1952 when his plane crashed in Chowan County, North Carolina during dive bombing practice. He was "a senior pilot" in Attack Squadron (VA) 25, based in Norfolk, Virginia. (Information from the Charlotte Observer on August 8, 1952.)

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In 1930, his father Lindley was a cotton farmer in Marianna, Arkansas. His mother and sister were both named Katheryn.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, Dorothy; she passed away in 2015 and is buried with him. They had two daughters. It seems there is a photo of his wedding at Ancestry.com.

(His headstone in Arlington National Cemetery has the insignia of a surface warfare officer, but the Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1952 lists him as a qualified Naval Aviator and a recipient of an Air Medal.)

He attended Guilford College for a time as a member of the class of 1942. His was on the honor roll as a freshman for the second semester of the 1938-1939 year. In 1939-1940 he was a part of the "Men's Student Government," and he again appeared on the honor roll (for both semesters).