ROBERT E. CALKINS, LTJG, USN
Robert Calkins '52
Lucky Bag
From the 1952 Lucky Bag:
Robert Edward Calkins
Arlington, Virginia
Robert, from nearby Arlington, Virginia, hit Navy fresh from the rigors of a Rat's existence at Virginia Tech. Bob spent most of his time dodging the cross-country and steeplechase teams and worked sports events for the Public Relations Committee. The annual swimming tests were always red letter days, but academics didn't offer many difficulties, and Bob was always near those stars. One to speak his mind, he could always be found by zeroing in on his voice as it echoed through Bancroft. Hard working and dependable, Bob was off to a good start in a Naval Career.
He was also recipient of an “E Award.”
Robert Edward Calkins
Arlington, Virginia
Robert, from nearby Arlington, Virginia, hit Navy fresh from the rigors of a Rat's existence at Virginia Tech. Bob spent most of his time dodging the cross-country and steeplechase teams and worked sports events for the Public Relations Committee. The annual swimming tests were always red letter days, but academics didn't offer many difficulties, and Bob was always near those stars. One to speak his mind, he could always be found by zeroing in on his voice as it echoed through Bancroft. Hard working and dependable, Bob was off to a good start in a Naval Career.
He was also recipient of an “E Award.”
Loss
Robert was lost on May 8, 1956 when his aircraft crashed near Indio, California. He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 55 and was unmarried. (Information from January 1958 issue of Shipmate.)
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Robert was temporarily based at the North Island Naval Station when he crashed his AD-6 Skyraider on a routine flight.
Born in Maryland, he lived in Washington D.C. in 1935, and in 1940, he lived in Clark Township, Indiana.
Robert attended Fairfax High School as a freshman in 1942-43. He served in the Sea Service Division of the Victory Corps. This group of students had regimented academic and athletic standards and served in leadership roles at the school.
At Fork Union Military Academy in 1944-45, Robert was a member of the Athenian Literary Society, the Gold Star Council (an honorary society,) and Company “C,” Third Platoon.
In 1948 he was a freshman at Virginia Polytechnic where he was a member of Company E.
After the Naval Academy, he was on the ship Mississippi. He later had training at Pensacola and served on the carrier Philippine Sea. On March 19, 1955, his Douglas Sky-raider plane collided with another during bombing runs over San Clemente Island. The planes crashed and burned on the island which was a target prior to the “Operation Surfboard” invasion exercises at San Simeon.
His father Frank Lester, a railroad mail clerk, married the former Gladys Turner on 6/24/1928. He died in 1979, and she died in 1976. His sister Doris married Vecihi Sezen, and she died in 2000. His other sister was Mary Helen.
Robert survived a mid-air collision in March 1955; he and the other pilot both parachuted from their planes and were rescued.
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