WILBUR D. WRIGHT, CAPT, USAF

Wilbur Wright '58

Date of birth: June 19, 1935

Date of death: October 8, 1969

Age: 34

Lucky Bag

From the 1958 Lucky Bag:

WILBUR DORRIS WRIGHT

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Liking what he saw in the Naval Reserve, Will packed his bags and came down the Severn after prepping at Wyoming Seminary. He soon found the sports program to his liking and spent most of his spare time out on the athletic fields starring on a host of intramural squads. He was never too discriminating with the women; he preferred to like them all. The books never treated him too gently but nothing could keep him down for long. Planning to go Navy line, Will hopes to see Spain again and his favorite cruise port of Malaga.

WILBUR DORRIS WRIGHT

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Liking what he saw in the Naval Reserve, Will packed his bags and came down the Severn after prepping at Wyoming Seminary. He soon found the sports program to his liking and spent most of his spare time out on the athletic fields starring on a host of intramural squads. He was never too discriminating with the women; he preferred to like them all. The books never treated him too gently but nothing could keep him down for long. Planning to go Navy line, Will hopes to see Spain again and his favorite cruise port of Malaga.

Loss

Wilbur was lost on October 8, 1969 when the aircraft he was aboard crashed near Castle Air Force Base, California.

Other Information

From the January 1970 issue of Shipmate:

Capt. Wright was born in Philadelphia, Pa., attended Wyoming Seminary and was graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1958. After bombardier-navigator training, he was designated an electronics warfare officer and served at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Dow Air Force Base, Maine, and J. Connally Air Force Base, Texas, and had Vietnam duty. Capt. Wright was serving as electronics warfare officer with the 93rd Bombing Wing, Castle Air Force Base, at the time of the accident.
Among other awards, he held the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals, and the Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Stars.
Survivors include his widow Annette of 2924 Madison Ave., Ogden, Ut. 84403; a daughter Yvonne and a stepson Christen; his father and stepmother Mr. and Mrs. Orville Wright of 5856 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19139, and a brother LCdr. Orville Wright Jr., USN '56 of 3517 Bow Creek Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23452.

From KSLA:

October 9, 1969 - A USAF B-52F-70-BW, 57-0172, of the 329th Bomb Squadron, crashed about 1,000 feet beyond end of runway while doing touch-and-goes at Castle AFB, California. All six crew died in the 11:45 p.m. accident as the Stratofortress exploded on impact.

Wilbur is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His gravestone has the inscription "Pilot, Cherished Husband, Loving Father."