WILLIAM R. AUSTIN, LT, USN
William Austin '46
Lucky Bag
From the 1946 Lucky Bag:
William Reynolds Austin
Trenton, Missouri
Bill definitely put Trenton, "Moh," on the map when he exchanged his frat house luxuries for BancroftHall. As a midshipman he has accumulated a host of friends, and with his unusual personality he will continue to gain more. Holding down an important berth on his company or battalion athletic squad took up much of Bill's time. Since his interest in the fairer sex was highly concentrated in his home town O.A.O., he often devoted his week-ends to Reception Committee work, bridge games, and snaking on his wife at hops. His many friends wish him all sorts of luck.
The Class of 1946 was graduated in June 1945 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
William Reynolds Austin
Trenton, Missouri
Bill definitely put Trenton, "Moh," on the map when he exchanged his frat house luxuries for BancroftHall. As a midshipman he has accumulated a host of friends, and with his unusual personality he will continue to gain more. Holding down an important berth on his company or battalion athletic squad took up much of Bill's time. Since his interest in the fairer sex was highly concentrated in his home town O.A.O., he often devoted his week-ends to Reception Committee work, bridge games, and snaking on his wife at hops. His many friends wish him all sorts of luck.
The Class of 1946 was graduated in June 1945 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
From Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune of Chillicothe, Missouri, on July 24, 1953:
Lieut. William R. Austin, 31, U. S. Navy jet pilot and husband of the former Anne Meinershagen of Chillicothe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Meinershagen, lost his life yesterday when his plane crashed at sea 45 miles from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. His body was not recovered.
Mrs. Austin and two children, Dave, 6, and Ellen, 3, were at Trenton yesterday when the news was received. Her father brought them to Chillicothe this morning and they will return this evening to Trenton. The Austins had been visiting back and forth at Chillicothe and Trenton while Lieutenant Austin was on a 9-week cruise.
His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Austin of Trenton.
The lieutenant was flying a Panther jet from the aircraft carrier USS Wasp. No details of the crash were learned. Austin was to have been an instructor after completing the summer training cruise. Lieutenant Austin was a 1940 graduate of the Trenton high school. He attended the United States Naval Academy and was graduated and commissioned an ensign in 1945. He had been stationed at Norfolk, Va.; Pensacola, Fla.; Washington, D. C.; Brooklyn, N. Y., and Corpus Christi, Tex. For some time, the Austins had been at Jacksonville. Fla. The couple's son was born at Chillicothe in December, 194S. Ellen was born in October, 1949, at Pensacola. Mrs. Austin received the following telegram notifying her of the death: 'I regret to inform you that your husband, Lieut. William Reynolds Austin. U. S. Navy, was killed on 23 July 1953 when his plane crashed at sea 45 miles from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I regret that his body was not recovered. Your husband died while serving his country and I extend to you my sincerest sympathy in your great loss.—Vice Admiral J. L. Holloway, jr.. Chief of Naval Personnel."
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
At Trenton High School, William and his cousins John and Jim were on the basketball team. William also played football with his cousin Jim. William missed the early part of the 1939 season due to ill health. Per the St. Joseph News-Press: "he is lighter than Jim but is an effective ball carrier and best blocking back on the squad. Jim, the team’s mainstay, runs, kicks and passes." William graduated as valedictorian in 1940 and was president of his class all four years.
In March 1940, William traveled to Kansas City with two friends to attend the track meet and also hear Joe Venuti’s orchestra at the Tower Theatre.
William was nominated to the Naval Academy by Representative M. A. Romjue of Missouri.
In September 1946, William’s wife had to return to Chillicothe to live with her parents. William had been transferred from Philadelphia to Green Cove Springs, Florida, and they were unable to find a place to live due to a housing shortage.
In April 1952, William was serving a six-month sea duty on the U. S. S. Coral Sea.
William’s father Wilbur was a bank cashier; his mother was Sybil.
He has a memory marker in Missouri.
Photographs
"John, William, and Jim Austin." From the St, Joseph News Press Gazette on February 26, 1939
Related Articles
William Armstrong, Jr. '46 and Bennett Hooks '46 were also members of 17th Company.
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