WYNKOOP KIERSTED, III, LCDR, USN
Wynkoop Kiersted, III '42
Lucky Bag
From the 1942 Lucky Bag:
WYNKOOP KIERSTED, III
Scarsdale, New York
Wyny
Here is a sailor. Here is a man who would be in his element as the skipper of a Grain Race windjammer. Interested in everything connected with the sea, he knows it from experience and from an almost fanatical interest in all books verging from Conrad's novels to McKay's blue prints. Strongest characteristics are personal force and a sense of consideration. Accent on competence and ability.
Football 4; Sailing 3, 2, s42g, Boat Club 4, 3, 2; Foreign Language Club 4, 3; 2/c P.O.; 2 Stripes.
The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.
WYNKOOP KIERSTED, III
Scarsdale, New York
Wyny
Here is a sailor. Here is a man who would be in his element as the skipper of a Grain Race windjammer. Interested in everything connected with the sea, he knows it from experience and from an almost fanatical interest in all books verging from Conrad's novels to McKay's blue prints. Strongest characteristics are personal force and a sense of consideration. Accent on competence and ability.
Football 4; Sailing 3, 2, s42g, Boat Club 4, 3, 2; Foreign Language Club 4, 3; 2/c P.O.; 2 Stripes.
The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.
Obituary
From Scarsdale Inquirer on December 9, 1949:
Lt. Commander Kiersted Dies in Airplane Crash
Lt. Commander Wynkoop Kiersted III, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kiersted of Westminster Rd., met death accidentally on Dec. 2 while on routine flight in an F6F when his aircraft was reported to have entered into an uncontrolled spin from 2,500 ft. crashing into Chesapeake Bay near Onancock, Va.
Commander Kiersted was born in Kansas City. Mo., on Oct. 7, 1919. He graduated from the Edgemont School, from Bronxville High School, and, in 1942, from the U.S. Naval Academy. After graduation, he was assigned to the USS Forest, DD461, from January 1942 to January 1943, with Atlantic convoys from Norfolk to Africa.
He participated in the invasion of North Africa Operation "Torch" off Casablanca, French Morocco. From February 1943 to June of the same year he was aboard the USS Halford. During this time he fitted out and commissioned one of four destroyers which were fitted to carry a plane catapult.
He served for a year aboard the USS W. D. Porter of the Ninth Fleet and participated in two night raids and bombardments of the Kurile Islands, and for three months he served aboard the USS Picking and participated in the Leyte Invasion.
In October 1944, he returned to the States to receive flight training at Ottumwa, Iowa. and Pensacola, Fla. He was designated a Naval Aviator at the completion of the course in December 1945. From December to June 1946 he received operational training at Opa Locka, Miami, Fla. From June 1946 to February 1948 he was attached to VF153 later designated VF15A. In 1947 his squadron served aboard the USS Antietam, CV-36, during which time he visited in Australia. Truk, Philippines. Saipan, Japan, and China.
Commander Kiersted reported to the US Naval Aviation Ordnance Test Station, Chincoteague, Va. in March 1948 for duty in the Projects Department. The Scarsdale Naval Aviator was awarded the American Defense Medal, American Theatre Medal. Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal. European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Medal (Japan), and China Service Medal (Post War).
Commander Kiersted is survived by his wife, Mrs. Virginia Witte Kiersted and his two sons, John Wynkoop, who is two years old, and Christopher William, three months.
Photographs
From the Lucky Bag
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