View source for JAY A. NOBLE, JR., LTJG, USN

{{KeyDates|name_class=Jay Noble, Jr. '40|DoB=September 23, 1916|DoD=August 16, 1942|Age=25}}

{{LuckyBag|LBLink=https://archive.org/details/luckybag1940unse|class=1940
|picture=1940 Noble LB.jpg
|LBName=JAY ALVIN NOBLE, JR. 
|LBHometown=Lockport, New York
|LBNickname=Jay
|LBText=A former Cornellian. Jay carried on his work on college publications by giving us the 1940 "Reef Points," among other things. He tried crew, but ended up in the water at water polo, which was a hundred and eighty degrees out of phase with another of his activities, the orchestra. Jay is also an excellent photographer. His pictures show the results of contemplation and a lot of hard work. A quiet, unassuming personality, coupled with a sense of responsibility, ensure his success at whatever he undertakes. In a spare moment he can always be found reading a book — usually a deep one. Best of all, he makes a swell friend.
|LBECAs=''Water Polo W40P; Trident 3, 2, 1, Secretary 1; Reef Points 3, 2, 1, Editor-in-Chief 2, 1; Press Detail 4, 3; Orchestra; Foreign Language Club; M.P.O.''}}

== Loss ==
Jay was [https://www.usna.com/NC/History/ClassOf1940/KIA.htm lost] when the transport plane he was aboard crashed near Kodiak, Alaska, on August 16, 1942.

From a now-broken link, this undated passage:
<blockquote>
Plane With 14 Missing in Alaska - A U.S. Navy plane with a crew of four and ten passengers enroute from Kodiak to Whitehorse, Alaska was reported overdue by the Navy Department, which notified next of kin of those aboard that the crew and passengers were missing. The flight was a routine one from Kodiak to Seattle, Wash. Three planes started on the trip and were forced to fly by instrument soon after taking off. Two made their way through the bad weather to Whitehorse. Naval aircraft have been making searches for the missing plane and other agencies were asked to assist in the search.

Those aboard the missing plane were Commander Joyce A. Ralph, USN; Lieut. Comdrs. Burton Lee Doggett, USN, Jerome H. Sparbo. USNR and Paul H. Tobelman, USN; Captain Arthur Barrows. USMC; Lieuts. Joseph A. Crook, USN and Thomas E. Johnson. Jr. (ChC), USN; Lieuts. (j.g.) Thomas G. Cherikos, USNR. Charles E. Deterding, USN and Jay A. Noble, Jr.. USN: Ensign Charles L. Mixon, USNR; Charles E. Barber. ACRM. USN; H. A. Scott, ACRM, USN, and C O. Walton, AMM2c. USN.
</blockquote>

The aircraft was never located, and all 14 passengers and crew were declared dead a year and a day following their disappearance. The aircraft was a part of Transport Squadron (VR) 2.

== Other Information ==
From researcher Kathy Franz:
<blockquote>
Jay graduated from Lockport High School in 1934. At Cornell in 1936, he was a member of the Seal and Serpent, was on the editorial staff of the Cornell Engineer, and played violin in the University orchestra.

His father was superintendent of Lockport Light, mother Clara, sister Patricia.
</blockquote>

He was survived by his parents and his fiancé; their engagement had been announced the weekend before he was killed.

Jay is remembered at the [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56127032/jay-a-noble Courts of the Missing] in Hawaii.

== Photographs ==
<gallery mode=packed heights=350px style="text-align:left">
File:1940 Noble 1.jpg|From his high school yearbook
File:1940 Noble LB 1.jpg|From the Lucky Bag
</gallery>

== Related Articles ==
[[JOYCE A. RALPH, CDR, USN|Joyce Ralph '23]], [[BURTON L. DOGGETT, LCDR, USN|Burton Doggett '24]], [[PAUL H. TOBELMAN, CDR, USN|Paul Tobelman '26]], [[JOSEPH A. CROOK, LT, USN|Joseph Crook '36]], and [[CHARLES E. DETERDING, JR., LTJG, USN|Charles Deterding, Jr. '40]] were also passengers aboard this aircraft.

{{NDexplainer}}
{{ND|date=June 1940|rank=Ensign|command=USS St. Louis
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[JOSEPH A. CROOK, LT, USN|LTjg Joseph Crook '36]]
|column2=[[JOSEPH W. CASTELLO, LT, USN|ENS Joseph Castello '39]]
|column3=[[WILLIAM F. GREENE, LTJG, USN|ENS William Greene '40]]}}}}
{{ND|date=November 1940|rank=Ensign|command=USS St. Louis
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[JOSEPH A. CROOK, LT, USN|LTjg Joseph Crook '36]]
|column2=[[WILLIAM F. GREENE, LTJG, USN|ENS William Greene '40]]}}}}
{{ND|date=April 1941|rank=Ensign|command=USS St. Louis
|others={{NDcolumns|columns=3|column1=[[JOSEPH A. CROOK, LT, USN|LTjg Joseph Crook '36]]
|column2=[[WILLIAM F. GREENE, LTJG, USN|ENS William Greene '40]]
|column3=[[JACK L. BROWN, LT, USN|ENS Jack Brown '41]]}}}}

{{ClassNav|PAGE_ID={{PAGEID}}|Name=Jay|ClassYear=1940|PreviousPersonLink=RALPH O. ANDERSON, JR., LT, USN|PreviousPersonName=Ralph Anderson, Jr. '40|NextPersonLink=CHARLES E. DETERDING, JR., LTJG, USN|NextPersonName=Charles Deterding, Jr. '40}}

[[Category:1940|Noble]]
[[Category:USNA 4th Company|Noble]]
[[Category:US Navy|Noble]]
[[Category:Operational loss|Noble]]
[[Category:Fixed Wing Passenger|Noble]]
[[Category:Transport Squadron (VR) 2|Noble]]