GEORGE A. WILDRIDGE, JR., LT, USN

George Wildridge, Jr. '69

Date of birth: March 19, 1947

Date of death: October 22, 1973

Age: 26

Lucky Bag

From the 1969 Lucky Bag:

GEORGE ALFRED WILDRIDGE, JR.

Newark, New York

Buck came to Navy from Newark, New York. Through his four years here he has shown great enthusiasm for gymnastics. Starting with the first battalion team, where he took first place on the rings and second place on the high bar, he has been out for gym for all but one set, working his way up to varsity level. But his interest has not been in gymnastics alone. He has participated throughout in Antiphonal Choir and has sailed on the schooner Freedom. Academically, his interests lie in mechanics. Mathematics and Marine Engineering and he is particularly interested in hull design. Buck is best known for working hard at everything from academics to sports and extracurricular activities.

GEORGE ALFRED WILDRIDGE, JR.

Newark, New York

Buck came to Navy from Newark, New York. Through his four years here he has shown great enthusiasm for gymnastics. Starting with the first battalion team, where he took first place on the rings and second place on the high bar, he has been out for gym for all but one set, working his way up to varsity level. But his interest has not been in gymnastics alone. He has participated throughout in Antiphonal Choir and has sailed on the schooner Freedom. Academically, his interests lie in mechanics. Mathematics and Marine Engineering and he is particularly interested in hull design. Buck is best known for working hard at everything from academics to sports and extracurricular activities.

Loss

From Together We Served:

Ltjg Wildridge was the copilot of an SH-3G helicopter assigned to HC-1 that crashed off MIDWAY's bow on take-off for an SAR mission. Him and two other crewmembers on board are killed. The helicopter was supposed to get underway to the crash site of two other MIDWAY aircraft that had a mid-air collision. Involved in the mid-air collision were an A-7A (VA-56) and an EA-6A (VMCJ-1).
Lost aboard the helicopter was Ltjg George A, Wildridge, Ltjg William J Bates, and ADJ1 Richard H. Hall.

Additional information about both crashes and the aircraft involved is summarized on a List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (1970–1974).

Other Information

From the March 1974 issue of Shipmate:

Lt. George Alfred Wildridge, USN, died on 22 October while flying from USS Midway in the Philippine Sea.
Born in Clifton Springs, N.Y., Lt. Wildridge reported to Pensacola in the summer of 1969 after graduating from the Naval Academy. He earned his wings in March of 1971 and served his first tour in Adak, Alaska, where he was a station pilot flying H-2 Seasprite helicopters. He left Adak in mid-1973 to fly the H-3 Sea King helicopter. He was attached to the HC-1 detachment aboard MIDWAY at the time of his death.
Surviving are his widow, Jane, Chula Vista, CA; his son, George Alfred III (4 years old); and his parents. Mr. and Mrs. George Alfred Wildridge, Sr.

From The Post-Star (Glens Falls, New York), October 25, 1973:

The helicopter crew was assigned to Imperial Beach Naval Air Station, near San Diego. The Midway arrived Oct. 5 at Yokosuka, Japan, after being transferred to the 7th Fleet from Alameda Naval Air Station.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Known as “Bucky,” he graduated from Newark Central High School in 1965. Electrical Engineer. Swing Wing (choral group) 2, 3, 4; Boys’ Glee Club 1, 2, 3, 4; Mixed Chorus 1, 2, 3, 4; Boys’ Service Club 4; Swimming 1, 2, 3, 4; Track 1, 3. George swam the 50- and 100-yard freestyle sprints. His swim team were Section 5B champions in 1964. George sung a solo in the 1964 Christmas concert.
In June 1965, he received his appointment to the Naval Academy by Rep. Frank Horton.

His Find A Grave page has a comment from a niece or nephew.