GEORGE W. DUNCAN, JR., CAPT, USAF

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
George Duncan, Jr. '50

Date of birth: September 25, 1926

Date of death: January 30, 1956

Age: 29

Lucky Bag

From the 1950 Lucky Bag:

1950 Duncan LB.jpg

GEORGE WASHINGTON DUNCAN, JR.

Augusta, Maine

Ever since the first day when George joined the Brigade, he has had his up's and down's. He fell in for his first formation in a white sailor's hat, unstenciled white works, and without the least idea of what his company assignment was. But undaunted and carefree as he is, he can be just as earnest and concerned. Before his Academy days, George gathered laurels from many states' various track championships. He carried this ability of his to Thompson Stadium to become one of our Track Team mainstays. Easygoing, likeable, subtle in all his ways, that's Dune.

1950 Duncan LB.jpg

GEORGE WASHINGTON DUNCAN, JR.

Augusta, Maine

Ever since the first day when George joined the Brigade, he has had his up's and down's. He fell in for his first formation in a white sailor's hat, unstenciled white works, and without the least idea of what his company assignment was. But undaunted and carefree as he is, he can be just as earnest and concerned. Before his Academy days, George gathered laurels from many states' various track championships. He carried this ability of his to Thompson Stadium to become one of our Track Team mainstays. Easygoing, likeable, subtle in all his ways, that's Dune.

Loss

George died at Mildenhall, England on January 30, 1956 from injuries sustained in the crash of the B-45 he was piloting.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

He was born in Virginia, and his mother’s name was Jennie. His father George, born in 1888 in Georgia, was widowed and was a textile engineer in a cotton mill in 1940. His father’s name was also George Washington Duncan, born in 1854, a real estate and insurance proprietor in 1910 in Macon, Georgia.

After his mother’s death in 1937, George spent much time with his aunt Mrs. Rodney S. Cohen, Sr., of Augusta, Georgia.

He graduated from Woodberry-Forest Preparatory School in Virginia. In the 1943 yearbook: Junior Varsity Football, Varsity Track (880), Fir Tree Board, Oracle Board, German Club, Winter Track. In “The Daily Dope” story “Chatfield Throws Party,” George attended the party as a famous half-miler … and when everyone had left the party, George “remained in a corner wrapped in his morning paper.”

In 1952, George married Patricia McNiff of Rochester, Minnesota. He adopted her son. Patricia gave birth to a third son, George Washington Duncan, IV, on May 15, 1956, in Olmstead, Minnesota.

George is buried in Georgia.

Related Articles

John Billings '50 was also a member of the 12th Company.

James Bowers '50, Hamilton McDowell, Jr. '50, Wilbur Spradling, Jr. '50, James Wills, Jr. '50, Edward Hotz, Jr. '50, Cedric Peterson, Jr. '50, Lorenzo Daleo '50, and Christopher Braybrooke '50 were also graduated from pilot training class 51-E, Williams AFB, Arizona, on August 4, 1951. (Sixty-seven Naval Academy graduates completed this class.)


Class of 1950

George is one of 37 members of the Class of 1950 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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