JOHN L. BRAINERD, LT, USN
John Brainerd '55
Lucky Bag
From the 1955 Lucky Bag:
JOHN LOWELL BRAINERD
Norfolk, Virginia
During his stay at Navy John succeeded in what most of us have tried at one time or other — dragging every weekend and then hitting those books all week. The rest of us let these activities lap over. John had the attributes for such a life as could be evidenced by his progress on the wrestling team — won his N Plebe year — and his fine class standing. Summer cruises were a pleasure for John because he enjoyed the relaxation — and work? We are sure that John will be respected in the future as a result of his fine traits.
JOHN LOWELL BRAINERD
Norfolk, Virginia
During his stay at Navy John succeeded in what most of us have tried at one time or other — dragging every weekend and then hitting those books all week. The rest of us let these activities lap over. John had the attributes for such a life as could be evidenced by his progress on the wrestling team — won his N Plebe year — and his fine class standing. Summer cruises were a pleasure for John because he enjoyed the relaxation — and work? We are sure that John will be respected in the future as a result of his fine traits.
Loss
John was lost on September 19, 1960 when the S2F Tracker plane he was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean 300 miles off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The copilot was also killed; they were members of Air Anti-Submarine Squadron (VS) 26.
Other Information
From the November 1960 issue of Shipmate:
We are deeply saddened by the loss of JOHN LOWELL BRAINERD, who lost his life as a result of an aircraft accident on 19 Sept 1960 which occurred during ASW operations at sea with VS-26 aboard the USS RANDOLPH. He had been flying with Task Group Alfa for 2 years. He is survived by his widow, Roberta Gross Brainerd, and 3 children, Roberta, John and Philip.
He has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery.
Photographs
From the Lucky Bag
Related Articles
John's brother, Phillip Brainerd '56, was lost in an aircraft crash almost exactly a year and a half before.
Bobby Broome '57 was also lost in this crash.
Robert Bartlett '55 was also in the 13th Company; they share the same page in the Lucky Bag.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
