KENNETH A. WADE, LT, USN
Kenneth Wade '46
Lucky Bag
From the 1946 Lucky Bag:
Kenneth Albert Wade
Coronado, California
Among the boys who whoop it up in Bancroft Hall, one can always single out our boy, "K.A." Never a complaining note was emitted from Ken as people thronged to his room to borrow the daily necessities. Women never bothered him and he never bothered them; the only thing he dragged to the hops was himself, and that was in a mad effort to get the punch with the cherries in it. There was never a dull moment for the companions of "Carefree Ken," the man who luffed his way through Juice, "K.A." will never slow down as long as there is spice left in life.
The Class of 1946 was graduated in June 1945 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Kenneth Albert Wade
Coronado, California
Among the boys who whoop it up in Bancroft Hall, one can always single out our boy, "K.A." Never a complaining note was emitted from Ken as people thronged to his room to borrow the daily necessities. Women never bothered him and he never bothered them; the only thing he dragged to the hops was himself, and that was in a mad effort to get the punch with the cherries in it. There was never a dull moment for the companions of "Carefree Ken," the man who luffed his way through Juice, "K.A." will never slow down as long as there is spice left in life.
The Class of 1946 was graduated in June 1945 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
From The Corpus Christi Caller-Times on February 9, 1955:
LA JOLLA, Calif., Feb, 9. A screaming jet plane carried its pilot, Lt. Kenneth A. Wade, 33. of Coronado, Calif., to death in a dive from 36,000 feet into an ocean shore canyon not far from residential districts yesterday. At least one housewife saw the Navy F9F2 Panther disintegrate before it struck in the canyon with an explosion that shook homes and hotels in La Jolla's north section and buildings at the University of California's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The plane went into the dive at 36,000 feet, another pilot reported. He called by radio for the doomed pilot to "pull out" but got no response. Other Navy airmen said it was possible he was already unconscious and that failure of his oxygen equipment may have caused him to lose his senses and control of the jet.
He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 122. His crash was the fifth of a Panther in three weeks from Miramar Naval Air Station.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
At Coronado High School, Kenneth blocked three punts his senior season, one for a safety. He was selected to the All Metropolitan Team. He also was on the basketball and track teams. Letterman’s Club 39-40, Hi-Y 40, “Going on Seventeen” 39, “Prize Family” 39.
Kenneth’s mother was born in Orenburg, Russia. She lived in Vladivostok, Siberia from 1916-1921. In October 1923, she applied for a passport to take 14-month-old Kenneth abroad to accompany her husband and see her parents. They traveled to China, Japan, Canada, Siberia and Russia. His father died in 1928.
Kenneth is buried in California; he was survived by his mother. (Information from April 1955 issue of Shipmate.)
Korean War Experience
Unable to find many details, but in addition to this photograph his headstone indicates he was awarded the Air Medal and three gold stars.
Photographs
Kenneth, aged 14 months, with his mother in her passport photograph
From his high school yearbook
From his high school yearbook
From the 1952 Cruise Book of USS Princeton (CVA 37)
"LT(jg) Kenneth A. Wade grins through flak hole in his Panther wing tip and gas tank." From June 1951 issue of "Naval Aviation News." This photograph was also reproduced in several newspapers in late March, 1951.
Related Articles
Oliver Johnson '46, James Smith, Jr. '46, and McFaddin Moise '46 were also members of 5th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
