ADOLFO J. PARRA, JR., 2LT, USA
Adolfo Parra '38
Adolph Parra, Jr. was admitted to the Naval Academy from Ponce, Puerto Rico on June 25, 1934 at age 19 years 4 months.
He resigned from the Naval Academy on June 7, 1937, he was "Deficient in studies, second term's work. Recommended to be dropped. Permitted to resign."
Lucky Bag
He is listed in the 1938 Lucky Bag on the page "Victims of the System: Third Battalion".
Photographs
His 1939 graduate photograph from New York University.
1939 Phi Gamma Delta fraternity photograph.
1938 Phi Gamma Delta fraternity photograph.
Loss
Adolfo was lost on November 13, 1941, when the P-40 Warhawk he was piloting crashed near Paja, Panama. He was a member of the Army's 29th Pursuit Squadron.
Other Information
His loss was noted in the February 1942 issue of Shipmate; the March 1942 issue has "ADOLPH J. PARRA, JR., '38, 2nd Lieutenant, U. S. Army Air Corps. Died Nov. 13, '41, near Albrook Field, Panama, Canal Zone. Killed in airplane accident." March 1944 issue: "Parra, Adolph J., Jr.—2nd Lt. USAAC." The Register of Alumni gives "Parra, 2LT Adolph, Jr., USA".
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Father was Adolfo Parra y Capo - in 1930 was a life insurance agent in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Mother was Felici Adelaida Lucchetti Chevalier, teacher at a private school. Adolfo was 15, and they had 3 servants living with them.
He traveled in June 1934, September 1935, and September 1936 from Puerto Rico to the Naval Academy.
In August 1937 he traveled from Puerto Rico to New York University Heights, NYC. He graduated with a degree in Engineering from New York University with the Class of 1939. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta, Nu Epsilon Chapter in 1938 and 1939. He was also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
In 1940 Adolfo attended the Allan Hancock College of Aeronautics in Santa Maria, California. He was listed as living in Santa Monica.
Adolfo was first buried in the Corozal Cemetery, Section C, Row 9, grave 11. He was disinterred on January 9, 1948, and sent to the Arlington National Cemetery.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Memorial Hall Error
Adolfo changed his name from "Adolph" at some point; suspect that this is why he is not listed in Memorial Hall with his classmates. He was identified through the diligent efforts of Leslie Poche, a volunteer who combed through Shipmate issues to find operational losses not accounted for in Memorial Hall.
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