JAMES D. PERKY, CAPT, USAF

James Perky '51

Date of birth: July 9, 1927

Date of death: October 11, 1957

Age: 30

Lucky Bag

From the 1951 Lucky Bag:

James Dargan Perky

Stillwater, Oklahoma

"Now back home in Oklahoma . . . God's country, that is" . . . "The most beautiful cattle in the world" . . . and "Boy, what a queen she was" are the most often heard exclamations of big "Jim" Perky . . . with the West firmly entrenched as a first love in his bosom, Jim came to us with a good background of a tour in the "gyrene" corps and a year at Oklahoma A. & M. . . . quickly adjusting himself to the Naval Academy system, Jim participated in Batt football and lacrosse . . . "Deals" Perky's personality is best epitomized by his friendly smile and vociferous "Hi ya, buddy!" . . . tenacity and a strong, desire to see things done well point Jim out as a bright prospect for the naval service.

He was also a member of the Brigade Staff (winter).

James Dargan Perky

Stillwater, Oklahoma

"Now back home in Oklahoma . . . God's country, that is" . . . "The most beautiful cattle in the world" . . . and "Boy, what a queen she was" are the most often heard exclamations of big "Jim" Perky . . . with the West firmly entrenched as a first love in his bosom, Jim came to us with a good background of a tour in the "gyrene" corps and a year at Oklahoma A. & M. . . . quickly adjusting himself to the Naval Academy system, Jim participated in Batt football and lacrosse . . . "Deals" Perky's personality is best epitomized by his friendly smile and vociferous "Hi ya, buddy!" . . . tenacity and a strong, desire to see things done well point Jim out as a bright prospect for the naval service.

He was also a member of the Brigade Staff (winter).

Loss

Jim was lost when the B-47 Stratojet he was aircraft commander of crashed while taking off from Homestead AFB, Florida on October 11, 1957. Three others aboard were also killed.

He was the aircraft commander and was survived by his wife, Martha. (Information from December 1957 issue of Shipmate.) He was also survived by his parents and is buried in Oklahoma.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Born in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, he graduated from Stillwater High School in May of 1945. He was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” and played the male lead in “Her Fatal Beauty.” After serving 18 months in the Marine Corps, he attended Oklahoma State University before attending the U. S. Naval Academy. He received his commission direct to the Air Force. He was married to Martha Beck, of Hughes, Ark., on June 3, 1951.

Class of 1951

James is one of 48 members of the Class of 1951 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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