JAMES D. WATKINS, LTJG, USN
James Watkins '77
Lucky Bag
From the 1977 Lucky Bag:
JAMES D. WATKINS
Chula Vista, California
"JIM"
Jim came to Navy Tech from sunny Southern California in 73. He maxed out academically Plebe year with a pair of 2.5’s. "I could coast to graduation on these" he joked. Youngster year saw Jim active in the development of the 6th wing Missile Test Range. NASA never acknowledged his rather dubious achievements, and luckily neither did the OD’s. Social development was the theme of 2/c year, and as co-chairman of the Saturday Night Drinking Club, Jim had finally adopted a position of leadership in Buzzy’s Brigade. To sing the blues, you pay your dues, and Jim paid for his carefree life with a brief tour at UNSATLAND that year. Jim selected NAVY AIR for service selection, but before arriving at Pensacola, Jim will pack some 200 cassettes and a few civvies in his Mustang and head for the Bay Area Ca., for some Tem Du and hopefully increased luck with the fairer sex. We all wish Jim the best of luck for a high flying future.
JAMES D. WATKINS
Chula Vista, California
"JIM"
Jim came to Navy Tech from sunny Southern California in 73. He maxed out academically Plebe year with a pair of 2.5’s. "I could coast to graduation on these" he joked. Youngster year saw Jim active in the development of the 6th wing Missile Test Range. NASA never acknowledged his rather dubious achievements, and luckily neither did the OD’s. Social development was the theme of 2/c year, and as co-chairman of the Saturday Night Drinking Club, Jim had finally adopted a position of leadership in Buzzy’s Brigade. To sing the blues, you pay your dues, and Jim paid for his carefree life with a brief tour at UNSATLAND that year. Jim selected NAVY AIR for service selection, but before arriving at Pensacola, Jim will pack some 200 cassettes and a few civvies in his Mustang and head for the Bay Area Ca., for some Tem Du and hopefully increased luck with the fairer sex. We all wish Jim the best of luck for a high flying future.
Loss
James was lost on September 11, 1980 when the A-7E he was piloting crashed during a practice bombing mission at Naval Weapons Center China Lake, California. He was a member of Attack Squadron (VA) 195.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
James graduated from Hilltop High School in 1973. Regent of Service, Varsity Wrestling, Senator.
James was a groomsman at Ensign Jerry DeMelo’s wedding in January 1979. The swordbearers were Ensigns Glenn Elliott, Brian Anderson, Jeff Berg, and Wayne Johnson. Midshipman Sean Cate gave the commands to the swordbearing unit.
During the application process to the Naval Academy James was interviewed by a local paper, the Chula Vista Star-News. In the article he was asked about why he was applying and his interests:
"I'VE BEEN shooting for it since before the fifth grade,' he said. "My dad told me about it. You get paid to go, you get a good education -- it sounded great.
"I want to be a flier -- that's always excited and interested me. I've always had that picture in my mind. I’ve thought it would be great.
"I don't even look at the dangers. I don't think it's dangerous unless there are a lot of missiles being shot at you. I don't look at it as being dangerous. I look at it as being fun."
If he makes it he will be following in the footsteps of his father, a retired aviation lieutenant commander.
From The Hanford Sentinel on September 17, 1980:
He graduated and was commissioned an ensign from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., in June 1977. Following a brief tour of duty with the Naval Air Station at Moffett Field, he reported to Naval Aviation Schools Command in Pensacola, Fla. in November 1977 to start flight training.
In September 1978 Watkins reported to Training Wing-3, at Naval Air Station Chase Field, in Beeville, Texas. While attached to the wing, Watkins received his flight instruction with Training Squadron-25, becoming a naval aviator in September 1979.
In November 1979 Watkins reported to Attack Squadron 122 as a fleet replacement pilot for training in the A-7-E aircraft. He transferred to Attack Squadron 195 in June 1980.
He is survived by his mother Caroline Watkins of Chula Vista; three brothers, Robert, Douglas and Daniel Watkins, all of Chula Vista.
His home of record was Chula Vista, CA.
James is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego, CA.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
From his high school yearbook
From his high school yearbook
Photo courtesy Doug Watkins
Photo courtesy Doug Watkins
Photo courtesy Doug Watkins
Photo courtesy Doug Watkins
Photo courtesy Doug Watkins
Photo courtesy Doug Watkins
Photo courtesy Doug Watkins
Remembrances
Via email on February 2, 2024:
My name is Doug Watkins. I am Jim’s younger brother. We were four siblings - my oldest brother Robert (Bob) was born one year before Jim, who was born a year before me. My youngest brother, Dan, was born two years after me. Our father, Lt. Cmd. Hollie C. Watkins, Jr., died when I was 10 years old, leaving our mother to raise us four boys by herself.
Without a father during our teen years, Dan and I looked up to Jim and Bob as role models. Bob was the studious one, whom we mostly went to for help with homework, and Jim we looked up to for everything else. He also made sure nothing bad happened to us. I remember one time when Dan was bullied by some kids around the corner from us. When Jim found out he was going to make sure it stopped, so he took us over there to have a talk with the kids. The issue was resolved peacefully and Dan was never bullied again.
As siblings we got along very well with each other. Of course we had our little squabbles and disagreements like any family, but never anything serious. There was the time I pushed Jim out the bedroom window when I was mad at him, and I had to lock every door to make sure he cooled off before I let him back in. But he convinced me that the longer I waited to let him in the worse it was going to be for me, so I let him in, he gave me a couple of short punches in the arm and that was it. Actually it was all in fun. In fact, we all often played together and had a lot of fun. Jim liked to demonstrate his wrestling moves on us, despite our insistence that it wasn’t necessary.
Jim was always looking for adventure as a youngster and was not afraid to take chances. Once, a friend was showing him how to ride his motorcycle. Jim rode it down the street, but not knowing how to stop it, he jumped the curb at the end of the street and crashed into the fountain in the yard of the house there. Jim never told my mom about it, but after he returned the bike to his friend, he went over to the house to apologize to the man who lived there. The man was impressed that Jim owned up to it and offered to pay for any damage. He said he wouldn’t tell our mom. Years later, when we were celebrating Jim’s graduation from Annapolis the story came up and my mom said it’s a good thing she never knew about it or she would have had a heart attack.
That’s all I will share for now. Jim was a wonderful brother. He was well liked and admired by us as well as all our friends. I still miss him and often wonder what it would have been like to have him around all these years. May he rest in peace.
From an email on September 6, 2022:
My name is Roger "Mitch" Mitchell, I am a retired aerospace engineer and former jet engine mechanic from Navy squadron VA-195.
I was assigned the A7E Corsair II aircraft that LTjg Watkins was flying the day that he died, September 11, 1980.
I was assigned to his aircraft for plane captain duties and was the last enlisted man from VA-195 to speak face to face with him before closing the cockpit canopy.
Preflight inspections and checks were completed by Mr. Watkins and he was strapped into the cockpit, we continued starting procedures of the aircraft without incident and I secured the aircraft for flight while Mr. Watkins punched his data into the flight computer.
Mr. Watkins was very enthusiastic to fly and had to be reminded that the XO Phillips was to taxi first.
The last words spoken to me by LTjg Watkins were, "I am going to have some fun, see ya when I get back, Mitch."
I responded with "have a good flight sir, see you when you get back."
LTjg Watkins' helmet had a nuclear explosion symbol sticker on the back with "Nuke em until they glow". Spelled out. That seemed to have stuck in my mind during the pre-flight.
When the flight returned from China lake, I was told my plane would not be returning and that it had crashed, I was taken by the XO to the hangar and briefed as well as interviewed by Naval investigations for 3 hours regarding every aspect of the flight.
Ltjg Watkins was a very direct but personable pilot who was detailed and desired to be the best.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
