JAMES P. KOCH, LTJG, USN
James Koch '62
Lucky Bag
From the 1962 Lucky Bag:
James Peter Koch
Norfolk, Virginia
Pete is one of those Navy juniors who had to claim everywhere as his home and he easily added the "School on the Severn" to his list. At the Academy Pete always managed to expertly divide his time between working out in the gym, the books, and planning for the next party. Despite the good times, the determination to do a job well showed itself in his academics and varsity position on the gym team. A tremendous competitor with a ready wit and pleasant personality, he was an outstanding midshipman and Navy Air has claimed a valuable officer.
James Peter Koch
Norfolk, Virginia
Pete is one of those Navy juniors who had to claim everywhere as his home and he easily added the "School on the Severn" to his list. At the Academy Pete always managed to expertly divide his time between working out in the gym, the books, and planning for the next party. Despite the good times, the determination to do a job well showed itself in his academics and varsity position on the gym team. A tremendous competitor with a ready wit and pleasant personality, he was an outstanding midshipman and Navy Air has claimed a valuable officer.
Loss
From Find A Grave:
While conducting flight operations from USS America (CV66) in the Mediterranean Sea on the night of 16 October 1965, Lt Pete Koch (Pilot) and Ltjg Don Weisman (RIO) were killed when their F-4B Phantom II assigned to fighter squadron VF-33 collided with an RA-5C Vigilante aircraft during a carrier landing.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz: "The collision happened 25 miles south of Puerto Rico before the America was deployed to the Mediterranean later that year. He was survived by his parents, a sister and two brothers."
His father was a graduate of the Class of 1933. (Information from December 1965 issue of Shipmate.)
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