James Kyle, Jr. '15
Date of birth: April 2, 1892
Date of death: May 22, 1925
Age: 33
Lucky Bag
From the 1915 Lucky Bag:
James Roland Kyle, Jr.
Lynchburg, Virginia
"Jimmy"
LOOK closely, gentle reader, ere you explore further. This is Jimmie Kyle, of Virginia. Though of slight build and modest, unassuming mien, Jimmie occupies a prominent part in our affections. The needy do not beg his assistance in vain while there remains a shirt or pair of socks in his locker. But let one become inquisitive or even flippant—who has not withered under his scornful "You're too curious" or his scathing "Who wants to know^"
If it were not for the Academic Department, Jimmies worries would be at an end. It has taken much midnight oil and more self-denial to entice old 2.5 to a dark, lonely spot and crown him. But at certain periodic and memorable intervals, mere earthly cares are cast off, and Jimmie, clad for festive frivolity, fares forth. Why, once—no, a couple of times. . . . . . .
We are not responsible for this, but rumor has it that Jimmie breaks three razors a week. The tendency is, however, to doubt it, for it is very seldom that we ever see the evidence of the use of even one. Curious, too, how he can be so negligent of his appearance when he rooms with Sarge Henning. Now Sarge, as we all know, has only one rival in the beautifying line, Pinky Kneip, and Kneip has the advantage with his warm, auburn ensemble. Sarge is an expert, though, and we should think he would have tried his art on Jimmie.
Jimmie's pleasant manner and weird, slow smile have kept him dragging continually. He joins Sarge in the contention that there aren't enough hops.
"Br-r-r! I'm co-o-old! I'm freezin'!"
Biography
From Find A Grave:
Lieutenant J. Kyle, USN, was designated Naval Aviator #2950 in 1921. Graduated U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1915. Was Engineering Officer of the Torpedo Boat Destroyer USS DENT during the World War.
From May 1-2, 1925 LTs Kyle and Clarence Henry Schildhauer (NA #3053), testing the new PN-9 seaplane, set a new endurance record of 28 hours, 35 minutes, 27 seconds. The plane, a metal-hulled flying boat equipped with two Packard engines, was used by CDR John Rogers later in the year on his record flight toward Hawaii.
Assigned to the parachute school at NAS Lakehurst, NJ, LT Kyle was killed when his parachute failed to open after bailing out of a disabled aircraft.
James was survived by his parents and brother; he is buried in Virginia.
World Record Flight
The aircraft mentioned above featured an open cockpit.
Class of 1915
James is one of 18 members of the Class of 1915 in Memorial Hall.
