NORMAN L. WILKY, LT, USN

Norman Wilky '44

Date of birth: May 5, 1921

Date of death: February 4, 1948

Age: 26

Lucky Bag

From the 1944 Lucky Bag:

Norman Leslie Wilky

Hollywood, California

Arriving at the Academy in army uniform, Norm wasted little time in showing that Navy Blue was his favorite. Not satisfied with a plain blue uniform, Norm added stars plebe year; and when first class year rolled around, he had it trimmed with four stripes. He was always in front, in a soccer game or a parade; and always pulling for Navy, even in a battalion shell. At hops all of us were glad to see Norm drag, as we knew he would never stay in a stag line very long. We will be glad to row him aboard our ship anytime, a shipmate whose first love is the Service.

The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Norman Leslie Wilky

Hollywood, California

Arriving at the Academy in army uniform, Norm wasted little time in showing that Navy Blue was his favorite. Not satisfied with a plain blue uniform, Norm added stars plebe year; and when first class year rolled around, he had it trimmed with four stripes. He was always in front, in a soccer game or a parade; and always pulling for Navy, even in a battalion shell. At hops all of us were glad to see Norm drag, as we knew he would never stay in a stag line very long. We will be glad to row him aboard our ship anytime, a shipmate whose first love is the Service.

The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Obituary

From National Air and Space Museum Wall of Honor:

Lieutenant Norman L. Wilky journeyed from his Los Angeles home to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis as a member of the 1944 Naval Academy class, men who, by history's vicissitude, became "three-year wonders." He graduated in 1943 and served the remainder of World War II aboard the battleship Massachusetts.
Devoted to the Navy, he wanted next in his career to join those who, in the words of his favorite poem "High Flight," have "slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies" in the "high untrespassed sanctity of space" and "touched the face of God." At Pensacola he earned the wings insignia of a pilot. He also proudly wore the "Pegleg Pete" emblem when his squadron flew from the second carrier Princeton and received the honor of making the ten-thousandth landing on U. S. S. Boxer.
Norm was killed accidentally in 1948 while commanding a training mission. There is a measure of solace that his premature passing came in a place and fulfilling duty he cherished: In the air, flying a Corsair, serving his country. The Wall of Honor engraving is dedicated by his wife and two children in loving memory.

The Register of Alumni gives his date of death (February 4, 1948) and "plane crash at sea Pacific area."

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Per the Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, March 9, 1935:

To Norman Wilky, 13, of 449 N. Detroit St., went the distinction of being the youngest recipient of the Eagle award in the class last night, in addition to being one of the youngest Eagles in the city. He also received merit badges that brought his total to 31, 10 more than are necessary for receiving the honor.
Young Wilky, who joined the organization when he was 12, is leader of the Flaming Arrow Patrol of Troop 322 and has received scholastic honors in school while rising in scouting ranks.

Norman graduated from Fairfax High School in 1939. Boys’ Assize Court President; member of Ephebian Honor Society of Los Angeles, Guilders and Servitors; Captain R. O. T. C.; C. S. F.; Hi-Y.
He attended a California Scholarship Federation luncheon at Fairfax High School in January 1939. He received the Hollywood American Legion Post annual award given for honor, courage, leadership and service to the school and the community. He belonged to the Buccaneers Club in February 1939 and attended a dinner-dance for members.
As part of the UCLA R.O.T.C., he won a gold pin in May 1940 for the outstanding Pershing Rifleman.
On July 1, 1940, he enlisted at Fort Winfield Scott.
He was detached from the USS Massachusetts in May 1945 to attend flight school at NAS Dallas.
Norman was survived by his wife Jane, son Norman, Jr. ( who died in 2007,) and daughter Susan Jane.
Norman’s mother was Virginia, and his sister was Virginia. His father was Leslie Guy Wilky, cinematographer and founding member of American Society of Cinematographers.