PETER B. MACKEITH, LTJG, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Peter Mackeith '51

Date of birth: May 16, 1928

Date of death: May 26, 1953

Age: 25

Lucky Bag

From the 1951 Lucky Bag:

1951 Mackeith LB.jpg

Peter Brabson Mackeith

Newark, New Jersey

His name could be Gaelic for fish . . . first saw the light of day in the "Hub of the Universe" . . . and has been extolling the wonders of New Jersey ever since . . . part fish . . . part bear . . . he can usually be found either in the pool or in his sack ... he likes to relax by listening to semi-classical music or by playing jaw-breaking games of water polo . . . friendly and coolheaded . . . he has yet to face the horrors of dragging two OAO's at the same time . . . he's fortunate . . . a life in the service . . . sports and fun all figure in this Scotsman's future ... it without a doubt will be an enjoyable and successful one.

1951 Mackeith LB.jpg

Peter Brabson Mackeith

Newark, New Jersey

His name could be Gaelic for fish . . . first saw the light of day in the "Hub of the Universe" . . . and has been extolling the wonders of New Jersey ever since . . . part fish . . . part bear . . . he can usually be found either in the pool or in his sack ... he likes to relax by listening to semi-classical music or by playing jaw-breaking games of water polo . . . friendly and coolheaded . . . he has yet to face the horrors of dragging two OAO's at the same time . . . he's fortunate . . . a life in the service . . . sports and fun all figure in this Scotsman's future ... it without a doubt will be an enjoyable and successful one.

Loss

From The Palm Beach Post:

KEY WEST, May 26 (UP) A Navy student pilot was killed in a routine training flight today when his Hellcat fighter crashed into the Atlantic, 50 miles west of here. Navy authorities identified the victim as Lt. Peter B. MacKeith, of Plainfield, N.J., 25. Neither the pilot nor the plane was recovered. An investigation team said Peters apparently lost control of the plane and crashed Into the water from 9,000 feet.

He was piloting an F6F Hellcat bureau number 94388; unable to determine which squadron he was a member of.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Peter graduated from West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey, and attended the Newark College of Engineering for 18 months. He received his pilot’s commission at Pensacola in 1952. To complete his aircraft carrier qualifications, he successfully landed his SNJ “Texan” trainer six times aboard the USS Cabot, cruising in the Gulf of Mexico. In November he was interviewed by the Cabaniss Field radio station CAB in Corpus Christi, Texas. He then went to the Navy Air Station in Kingsville, Texas. When he received his wings, his wife pinned them on him.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Frederick A. Palmer, former pastor of the Sanford Heights Presbyterian Church, Irvington, New Jersey. He was buried in Restland Memorial Park in East Hanover.

He was survived by his wife, the former Ann Vanderhoff, his 6-week-old daughter Ellen, mother Mrs. L. C. Lewan, and a brother Francis. His father Peter predeceased him.

Peter has a memorial marker in New Jersey.

Photographs


Class of 1951

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

QR code

The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.