ROBERT F. CONSTANS, LT, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Robert Constans '55

Date of birth: September 27, 1931

Date of death: October 21, 1960

Age: 29

Lucky Bag

From the 1955 Lucky Bag:

1955 Constans LB.jpg

ROBERT FRANKLIN CONSTANS

Los Angeles, California

At 1300, 2 July 1951, Navy claimed another college man. A member of the class of '53 at UCLA, Bob decided to start all over and found that Academy life agreed with him — almost. Academics never were a problem; so he tried his hand at various company sports, Varsity swimming, and he was editor of the Trident Calendar. Never one to clutch after the formation bell had rung, Bob always managed to beat out the late bell. Bob will make the service his career if he likes it after the first thirty years.


He was also a member of the 6th Company staff (winter).

1955 Constans LB.jpg

ROBERT FRANKLIN CONSTANS

Los Angeles, California

At 1300, 2 July 1951, Navy claimed another college man. A member of the class of '53 at UCLA, Bob decided to start all over and found that Academy life agreed with him — almost. Academics never were a problem; so he tried his hand at various company sports, Varsity swimming, and he was editor of the Trident Calendar. Never one to clutch after the formation bell had rung, Bob always managed to beat out the late bell. Bob will make the service his career if he likes it after the first thirty years.


He was also a member of the 6th Company staff (winter).

1955 Constans LB 2.jpg

Loss

Bob was killed when he ejected from an F-3H Demon on October 21, 1960; his engine flamed out during takeoff. He was a member of VF-114 Executioners, deployed on USS Hancock (CVA 19) operating in the South China Sea.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

The body was not recovered because of the heavy seas. Eyewitnesses said he became entangled in his parachute when he attempted to eject.

He studied for two years at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta. On December 28, 1958, he married Traute Bicke when he was stationed at San Diego.

He was survived by his father Robert, a lumber salesman, mother Edith, brother John, and sister Virginia. In 1969, John was a Lt (jg) in the Navy.

Related Articles

Alan Lewis '55 was also on the Trident Calendar.


Class of 1955

Robert is one of 34 members of the Class of 1955 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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