ROBERT G. BENGSTON, LTJG, USN
Robert Bengston '60
Lucky Bag
From the 1960 Lucky Bag:
Shipmate
Continuing with the sad news, we now pay our last tribute to another friend and classmate, Bob Bengston. Bob was killed in an aircraft accident while operating off USS Ranger (CV 61) in WestPac. The description of Bob in our Lucky Bag serves as a most appropriate eulogy: "Good Ole Benger - his winning spirit will make him more than a match for anything in the future." It was unfortunate that his future was so shortlived. Bob is survived by his widow, two children and parents, Capt. and Mrs. R. C. Bengston of Arlington, VA. To them we extend our deep sympathies. Shipmate, August 1963
According to Ranger's log (page 43), he was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 91. He was piloting a F-8C that crashed in 2,400 fathoms of water at 28°00.8'N, 137°06'E.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Robert attended the Heatherdown School in England and graduated from Severn School in Maryland.
In June 1958, he completed two weeks of amphibious training at the Little Creek, Virginia, Amphibious Base. Robert and his date Mary-Louise (“Nikki”) Theobold attended the formal dinner dance on December 29, 1955, in the Officers Club in Rhode Island. Her mother and her brother Bruce visited Robert at the Naval Academy in October 1956.
His engagement to Nikki was announced in January 1960. They were married on June 11 in St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis. They moved to Pensacola where he attended Naval Flight School. Her father was Capt. Robert A. Theobold, Jr., and her grandfather was the late Rear Adm. Robert A. Theobold.
Bob has a memory marker in the Naval Academy cemetery.
Class of 1960
Robert is one of 28 members of the Class of 1960 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
