Evening star., 1957-12-27
WIN, LOSE OR
IDKAW 3, FRANCIS s1AAA
Killer Kane of Navy
ON FEBRUARY 5, 1857, D

ON FEBRUARY S, 1857 the electrical system Of a
Jet plane failed and crashed Augusta. Ca. and
william r. Kierl Kane the pilot, killed. He repre-
sented much to many people that was only at
and proper that he be elected to the Silver Anniversary
Al-America.
He natural In the fastest of company
and it by resounding vote that Kane made the
grade. He was hier. war hero q football star.
trackman. wrestler bali player and a friend.
When Kane was playing tackle for Navy in 1882 the
MiddieS didn't have much Of record Probably he
good football player he at track. throwing
the aveln In baseball and in other athletic fields But
because Navy in those days wasn't building stadium at
Annapolis by playing in the Cotton Bowl 1t said
Killer better wrestler than he football player
He must have been pretty good on the mat, because
he was undefeated as a heavyweight In 50. When he
graduated that year Kane the only three etterman
In the academy. They gave him the Naval Academy
Association saber presented annually to the member Of
the graduating class voted the outstanding athlete
ONE WHO MUST HAVE exuted when Kane made
the Silver Anniversary Al-Amerca Admiral Tom
Hamilton Tom Killer in his early days at Anna
polls and then he knew him better during World
War II, when they were both the famed Enterprise
The young Kane daring and fearless was the leader
Of the Grim Reapers squadron which few of the Enter
prise Big E" called Killer went into the
drink three times But he scored big against the japanese
and quickly he hshed out Of the water he
returned to the cockpit Of his Navy fighter TO lead his
squadron
He was onicer of the day at Pearl Harbor December
T. loil when the Japanese struck He remained duty
for 48 hours, assisting the wounded and fighting fires
and taking care Of survivors of damaged ships
He didn't fy to retalate There weren't any ships
available. That business postponed until later.
Z LIKED THE WAY Tom Hamilton put 1t many
months ago These days Tom is athletic director Of the
University OF Pittsburgh but he's all Navy. There was
occasion to call him February g. soon after Johnny
Cox of the Naval Academy had placed call to Florida
with the sad tdings.
KILLER held the real love and respect Of every decent
man I've known" Hamilton said He led attacks
the Jap fleets almost cheerfuy. He looked like Navy
tackle who going up against Notre Dame"
Admiral Hamilton recalled mission In particular.
I There some 800 planes in the air. as remem-
ber" Tom saying Admiral Mitscher was in command
of this task group 1t rough going and the Enterprise
had 10 men in the water"
EIGHTEEN WERE PICKED up.' Admiral Hamilton
related. The 18th miSsing-and you guess who
he was At least the crew didn't have TO be told.
1T wasn't very happy ship until destroyer steamed
up about four days later and binked message
! 1--WE have an aviator for you
( "You can't imagine what 1t meant to the Enterprise.
Nc only the officers but the enlisted buddies
of Killer.
Kane was brought from. the destroyer to the
Enterprise high line The carrier must have listed
i've six degrees because the the side,
waving and cheering.
I ave heard lot Of ovations for a man but never
one match Killers that day. Hamilton says. 1T
the biggest and the greatest"