Beverley Randolph (aviator)

U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman

Randolph was a member of the Battalion Track and Bowling teams and the Reception Committee. In 1945, he graduated in the centennial year of the Academy.

Naval Aviator

Randolph received his "wings of gold" as a Naval Aviator in 1947. He attended the United States Naval Test Pilot School at the Naval Air Test Center, NAS Patuxent River, Maryland with TPS Class 16, the same class as Vice Admiral William Porter Lawrence.

Test pilot and accident

A letter from Captain F.B. Gilkerson to Randolph's parents addresses the events of the accident. The letter states that findings are based on circumstantial evidence derived from the wreckage, witness interviews, and transcribed tape from radio transmissions. The findings are as follows:

About five minutes before the crash, Bev reported to the control tower and requested landing instructions. About two minutes later he reported in a very calm voice that he had an "indication" of fire in the afterburner section of the airplane. The tower cleared him to land on runway 6 and asked his position. Bev reported that he was 4 miles East and the tower offered runway 31 if desired. Bev said he would try to get in on runway 6. The first indication that anyone had of real trouble came about a minute later when Bev reported that he was going to be short.

From the investigation we have found that there was no actual fire and that the engine had been secured. We are convinced that Bev felt that he could make the field in a "flameout" (no power) landing. By the time he realized he could not make the runway he was over a housing area. He was high enough to eject at this point but he elected to ride the plane into the trees rather than endanger the people below