US Navy Lt. Commander James Francis Xavier "Fitz" Fitzpatrick Jr. was born in New York City, NY on December 13, 1912, the son of James F. Sr. (1884-1943) and Johanna McLoughlin (1885-). According to researcher Kathy Franz, his father was "in charge of the detectives of the Clinton Street police station and a member of the New York City police force for more than 36 years" and received five departmental commendations during his law enforcement career.
James would receive an appointment to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis where he excelled in football, baseball, and water police all four years of his attendance. After graduation in 1935, he completed his initial assignments with the fleet before reporting to NAS Pensacola for flight training. He completed his training in or around 1939 and remained as an instructor before again reporting to the fleet as an aviator. While in Pensacola, he also made time to play for the Navy football team as well meet a young Pensacola girl by the name of Mary Louise Mackey (1913-1976). She was the daughter of William Christopher Mackey (1876-1951) and Sallie R. Riddick (1877-1924) who owned the Empire Laundry Company at 12 North Palafox Street. The couple made their arrangements and were married on April 27, 1940 while James was stationed aboard the USS Wasp with the VB-7 squadron.
After the war broke out, Escort Fighting Squadron VGF-27 was created on April 22, 1942, with James as its executive officer aboard the USS Suwanee. The squadron flew combat missions in North Africa before being sent to the South Pacific in October 1942. The next month, James became the squadron's CO as they were detached to Guadalcanal to provide air support to the Marines and/or escorting convoys. During this time, the pilots from all the escort squadrons became totally interchangeable as they mingled with each other on various missions.
Then on June 26, 1943, James was flying his F4F Wildcat fighter to Guadalcanal when he crashed into the dense jungle of one of the New Hebrides Islands and was killed instantly. His body was recovered, and his remains were buried in the military cemetery on Guadalcanal. After the war, he was disinterred and reburied in the Honolulu War Cemetery on January 12, 1949.
Louise would remarry in 1960 to Joseph Ellison Sneed Sr. (1908-1990) until her death in 1976 and subsequent burial in the Gonzalez Methodist Church Cemetery. At one time, Joseph was president of the Bank of Atmore and following his death was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.
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