In Remembrance
Lieutenant J.G. Charles Dickens Collins, Jr.

Lieutenant J.G. Charles Dickens Collins, Jr.

Charles Dickens Collins Jr was born on February 11, 1940, and was called Chick from birth.  Chick grew up on the northeast side of Milwaukee, attending neighborhood public schools and graduating from Riverside High School in 1958. He was a member of the National Honor Society in high school and was accepted for the Naval ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin beginning in September 1958.  

In the fall of 1960, Chick was selected to be a member of The National Society of Scabbard and Blade and, in 1961, was elected Captain.  In February 1962, he began his flying career by participating in the Navy-sponsored aviation flight instruction program and received his private pilot license.  In addition to this time spent with the Navy during his undergraduate days, Chick was an active member of the Chi Psi fraternity at 150 Iota Court, holding leadership positions and forming many enduring friendships.

After graduation, his Naval aviation training began at Saufley Field in Pensacola, Florida. He then moved on to basic jet flight instruction at the U. S. Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi. From Meridian, he went to the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he was designated a Naval Aviator.

In the fall of 1964, Chick was sent to the Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, to begin flight training with the Phantom F4B. While there, he met and became engaged to Gail Watts of La Jolla.  On June 2, 1965, while testing the weapons system on the Phantom, his plane crashed after failing to pull out of a simulated rocket run. 

In 1966, family members and friends established a memorial scholarship award at the University of Wisconsin to be given to the top Naval ROTC student annually.