Kern County Obituaries

John J. De Pasqua

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; 6 Aug 1953

Marine Jet Pilot Dies In Crash
A Marine Corps pilot, attached to the Mojave Auxiliary Marine Station was killed 
last Thursday, July 30, at 1:15 p.m. when his jet fighter plane, an F9F-2 crashed into 
the side of a mountain 6 miles northwest of Mojave.
He was identified as 2nd Lt. John J. De Pasqua of Randolph, Mass. by the El Toro 
Marine Base.
De Pasqua was a member of the 232nd Marine Fighter Squadron find was testing 
the new jet plane when he crashed into the mountains 2 miles north of Hwy. 466. 
Reports said it was traveling in excess of 450 miles an hour when it hit.
Kern County Firemen said the exploding jet threw burning parts over a 300-
yd.radius and started a brush fire that burned most of the night.
A Marine rescue crew reached the scene about 4 p.m. and the body was removed by 
a helicopter from El Toro.
The body was brought to the O'Donnell Funeral Home to await arrival of the widow 
Claire Margaret De Pasqua of Santa Ana.
Fireman under Capt. Woods of Mojave station and also men from Tehachapi and 
Keene were on the scene to fight the fire.