★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★
LTjg Anthony J.R. Bilotti '77, USN was lost on December 6, 1979 in a A-6E Intruder that crashed in the Mediterranean during practice bombing run at the Avgo Ni Si training range in Crete. He was a bombardier/navigator operating from USS Nimitz (CVN 68) with Attack Squadron (VA) 35. The pilot of the plane, LT(jg) Mark Gontkovic '76, USN, was also killed in the crash.
From the March 1980 issue of Shipmate:
Lt.(jg) Bilotti had recently written to his family, telling of his recognition of the danger in which he and his fellow airmen lived and indicating his dedication to the service. He stated, "In order for the air crew to survive, they must have a supreme degree of confidence in both themselves and their machines. They must push themselves in order to really know their capabilities....In this era of complacency, there are still men willing to face these odds, men who are ready to push themselves far into areas that they are unfamiliar with in order to better prepare themselves for that one time that all of their training will come into play."
While at the Academy he had been an accomplished sailor. Designated a naval flight officer on 26 August 1978, he completed the replacement air group syllabus at VS-42 and was assigned to Attack Squadron 35 on 11 April 1979, based at the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred A. Bilotti, of Oakland CA; four brothers and his maternal grandparents.
To Honor! ⚓
https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/ANTHONY_J.R._BILOTTI,_LTJG,_USN