Straight Shooter

October 3rd, 2012, 12:00H · Topics: Guys, Navy · Print

I’m impressed that he did not even have to put down his cigarette while he shot.

From a series of prints showing a group of congressmen shooting handguns and shotguns at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville range.  A hand written note on the back of the print identifies the shooter as Bill Jones and a date of 10/15/45.  I did not have any luck finding a US Congressman from that time frame.  I also question the location.  Loyd was shooting a lot at the Naval Air Gunnery School at Yellow Water during the same time frame and I have a feeling it was shot there.  Anyone remember a gun range at NAS Jax?

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  1. 1 TOM PUMPHREY December 25th, 2013 12:06H

    I was in the naval air reserve from 1950 to 1960. We went skeet shooting at the gun range quite often.

  2. 2 Don Webb January 22nd, 2015 17:23H

    If Congressman Charlie Bennett would not accept his salary as well as his disability salary, how did he manage to support his family all those years he served in Congress.

    I admire him for doing such, and many other millionaire Congressman ought to do the same, but sure Bennett was never a millionaire.

    Too bad we don’t have more congressman like him today.

  3. 3 Don Webb January 22nd, 2015 20:27H

    Also sad that Congressman Bennett desired to be interred in a private unmarked grave in Arlington, VA. Surely he had a reason for such, but many love to pay a visit to the resting place of men (and women) whom they admire.

    • 4 bob May 3rd, 2015 21:11H

      Don, I covered the congressman’s interment at Arlington National Cemetery for the paper. His ashes were buried in a tree covered area near a section with Buffalo Soldiers’ graves if my memory serves me correctly. It was a gray, rainy day but having spent time with congressman Bennett during his final week of office in Washington for a story, it was an honor to be welcomed by his family to cover his final trip to DC. Bob Self/Vintage Jacksonville

  4. 5 Pat (Jennings) Thalacker May 3rd, 2015 19:05H

    Check out the name Robert Sutton. He was either an FBI or some other sort of police type official and also a sharp-shooter. I born in Jacksonville 1944 and lived there until 2006.
    Also I believe Congressman Bennett had his elderly Mother push him onto floor of Capital to keep from missing a session – he had a perfect record for attendance.

  5. 6 Mike Austell May 16th, 2015 10:26H

    No eye or ear protection and smoking a cigarette. (One handed, to boot.) Way to go. If he did much shooting like that with that old Colt 1911, he was probably deaf as a stone.

  6. 7 Melinda J. T. Wheeler December 14th, 2016 10:01H

    Could be Mr. Bill Jones of Sea Island Corporation, Sea Island, GA

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About Photographer Loyd Sandgren

I first met Loyd Sandgren in 1997 as I was putting photo gear back into my car after... Learn More