Lt. Jasper Kennedy “Kay” Larkin

Our Hometown Heroes

Lt. “Kay” Larkin

Wanted to Become a Physician but Became a Pilot in World War II

Jasper Kennedy “Kay” Larkin was born in Palatka, Florida on August 17, 1920 to Mr. and Mrs. Ira C. Larkin. He graduated from Griffin High School.

His plans were to become a physician as he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville and Emory University in Atlanta. But the call to honor and serve his country came when World War II began.

Lt. Larkin enlisted in the US Army-Air Corps and entered the pilot training program. He received his “wings” at ceremonies in Columbus, Mississippi in March, 1942. He remained there as an instructor.

Larkin had logged a total of 210 flight hours-time before he was 21 years old. On June 8, 1942, with five flight students aboard his Lockheed A-29 bomber, the plane apparently went into a spin at about 8,000 feet. The plane then entered another uncontrollable spin. Larkin advised his students to bail out. Only one student was able to exit the plane but his parachute lines wrapped around the horizontal stabilizer. Larkin and the five students were killed instantly when they hit the ground.

Lt. Larkin is buried in Palatka (southwest of St. Augustine). The local airport in Palatka is named in his honor.

Jasper Kennedy “Kay” Larkin will also be honored in Griffin-Spalding County with a plaque installed in his honor.