Captain Watkins was the co-pilot of a B-26B Invader bomber with the 728th Bomber Squadron, 452nd Bomber Wing at Pusan Airfield East (K-9), South Korea. On 20 December 1950, after taking-off, the aircraft crashed seven miles north of Natsue, Honshu, Japan, killing all on board. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Captain Watkins was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.