Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1958 Lucky Bag:

CARL BURT LARSEN

Carl managed to tour most of the East before winding up at Canoe U. Finally coming from Cassville, formerly called Frog Hollow, he quickly settled down to make a big impression. An athlete of the first magnitude, he was always just one step away from being the number one man in the lightweight division for the Varsity grapplers. Never failing anything from lack of trying, his spirit was inspirational to many. Who can forget his daily ritual of doing pull-ups on the shower curtain rod over in the second wing? Always striving for a 4.0 in P.T., he managed to also do well with the books. The wings of gold, test pilot, and eventually an admiral’s shoulder boards are all goals which should easily be reached.

---

He was also a member of the 16th Company staff (fall).

Loss

Carl was lost when the F-105D he was piloting crashed¹ while landing at Osan, Korea, on January 23, 1964. He was stationed at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan at the time. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Other Information

From the April 1964 issue of Shipmate:

It is with deep regret that I announce Capt. Carl Burt Larsen, USAF, was killed on 23 January 1964 in Korea while flying an F-105D. Capt. Larsen entered the USAF after graduation and completed USAF pilot training. He then attended USAF Advanced Gunnery School at Luke AFB, Ariz. After that, he attended Advanced Gunnery School at Nellis AFB, Nev. Prior to duty overseas he attended USAF Survival School at Stead AFB, Nev. In July I960, he was assigned to the 12 TFS, flying the F-l00 and transitioned to the F-105 in November 1962.

He was married to the former Helen Patricia’ Russell of Annapolis. Mrs. Larsen and their 2 children will be residing with her parents.

From the May 1964 issue of Shipmate:

It is my sad duty to announce that on 23 January 1964 Carl Larsen was killed when the aircraft he was flying crashed near Osan Air Base in Korea. Carl was a Captain USAF, and was attached to the 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He is survived by his widow Patti, a son, Carl, and a daughter, Julie Elaine. His family was living in Korea at the time of the accident.

I was privileged to know Carl well at the Academy, and I know I can speak for the whole class when I say that we have lost an outstanding classmate, officer and aviator. Carl will certainly be missed by the class of 1958, but we won’t forget him.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Carl attended Pensacola High School as an undergraduate. He graduated from Sauquoit Valley High School, New York, in 1954. He was active on the basketball and wrestling teams.

He married Patricia Russell. Their children were Carl, age 5, and Julie Elaine, age 3.

In March 1959, Carl was involved in an accident when two T-33 jet trainers collided in the air near Big Spring, Texas. Carl and his instructor 1st Lt. Gary R. Coad parachuted to safety from 10,200 feet. The other plane landed safely at Colorado City, Texas.

Related Articles

Theodore White ‘58 was also in 16th Company.

References