Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1955 Lucky Bag:

LAWRENCE VAN HANSEN, JR.

Larry came to the Naval Academy from sunny Southern California, NAPS, and a tour of duty in the Navy. His only peeve about Canoe U. came from the fact that it wasn’t in California. Larry always managed to keep a 3.2 without putting in much sweat on the books. His athletic participation was mostly limited to the squash courts where he managed to do quite well during his four years. He plans to go into the Navy line upon graduation.

Loss

Larry was lost on October 1, 1959 when his F3H Demon fighter broke through a landing cable aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 10) and his aircraft plunged into the sea off the coast of San Diego. Four men aboard were injured by the whipping cable. The accident happened during carrier qualification operations.

Other Information

He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 112; the squadron and the ship left on a Western Pacific deployment later in the month.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

While at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, Lawrence was diagnosed with a heart tremor which kept him from playing in athletics. He was manager of the basketball team.

He enlisted in the Navy in February, 1950. He was one of ten men appointed annually from the fleet to the Naval Academy. At examination, his heart was found to be in perfect order.

In March 1956, he received training in formation flying at Saufley Field Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Pensacola. He qualified as a carrier pilot in June. He then underwent instrument flying at Corry Field Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Pensacola.

His mother was Mrs. E. Louise Parker. He married Josephine Hamilton at the Los Altos United Congregational Church in 1957.

Lawrence’s Find A Grave page is here.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

From the Press Telegram on September 18, 1950

Note

Lawrence’s last name is “Hansen;” Van is his middle name. Verified this in the Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1956 as well as in the Annual Registers of the United States Naval Academy for both 1953-1954 and 1954-1955. Memorial Hall has it listed correctly.