Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1954 Lucky Bag:

Walter Bishop Shaw, Jr.

FOOTBALL—4,3,2,1. VARSITY N CLUB—4,3,2,1. VARSITY: BASEBALL—4,3,2,1. SOCCER—4,3,2,1.

Walt Shaw had a year at Penn State before a desire to enter the Naval Academy won out over an earlier urge to be a civil engineer. Walt’s lack of size is more than offset by his energy and vigor. His love for sports and his athletic ability manifested itself in his record on the baseball diamond and soccer field. For those moments of relaxation he turns to the piano or uke as he is very much at home playing either. Though by no means an old salt yet, Walt can come up with some real sea stories of his own. Ask him about his pleasure cruise that ended in a timely rescue by the Coast Guard. With his natural friendliness, his abilities, and determination, Walt is sure to find his service career a successful one.

Loss

Walter was lost on August 24, 1959 when the (#145465) he was piloting crashed into the sea immediately after launch from USS Independence (CV 62). He had a “cold cat:” the catapult failed to give him enough speed to allow the aircraft to take off. This was during Independence’s shakedown cruise. He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 11, which was stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1949. With a bat in hand, a soccer ball to boot. Activities: Photography Club 2, Wrestling 3, 4; Student Council 3; Baseball 2, 3, 4; Baseball Club 2, 3; Soccer 2, 3, 4; Band 2, 3, 4.

Father Walter, a life insurance agent, mother Elizabeth, and brother William.

Walter’s Find A Grave page is here.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook