
May 4th 07, 12:01 AM
posted to rec.aviation.piloting
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We lost a pioneer today - Wally Shirra age 84
GodSpeed Wally..
BT
"ManhattanMan" wrote in message
...
I was priviledged to have been aboard the USS Kearsarge in Oct, 1962 to
witness the first astronaut to re-enter earths atmosphere in full view of
the recovery force. I took his picture climbing out of the 'Sigma 7'
Mercury capsule, from the catwalk overlooking #3 elevator, and it, along
with the two page spread from Look Magazine, has been on my office wall for
the last 45 years.
http://www.members.cox.net/drpics/shirra_oct62.jpg
Six months later we picked up Gordon Cooper, and it was a carbon copy of
Shirra's re-entry.
About four years later I was working for Aeronautical Radio, Inc. (ARINC)
in Kansas City, and discovered the station managers wife went to high
school with Wally, back in the Seattle area I believe. It's a small
world..
RIP Wally Shirra, and thanks for everything.....
Don
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