|
Author
|
Topic: Mercury semifinalist Alonzo Walter's spurs
|
Cagedfalcon
Member Posts: 76
From:
Registered: Jul 2019
|
posted 11-02-2020 09:06 PM
   
I picked up these F-86 ejection spurs up from an old neighbor of retired Brig. General Alonzo Walter when he lived in Austin.Alonzo attended Virginia Military Institute (VMI), graduated class 1949B, joined the 4th Fighter Group in 1950 and flew 48 combat missions. He attended Command Staff College in 1952 and was a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base. I am still researching what planes. He was a pilot for Project Oxcart flying the A-12. He was also one of the 32 semifinalists for Project Mercury. Both spurs have "LON" on them in marker along with other to faded to read. The spurs were pulled into a bulkhead below the seat and would lock the legs to it to prevent the legs from flailing during the ejection process. The plates came with the spurs, still trying to figure out what TWGFP stand for.  
|
Philip
Member Posts: 6105
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 11-07-2020 02:16 AM
I'll give it a go: PLT could be "Pilot".TWG FP could be "Training Wing Fighter Pilot". |
DG27
Member Posts: 205
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
|
posted 11-07-2020 03:18 AM
The F-86 used a first generation ejection seat, which did not use spurs. The pilot had to manually position his feet into the ejection seat foot rests before ejecting. Those spurs look like F-104 Starfighter spurs, which were attached with a ball and cable that pulled the feet into the seat foot trays during the ejection process. The A-12 used a modified version of the F-104 seat and also used similar spurs. However, these spurs are likely F-104 spurs since they appear to be cadmium plated. The A-12 used stainless steel spurs since cadmium coated tools and equipment were forbidden around the titanium aircraft as cadmium will cause stress corrosion (cracks) in the titanium. If he was at Edwards, he likely flew the F-104 as well. Congratulations on a great find. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6105
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 11-07-2020 10:52 AM
MoonwatchUniverse photoblog has some great photos of test pilots putting on their ejection seat spurs. |
Cagedfalcon
Member Posts: 76
From:
Registered: Jul 2019
|
posted 11-19-2020 12:00 PM
Thanks for the photo link and info on the spurs as to application and materials. I am unable to locate anything online to align Alonzo with the F-104 besides being at Edwards. If anyone has a link on Alonzo flying the F-104, please feel free to message me or post here. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47180
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 10-15-2021 05:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Cagedfalcon:
The plates came with the spurs, still trying to figure out what TWGFP stand for.
I just received an email from Alonzo Walter's son-in-law, who came across this thread. He writes: Just for the record, "TWGFP" stands for "The World’s Greatest Fighter Pilot." Having that license plate was very much in keeping with his sense of humor. |
advertisement