Skip to content

Today in History – November 30, 1957 – Capt Benny Lacombe killed in U-2 Crash

30 November 1957 – Capt Benny Lacombe is killed when he unsuccessfully attempts to bail out of Lockheed U-2A, 56-6704, Article 371, 13 miles SE of Laughlin AFB. Ejection seats had not yet been fitted to U-2s at this point. The history of the U-2 program is fraught with fatalities and crashes. “CIA pilots Wilburn S.

Read More »
Join The SSS
Update My Bio
Main Menu
  • Home
  • History
    • About The SSS
    • Headed West
    • Biographies
    • Today in F-100 History
    • SSS Caterpillar
    • Wall of Honor
    • Unit Patches & Other F-100-Associated Imagery
    • F-100 Information
    • Friends of the Super Sabre
    • N. American F-100 Super Sabre
  • Galleries
  • The Intake
    • About The Intake: Journal
    • The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society – Archives
  • What’s New
  • Contact
  • Member’s Area

Calvert, Wallis R.

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Calvert, Wallis R.

Wallis Ralph Calvert

Preferred Name: Wally
Nickname/Call Sign: Sugarfoot
Date of Birth: March 31, 1929
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Bayard, NE
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
Album

Wally Calvert was a “highly decorated pilot and a veteran of the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War, Lt. Colonel Calvert was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He served his country for 24 years before retiring in 1975.”

Source: https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2002/07/31/wallis-r-calvert-ltc-usaf/26537858007/

Units Assigned

  • Gunnery School: Nellis AFB, NV (F-86A/E/F)
  • 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group, Kimpo, Korea
  • 355th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Kimpo, Korea and Chaitose, Japan (F-86)
  • 355th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron , Gunnery Instructor, Nellis AFB, NV (F-86F)
  • 1955-1961 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, (1961- Weapons Team (World Champs), Nellis AFB, NV (F-100 A/C/D)
  • 1961-1964 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Misawa, Japan (F100D/F)
  • 1964-1966 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron, England AFB, LA (F100D/F)
  • 1966-1967 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa, Vietnam (F-100 D/F)
  • 1967-1970 4514 Combat Crew Training Squadron, IP, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100D/F)
  • 1970-1974 AF Advisor, AZ ANG, Tucson, AZ (1970-1974)
  • 1974-1975 Shaw AFB, SC

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross

Flight Info

F-86 A/E/F
F-100 A/C/D/F

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • Chadron State Teachers College, Chadron, NE

Wallis R. Calvert LTC., USAF, retired, 73, of Winter Haven, passed away on Saturday, July 27, 2002, after a long battle with cancer. A highly decorated pilot and a veteran of the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War, Lt. Colonel Calvert was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He served his country for 24 years before retiring in 1975. He was a past member of the American Legion Post 148 in Riverview and currently is a member of the American Legion Post 8 in Winter Haven. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge 1023 and the Elk Lodge 1672, also of Winter Haven.

He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara of Winter Haven; his sons, Randy Calvert and his wife Karen of Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Ronald Calvert of Riverview; stepsons, Barry and Danny Strine of Winter Haven; step-daughter, Lisa Strine-Lassi of Lakeland; two brothers, Leonard Calvert of Fort Walton Beach and George Calvert of Mitchel, Neb.; three grandchildren and four step-grandchildren. (1)

One of his children wrote to us saying “My father passed away in 2002. My mother in 1990. Being young during his time in the Air Force I never really knew what he did. He did speak of his work later in life. I have learned a lot from going thru his personal effects. I am very thankful for his efforts and all of you for putting your lives in danger and your service to our country.”

Source: https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2002/07/31/wallis-r-calvert-ltc-usaf/26537858007/

 

wally-calvert-before
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
Click To View

Wall of Honor Location

Our Mission

The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to preserve the history of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew the aircraft.

Follow Us

Copyright © 2023 Super Sabre Society
Website by: Heart and Soul Web Design
Scroll to Top