Walt was the son of Nelly Wischhusen (1908–2012) and Walter Otto Herman Wurzbach (1901-1975). Both of his parents were born in Germany.
On February 14, 1957, Walt became a United States Air Force Aviation Cadet in Navigator Training Class 58-08C. He first attended pre-flight at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. After three months, he went to Harlingen ABF, Texas for flight training. At Harlingen Walt flew training missions in the T-29C ‘Flying Classroom'. He graduated on May 6, 1958 at which time he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and received his Navigator Wings.
After Radar Intercept Officer training at James Connally AFB, TX he was assigned to Hamilton AFB, CA where he flew the F-89J with the 84th FIS and later upgraded to the F-101B with the 83rd FIS.
In May 1962, he entered Pilot Training Class 63-G, at Webb AFB, Big Spring, Texas.
After graduation on May 10, 1963, he briefly went to MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida and then to DET 1 557th TFS TAC Test Wing, Eglin AFB, followed by assignment to the 4th TFS, Eglin AFB, Florida.
In 1966 he was assigned to the Command Post in Saigon, South Vietnam. During this time, he also flew with the Airborne Command Post flying out of DaNang, and with slow FACs out of Dong Ha, and the 480th TFS, DaNang.
In 1967 he returned to the 4533rd Test Squadron, 16th TFS, and 25th TFS, all at Eglin AFB, Florida where he remained until 1970. In April 1969, Walt married Roberta Ann Ropke in Covington County, Alabama.
From 1970 to 1974 he was the Air Liaison to 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. Walt described this assignment as “a career buster”, however it did allow him to race his Formula Ford on the weekends. I recall many of his victories being in the European Stars and Stripes during this time.
His final assignment was Base Operations Officer at Plattsburg AFB New York.
After retirement in October 1976, he moved to Freeport Florida and built houses, sold jewelry, and was a sales rep for a roofing company. In July 1984, he moved to Loxley Alabama and was a sales rep for Compressor Valve Company.
Walt raced Formula cars from 1970 until 4-way bypass open heart surgery and small stroke in July 2007. His Lola 440 Formula Ford chassis, powered by an aluminum block Buick 215 V8 w/dry sump is shown in the photo on the left.
When I last saw Walt in late February, he was planning on one last trip to Talladega Superspeedway for his final time trial in #35.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Ann, on January 24, 2019.
He is survived by his sons Walter Fredrick and Robert H.
On February 14, 1957, Walt became a United States Air Force Aviation Cadet in Navigator Training Class 58-08C. He first attended pre-flight at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. After three months, he went to Harlingen ABF, Texas for flight training. At Harlingen Walt flew training missions in the T-29C ‘Flying Classroom'. He graduated on May 6, 1958 at which time he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and received his Navigator Wings.
After Radar Intercept Officer training at James Connally AFB, TX he was assigned to Hamilton AFB, CA where he flew the F-89J with the 84th FIS and later upgraded to the F-101B with the 83rd FIS.
In May 1962, he entered Pilot Training Class 63-G, at Webb AFB, Big Spring, Texas.
After graduation on May 10, 1963, he briefly went to MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida and then to DET 1 557th TFS TAC Test Wing, Eglin AFB, followed by assignment to the 4th TFS, Eglin AFB, Florida.
In 1966 he was assigned to the Command Post in Saigon, South Vietnam. During this time, he also flew with the Airborne Command Post flying out of DaNang, and with slow FACs out of Dong Ha, and the 480th TFS, DaNang.
In 1967 he returned to the 4533rd Test Squadron, 16th TFS, and 25th TFS, all at Eglin AFB, Florida where he remained until 1970. In April 1969, Walt married Roberta Ann Ropke in Covington County, Alabama.
From 1970 to 1974 he was the Air Liaison to 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. Walt described this assignment as “a career buster”, however it did allow him to race his Formula Ford on the weekends. I recall many of his victories being in the European Stars and Stripes during this time.
His final assignment was Base Operations Officer at Plattsburg AFB New York.
After retirement in October 1976, he moved to Freeport Florida and built houses, sold jewelry, and was a sales rep for a roofing company. In July 1984, he moved to Loxley Alabama and was a sales rep for Compressor Valve Company.
Walt raced Formula cars from 1970 until 4-way bypass open heart surgery and small stroke in July 2007. His Lola 440 Formula Ford chassis, powered by an aluminum block Buick 215 V8 w/dry sump is shown in the photo on the left.
When I last saw Walt in late February, he was planning on one last trip to Talladega Superspeedway for his final time trial in #35.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Ann, on January 24, 2019.
He is survived by his sons Walter Fredrick and Robert H.
Walt was the son of Nelly Wischhusen (1908–2012) and Walter Otto Herman Wurzbach (1901-1975). Both of his parents were born in Germany.
On February 14, 1957, Walt became a United States Air Force Aviation Cadet in Navigator Training Class 58-08C. He first attended pre-flight at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. After three months, he went to Harlingen ABF, Texas for flight training. At Harlingen Walt flew training missions in the T-29C ‘Flying Classroom'. He graduated on May 6, 1958 at which time he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and received his Navigator Wings.
After Radar Intercept Officer training at James Connally AFB, TX he was assigned to Hamilton AFB, CA where he flew the F-89J with the 84th FIS and later upgraded to the F-101B with the 83rd FIS.
In May 1962, he entered Pilot Training Class 63-G, at Webb AFB, Big Spring, Texas.
After graduation on May 10, 1963, he briefly went to MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida and then to DET 1 557th TFS TAC Test Wing, Eglin AFB, followed by assignment to the 4th TFS, Eglin AFB, Florida.
In 1966 he was assigned to the Command Post in Saigon, South Vietnam. During this time, he also flew with the Airborne Command Post flying out of DaNang, and with slow FACs out of Dong Ha, and the 480th TFS, DaNang.
In 1967 he returned to the 4533rd Test Squadron, 16th TFS, and 25th TFS, all at Eglin AFB, Florida where he remained until 1970. In April 1969, Walt married Roberta Ann Ropke in Covington County, Alabama.
From 1970 to 1974 he was the Air Liaison to 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. Walt described this assignment as “a career buster”, however it did allow him to race his Formula Ford on the weekends. I recall many of his victories being in the European Stars and Stripes during this time.
His final assignment was Base Operations Officer at Plattsburg AFB New York.
After retirement in October 1976, he moved to Freeport Florida and built houses, sold jewelry, and was a sales rep for a roofing company. In July 1984, he moved to Loxley Alabama and was a sales rep for Compressor Valve Company.
Walt raced Formula cars from 1970 until 4-way bypass open heart surgery and small stroke in July 2007. His Lola 440 Formula Ford chassis, powered by an aluminum block Buick 215 V8 w/dry sump is shown in the photo on the left.
When I last saw Walt in late February, he was planning on one last trip to Talladega Superspeedway for his final time trial in #35.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Ann, on January 24, 2019.
He is survived by his sons Walter Fredrick and Robert H.
On February 14, 1957, Walt became a United States Air Force Aviation Cadet in Navigator Training Class 58-08C. He first attended pre-flight at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. After three months, he went to Harlingen ABF, Texas for flight training. At Harlingen Walt flew training missions in the T-29C ‘Flying Classroom'. He graduated on May 6, 1958 at which time he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and received his Navigator Wings.
After Radar Intercept Officer training at James Connally AFB, TX he was assigned to Hamilton AFB, CA where he flew the F-89J with the 84th FIS and later upgraded to the F-101B with the 83rd FIS.
In May 1962, he entered Pilot Training Class 63-G, at Webb AFB, Big Spring, Texas.
After graduation on May 10, 1963, he briefly went to MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida and then to DET 1 557th TFS TAC Test Wing, Eglin AFB, followed by assignment to the 4th TFS, Eglin AFB, Florida.
In 1966 he was assigned to the Command Post in Saigon, South Vietnam. During this time, he also flew with the Airborne Command Post flying out of DaNang, and with slow FACs out of Dong Ha, and the 480th TFS, DaNang.
In 1967 he returned to the 4533rd Test Squadron, 16th TFS, and 25th TFS, all at Eglin AFB, Florida where he remained until 1970. In April 1969, Walt married Roberta Ann Ropke in Covington County, Alabama.
From 1970 to 1974 he was the Air Liaison to 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. Walt described this assignment as “a career buster”, however it did allow him to race his Formula Ford on the weekends. I recall many of his victories being in the European Stars and Stripes during this time.
His final assignment was Base Operations Officer at Plattsburg AFB New York.
After retirement in October 1976, he moved to Freeport Florida and built houses, sold jewelry, and was a sales rep for a roofing company. In July 1984, he moved to Loxley Alabama and was a sales rep for Compressor Valve Company.
Walt raced Formula cars from 1970 until 4-way bypass open heart surgery and small stroke in July 2007. His Lola 440 Formula Ford chassis, powered by an aluminum block Buick 215 V8 w/dry sump is shown in the photo on the left.
When I last saw Walt in late February, he was planning on one last trip to Talladega Superspeedway for his final time trial in #35.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Ann, on January 24, 2019.
He is survived by his sons Walter Fredrick and Robert H.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
