| Aircraft
Accidents Theodore Freeman Charles Bassett II Elliot See Clifton Williams, Jr. Robert Lawrence Michael Adams Yuri Gagarin John McKay Stephen Thorne Stanley David Griggs Manley Carter, Jr. Patricia Hilliard Robertson
Apollo 1
Soyuz 11
Challenger STS-51L
Columbia
STS-107 Other |
Born: 23 July 1927, in Dallas, Texas. Education: Received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1949, and a master of science degree in engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1962. Marital Status: Married the former Marilyn J. Denahy of Georgetown, Ohio. Children: Sally (22 February 1956), Carolyn (16 November 1957), and David (12 August 1962). Professional Organizations: Member of Society of Experimental Test Pilots; Associate Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Experience: Elliot See worked for General Electric Company from 1949 to 1953, and again from 1956 to 1962, as a flight test engineer, group leader, and experimental test pilot. From 1953 to 1956 he was a Naval aviator on active service. He served as project pilot of J79-8 engine development program in connection with the F4H aircraft. See conducted powerplant flight tests on the J-47, J-73, J-79, CJ805, and CJ805 aft-fan engines. This work involved flying in F-86, XF4D, F-104, F11F-1F, RB-66, F4H, and T-38 aircraft. He logged 3,900 hours flying time including 3,300 hours in jet aircraft. NASA Experience: See was selected in Group 2 in September 1962. While serving as backup pilot for Gemini 5, he was assigned to the operations and training branch headed by Neil Armstrong. This branch of astronauts was responsible for boosters, recovery systems, tracking, communications, and simulators. On 6 November 1965, Deke Slayton selected him to command Gemini 9 with Charles Bassett as his pilot. On 28 February 1966, he and Bassett were flying to McDonnell Aircraft Corporation's Lambert Field near St. Louis, Missouri. The weather was heavily overcast with rain and snow flurries. On their first instrument landing approach in the T-38 they came in too low and slow. See hit the afterburners and turned right into the roof of a building. Both See and Bassett were killed. The building they hit was McDonnell 101, which was housing their Gemini 9 spacecraft. Quote: When asked about being selected as an astronaut Elliot See replied, "Overwhelmed isn't the right word. I was amazed and certainly pleased. It's a very great honor."
Gemini 9 crew photo: Elliot See (left) and Charles Bassett (right). |
