Astronaut. He entered active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps in 1958, and, after completing Navy flight training, was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 214 in 1959. After various assignments at Edwards Air Force Base, California, he was chosen as an astronaut for the USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program in 1966. He was selected as a NASA Astronaut in 1969 and was a support-crew member for Apollo 17 in 1972. Assigned to the Shuttle Transportation System in 1979, he was the pilot for Space Shuttle Columbia STS-5, the first fully operational flight launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 11, 1982. He also was the Commander of STS 51-B, the Spacelab-3 (SL-3) mission. He retired from NASA as a Marine Corps Colonel in May 1986. He lost his life in the crash of a light aircraft he was testing.
Astronaut. He entered active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps in 1958, and, after completing Navy flight training, was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 214 in 1959. After various assignments at Edwards Air Force Base, California, he was chosen as an astronaut for the USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program in 1966. He was selected as a NASA Astronaut in 1969 and was a support-crew member for Apollo 17 in 1972. Assigned to the Shuttle Transportation System in 1979, he was the pilot for Space Shuttle Columbia STS-5, the first fully operational flight launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 11, 1982. He also was the Commander of STS 51-B, the Spacelab-3 (SL-3) mission. He retired from NASA as a Marine Corps Colonel in May 1986. He lost his life in the crash of a light aircraft he was testing.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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COL US Marine Corps
Vietnam
Loving husband and father
Astronaut
Family Members
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