February 28,1966 Two Astronauts Killed in Plane Crash

[zorgon]

February 28,1966  Two Astronauts Killed in Plane Crash

February 28,1966 , The Austin Statesman printed a Home Edition ( meaning only published in Austin, Texas ) documenting the plane crash killing two astronauts Sea & Bassett. The aircraft hit McDonnell Air craft building in St. Louis.

[Somamech]

Basset Killed by See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bassett

Charles Arthur "Charlie" Bassett II (December 30, 1931 – February 28, 1966) was a United States Air Force test pilot. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1963 and assigned to Gemini 9, but died in an airplane crash during training for his first spaceflight.

Early life and education

Bassett was born in Dayton, Ohio, on December 30, 1931. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, where he achieved its second highest rank, Life Scout. After graduating from Berea High School in Berea in 1950, he attended Ohio State University from 1950 to 1952, and Texas Technological College, now Texas Tech University, from 1958 to 1960. He received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering with honors from Texas Tech; he did graduate work at University of Southern California.

He graduated from the Aerospace Research Pilot School and the Air Force Experimental Pilot School and became a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. He served as an experimental test pilot and engineering test pilot in the Fighter Projects Office at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He logged over 3,600 hours-flying time, including over 2,900 hours in a jet aircraft.

NASA career

Bassett was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963. In addition to participating in the overall astronaut training program, he had specific responsibilities pertaining to training and simulators. On November 8, 1965, he was selected as pilot of the Gemini 9 mission with Elliot See as command pilot. According to chief astronaut Deke Slayton's autobiography, he chose Bassett for Gemini 9 because he was "strong enough to carry" both himself and See. Slayton had also assigned Bassett as command module pilot for the second backup Apollo crew, alongside Frank Borman and William Anders.

Death
Main article: 1966 NASA T-38 crash

Bassett and See were killed on February 28, 1966, when their T-38 trainer jet, piloted by See, crashed into McDonnell Aircraft Building 101, known as the McDonnell Space Center, located 1,000 feet (300 m) from Lambert Field airport in St. Louis, Missouri. Building 101 was where the Gemini spacecraft was built, and they were going there to train for two weeks in a simulator. They died within 500 feet (150 m) of their spacecraft. Both men were buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

A NASA investigative panel later concluded that pilot error, caused by poor visibility due to bad weather, was the principal cause of the accident. The panel concluded that See was flying too low to the ground during his second approach, probably as a result of the poor visibility.

Bassett was survived by his wife and two children.

Organizations

Bassett was a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Phi Kappa Tau, Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi and the Daedalians.

[Somamech]

Elliot McKay See, Jr

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliot_See


See in a Gemini pressure suit

Elliot McKay See, Jr. (July 23, 1927 – February 28, 1966), was an American astronaut, selected in the second group of astronauts. He died in 1966 in a NASA trainer jet crash in St. Louis while training for what would have been his first space flight, Gemini 9.

Biography

See was born in Dallas, Texas, and attended Highland Park High School. After initially attending The University of Texas where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, he then attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy, graduating in 1949. He later obtained a masters degree from UCLA. He worked for General Electric before and after serving as a naval aviator from 1953 to 1956. He was married to Marilyn Denahy See, and had three children, Sally, Carolyn, and David.

See served as backup pilot for Gemini 5 and was in line to fly as Prime Crew Pilot for Gemini 8 but was promoted to be the Command Pilot of Gemini 9. According to chief astronaut Deke Slayton's autobiography, Slayton did not assign See to Gemini 8 because he did not consider him physically capable of performing an extra-vehicular activity. Slayton further stated that he assigned See to Gemini 9 because he had become "sentimental" about getting him a flight.

Death

See and fellow astronaut Charles Bassett, assigned as Pilot for Gemini 9, were killed before their mission flew on February 28, 1966, when their T-38 trainer jet crashed into McDonnell Aircraft Building 101, known as the McDonnell Space Center, located 1,000 feet (300 m) from Lambert Field airport in St. Louis, Missouri. Building 101 was where the Gemini spacecraft was built, and they were going there to train for two weeks in a simulator, along with their backup crew. Ironically, See and Bassett died within 500 feet (150 m) of their spacecraft; both were buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

A NASA investigative panel later concluded that pilot error caused by poor visibility due to bad weather had been the principal cause of the accident. The panel concluded that See was flying too low to the ground during his second approach, probably as a result of the poor visibility. Slayton would later express doubts about See's flying ability, claiming that See flew too slowly and "wasn't aggressive enough."

The mission was launched three months later, in early June, as Gemini 9A. The shuffling of the Gemini prime and backup crew assignments that occurred after the deaths of See and Bassett impacted the crew selections for some of the early Apollo manned missions.

[zorgon]

Charles A. Bassett, II (Captain, USAF)
NASA Astronaut (Deceased)



PERSONAL DATA: Born in Dayton, Ohio, on December 30, 1931. Died February 28, 1966, in St. Louis, Missouri, in the crash of a T-38 jet. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and two children.

EDUCATION: He attended Ohio State University from 1950 to 1952, and Texas Technological College from 1958 to 1960. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering with honors from Texas Tech; He had done graduate work at University of Southern California.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Phi Kappa Tau, Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi and the Daedalians

EXPERIENCE: Bassett was an Air Force Captain. He graduated from the Aerospace Research Pilot School and the Air Force Experimental Pilot School.

He served as an experimental test pilot and engineering test pilot in the Fighter Projects Office at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

He logged over 3,600 hours-flying time, including over 2,900 hours in a jet aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Bassett was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963. In addition to participating in the overall astronaut-training program, he had specific responsibilities pertaining to training and simulators. On November 8, 1965, he was selected as pilot of the upcoming Gemini 9 mission. He died on February 28, 1966, in the crash of a T-38 jet.

MARCH 1966

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/bassett-ca.html

[Somamech]

Interesting Tad bit from See's wikipage is that the Boy Scouts page 404's that was listed on his wiki Page

http://www.scouting.org/Media/FactSheets/02-558.aspx

[Somamech]

Ok wtf found this Author reference on See's wiki :O

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Burgess_%28author%29

[Phedre]

Am I missing something here? My curiosity is getting the best of me.