Clifton Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clifton Williams
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Williams c. 1964
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| Born |
Clifton Curtis Williams, Jr.
September 26, 1932 Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
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| Died | October 5, 1967 (aged 35) near Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Major, USMC |
| Selection | NASA Group 3 (1963) |
Clifton Curtis Williams Jr. was an American pilot and NASA astronaut. He was born on September 26, 1932, and sadly passed away on October 5, 1967. He was a Major in the United States Marine Corps.
Williams was a skilled naval aviator and test pilot. He was chosen to be a NASA astronaut. However, he never made it to space. He died in a plane crash caused by a mechanical problem. He was flying a NASA T-38 jet trainer to visit his family. The plane's controls stopped working. He tried to use his ejection seat, but it was too late.
Clifton Williams was the fourth astronaut from his group to pass away. Two others died in T-38 flights. Another died in the Apollo 1 fire. His plane crashed in Florida near Tallahassee. This happened less than an hour after he took off.
Before becoming an astronaut, Williams earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He graduated from Auburn University in 1954. He then joined the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1956, he became a Naval Aviator. He then joined the Fleet Marine Force. He also graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1961. As a test pilot, he worked for three years testing aircraft. In 1962, he made history. He was the first pilot to land a two-seat jet on an aircraft carrier from the back seat. He was 35 years old when he died.
Even though he never flew in spaceflight, he was an important part of NASA. He was a backup pilot for the Gemini 10 mission in July 1966. After that, he was chosen for an Apollo mission to the Moon. He was going to be the Lunar Module Pilot for astronaut Pete Conrad. After Williams' death, Alan Bean took his place. This mission became Apollo 12, the second time humans landed on the Moon.
To honor Williams, Alan Bean suggested a special tribute. The mission patch had four stars instead of three. One star was for each of the three astronauts who flew. The fourth star was for Williams. Also, during his moonwalk, Bean left Williams' naval aviator wings and silver astronaut pin on the lunar surface.
Contents
About Clifton Williams
Early Life and School
Clifton Williams was born on September 26, 1932. His hometown was Mobile, Alabama. His parents were Clifton Curtis Williams Sr. and Gertrude Williams. He had a younger brother named Richard. Williams was active in the Boy Scouts of America. He reached the rank of Life Scout.
He went to Murphy High School in Mobile. He graduated in 1949. For two years, he studied medicine at Spring Hill College. Then, he moved to Auburn University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1954.
Becoming a Pilot
After college in 1954, Williams joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He became a naval aviator in August 1956. He flew with jet squadrons in the Fleet Marine Force. He then attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. He graduated in June 1961.
For three years, he worked as a test pilot. He tested different aircraft. This included testing them on land and on aircraft carriers. In 1962, he became the first pilot to land a two-seat jet on an aircraft carrier from the back cockpit. This was a big achievement.
While working as a test pilot, NASA selected him. This was in late 1963. He joined the third group of astronauts. They would train for the Gemini and Apollo missions.
Williams flew for 2,500 hours. More than 2,100 of those hours were in jet aircraft.
His NASA Journey
I'd like to go on every flight. Of course, if you said which mission I would most like to have, I'd say the first lunar flight you make from the standpoint of personal satisfaction and accomplishment.
On October 18, 1963, NASA announced its third group of astronauts. Major Williams was one of fourteen chosen. This group included Buzz Aldrin, who later walked on the Moon. It also included Roger B. Chaffee, who died in the Apollo 1 fire.
The third group of astronauts went through special training. This included jungle training. Williams trained with Rusty Schweickart.
Williams was the backup pilot for the Gemini 10 mission. This mission happened in July 1966. Later that year, astronaut Pete Conrad chose Williams. He wanted Williams to be the Lunar Module Pilot for his Apollo mission. This crew was also the backup for Apollo 9. Later, they would become the crew for Apollo 12. After Williams' death, Alan Bean took his place on Conrad's crew.
Family Life
Clifton Williams was the first astronaut who was not married. This changed when he married Jane Elizabeth "Beth" Lansche. She was a former waterskiing performer. They met in June 1957. They got married on July 1, 1964. The couple had two daughters. Their first daughter, Catherine Ann, was born in January 1967. Their second daughter, Jane Dee, was born in May 1968. This was almost eight months after Williams passed away.
His Final Flight
On October 5, 1967, Williams was flying his T-38 jet. He was flying from Cape Canaveral back to Houston. He planned to stop in Mobile to visit his father. His father was very ill.
Near Tallahassee, Florida, a mechanical problem happened. The plane's controls jammed. The jet rolled suddenly to the left. It then dove almost straight down. Williams tried to eject from the plane. However, the plane was too fast and too low for him to survive. He did not make it.
Honors and Legacy
The Apollo 12 mission patch has four stars. One star is for each of the three astronauts who flew the mission. The fourth star is for Williams. This was Alan Bean's idea. Also, during the Apollo 12 mission in November 1969, Alan Bean left Williams' naval aviator wings and silver astronaut pin on the lunar surface. This was a special way to honor him.
Williams was buried with full military honors. His grave is in Arlington National Cemetery. His name is also on NASA's Space Mirror Memorial. This memorial is at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
In the 1998 HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, an actor played Williams.
See also
- Fallen Astronaut
- List of spaceflight-related accidents and incidents
- The Astronaut Monument
