Deke Slayton And Tom Stafford, Two Of The American Apollo-Soyuz Crew, Fishing With Vladimir Shatalov

Yura for @mmnesdt7 <3

Neil Armstrong, relaxin’, August 1969. This photoshoot took place a few weeks after Apollo 11 had returned from the moon.

Col. Edward H White

After he became the first American to walk in space in June 3, 1965, astronaut Ed White received a deluge of fan letters. Because of the similarity of their names, some of the letters were addressed to Ed Dwight, a USAF test pilot Captain, and the first African-American to complete USAF’s astronaut training programme, Although he was not selected for NASA’s astronaut group in 1963, it was obvious by the amount of mail addressed to him that many thought he had. Ed White gathered all the letters (two boxes) addressed to Ed Dwight and delivered them personally. Seeing the amount of fan mail Capt. Dwight received, Ed White remarked, “Now I understand how important it is for you to go into space”.  (Chasing the Moon, 2019, Robert Stone and Alan Andres).

After astronaut Elliot See’s death in February 28, 1966, Ed White and his family made several visits to the See family. On one such visit, Ed “climbed up the huge pine tree” at the back of their house to hang a rope swing for See’s children to play with. It was - See’s oldest daughter Carrie recalled - “something a father would do for his children.” (Fallen Astronauts, 2003, Colin Burgess)

In April 1964, a fire broke out at Neil and Janet Armstrong’s home. Their neighbour Ed White came rushing in with a water hose. Janet later recalled seeing him bound their six foot fence to get to them. Ed then helped rescue the Armstrong children and property until the arrival of the fire services. (First Man. 2005, James Hansen).

In January 27, 1967 the crew of Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee participated in a plugs out test while strapped inside the command module of Apollo 1. Hours into the test, fire broke out inside the capsule. Within minutes, the astronauts, unable to escape, succumbed. When their bodies were found, it was determined that Ed White had tried to open the command module’s hatch before he was overwhelmed by toxic gasses and thermal burns. Ed White was 36 years old and he left behind his wife, Pat, and children, Bonnie and Eddie.

you had me at the first line

Taking a moment on this Memorial Day weekend to remember Major James Blair White, a U.S. Air Force pilot and the younger brother of NASA astronaut Ed White, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War.

Jim was a 1964 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, later earning a Masters degree in economics from Georgetown University. While serving in Vietnam, he flew with the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron out of Takhli Airbase, Thailand. On November 24, 1969, Capt. White disappeared while flying a F-105D during a mission over the jungle-covered mountains of Laos. After three weeks, partial aircraft wreckage was discovered in the area but it could not be identified as the lost Thunderchief and there was no sign of Capt. White.

Jim was listed as Missing in Action on December 18, 1969, and remained MIA until 2017. Last year the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency officially identified Maj. White’s remains, and brought him home after nearly 50 years.

Neil Armstrong Back In The Module Just After The Moon Landing. 1969

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This week on NASA’s Next Top Model: Desert Survival Edition…

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