Elliott See
Encyclopedia
Elliot McKay See, Jr. was an American
astronaut
, selected in the second group of astronauts
.
Elliot 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 acted 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. However, he and Pilot Charles Bassett
were killed 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
before Gemini 9 flew. Building 101 was where the Gemini spacecraft was built, and they were going there to train for two weeks in a simulator. Ironically, they 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 approach, probably as a result of the poor visibility.
The shuffling of the Gemini prime and backup crew assignments that occurred after See and Bassett's deaths had an effect on the crew selections for some of the early Apollo manned missions.
See's name is listed on the Space Mirror Memorial. See was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of Highland Park High School in 2010.
In the 1998 miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, See was played by Steve Zahn
.
and Kate Doolan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
, selected in the second group of astronauts
Astronaut Group 2
NASA's Astronaut Group 2, also known as The New Nine, was the second group of astronauts selected by NASA in September 1962. The group was required to augment the original Mercury 7 with the announcement of the Gemini program and leading to the Apollo program...
.
Elliot See was born in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and attended Highland Park High School
Highland Park High School (University Park, Texas)
Highland Park High School is located in University Park, Texas.Highland Park is a part of the Highland Park Independent School District. It serves all of the city of University Park, most of the town of Highland Park, and portions of Dallas.-History:...
. After initially attending The University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
Fraternity, he then attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States Service academies...
, graduating in 1949. He later obtained a masters degree from UCLA. He worked for General Electric before and after serving as a naval aviator
United States Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
from 1953 to 1956. He was married to Marilyn Denahy See, and had three children, Sally, Carolyn, and David.
See acted as backup pilot for Gemini 5
Gemini 5
Gemini 5 was a 1965 manned spaceflight in NASA's Gemini program. It was the third manned Gemini flight, the 11th manned American flight and the 19th spaceflight of all time...
and was in line to fly as Prime Crew Pilot for Gemini 8
Gemini 8
-Backup crew:-Mission parameters:* Mass: * Perigee: * Apogee: * Inclination: 28.91°* Period: 88.83 min-Objectives:Gemini VIII had two major objectives, of which it achieved one...
but was promoted to be the Command Pilot of Gemini 9. However, he and Pilot Charles Bassett
Charles Bassett
Charles Arthur "Art" Bassett, II was an American engineer and United States Air Force officer. 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,...
were killed on February 28, 1966, when their T-38
T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
trainer jet crashed into McDonnell Aircraft
McDonnell Aircraft
The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was founded on July 16, 1939 by James Smith McDonnell, and was best known for its military fighters, including the F-4 Phantom II, and manned spacecraft including the Mercury capsule...
Building 101, known as the McDonnell Space Center, located 1,000 feet (300 m) from Lambert Field airport in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
before Gemini 9 flew. Building 101 was where the Gemini spacecraft was built, and they were going there to train for two weeks in a simulator. Ironically, they died within 500 feet (150 m) of their spacecraft. Both were buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
A NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
investigative panel later concluded that pilot error
Pilot error
Pilot error is a term used to describe the cause of an accident involving an airworthy aircraft where the pilot is considered to be principally or partially responsible...
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 approach, probably as a result of the poor visibility.
The shuffling of the Gemini prime and backup crew assignments that occurred after See and Bassett's deaths had an effect on the crew selections for some of the early Apollo manned missions.
See's name is listed on the Space Mirror Memorial. See was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of Highland Park High School in 2010.
In the 1998 miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, See was played by Steve Zahn
Steve Zahn
-Early life:Zahn was born in Marshall, Minnesota, the son of Zelda, who worked for the YMCA, and Carleton E. Zahn, a retired Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor. Zahn spent part of his childhood in Mankato, Minnesota, attending Kennedy Elementary School...
.
Books
A family-approved account of See's life and career appears in the 2003 book Fallen Astronauts by space historians Colin BurgessColin Burgess (author)
Colin Burgess is an Australian author and historian, specializing in space flight and military history. He is a former customer service manager for Qantas Airways, and a regular contributor to the collectSPACE online community. He lives in New South Wales...
and Kate Doolan.