Elliot See

Elliot McKay See Jr. (July 23, 1927 – February 28, 1966) was an American engineer, naval aviator, test pilot and NASA astronaut.

Elliot McKay See Jr. was born on July 23, 1927, in Dallas, Texas, to Elliot McKay See Sr. (1888–1968) and Mamie Norton See ( Drummond; 1900–1988).

He was the first of two children; his sister Sally Drummond See rounded out the family in 1930.

His father was an electrical engineer who worked for General Electric, and his mother worked in jobs ranging from advertising to real estate.

See was active in the Boy Scouts of America for five years, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

He attended Highland Park High School and was on the varsity team in several sports, including boxing.

He was also on the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Rifle Team.

The United States entered World War II in December 1941.

See had to choose between going to war or going to college, as he would otherwise be drafted at age 18.

He decided to apply for aviation cadet training.

He failed a physical, and, according to See, "going to college became the most important thing".

He enrolled at the University of Texas, and after a few months pledged to Phi Kappa Psi.

While at the University of Texas, he signed up for flying lessons and received his private pilot's license.

See received an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1945.

He graduated from high school in 1945.

See applied for military officer training and received an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in 1945.

As the end of the war drew near, the USMMA changed its curriculum to a four-year college-level program, which was the minimum requirement to be a merchant marine in peacetime.

He spent his plebe year at Pass Christian, Mississippi, where the USMMA had a satellite campus, and then transferred to the main campus at Kings Point, New York.

He commanded the Third Company as a cadet officer.

He was a member of the Propeller Club and head cheerleader.

He was on the mile relay running team, played intramural softball, and was a varsity boxer.

As co-captain of the rifle team, he won the Captain Tomb Trophy for individual rifle and pistol marksmanship in December 1948.

He graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marine engineering and a United States Naval Reserve commission, and joined the Aircraft Gas Turbine Division of General Electric as an engineer.

He was called to active duty as a naval aviator during the Korean War, and flew Grumman F9F Panther fighters with Fighter Squadron 144 (VF-144) from the aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CV-15) in the Mediterranean, and USS Boxer (CV-21) in the Western Pacific.

In 1949, Congress authorized the USMMA to award Bachelor of Science degrees to its graduates, so on graduation that year Elliot received his B.S. degree, his marine engineer's licenses, and a commission as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve.

After graduation, See took a summer job with Lykes Brothers Steamship Company.

On September 1, 1949, he joined the Aircraft Gas Turbine Division of General Electric, the firm his father had worked for, in Boston.

He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, when the division was relocated.

There he met Marilyn Jane Denahy from Georgetown, Ohio, who worked at General Electric as a secretary.

He and his friend Tay Haney pooled their funds to buy a Luscombe Silvaire Sprayer aircraft, which they flew on cross-country trips.

In November 1952, while taking Marilyn on a joyride, the Luscombe's engine began to fail.

See attempted to land the aircraft on a short, unimproved field, but the tail wheel snagged a power line and forced the aircraft into the ground.

See suffered deep cuts to his face which required plastic surgery.

Marilyn escaped the crash with only minor injuries.

By 1953, See was working as a flight test engineer at General Electric's plant in Evendale, Ohio.

He married Marilyn Denahy in 1954, and they had three children.

See rejoined General Electric (GE) in 1956 as a flight test engineer after his tour of duty, and became a group leader and experimental test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base, where he flew the latest jet aircraft with GE engines.

He also obtained a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from UCLA.

Selected in NASA's second group of astronauts in 1962, See was the prime command pilot for what would have been his first space flight, Gemini 9.

He was killed along with Charles Bassett, his Gemini 9 crewmate, in a NASA jet crash at the St. Louis McDonnell Aircraft plant, where they were to undergo two weeks of space rendezvous simulator training.