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'''Theodore Cordy Freeman''' (February 18, 1930, in [[Haverford, Pennsylvania]] – October 31, 1964 at [[Ellington Air Force Base]], [[Houston, Texas]]) was a [[NASA]] [[astronaut]] and a [[Captain (United States)|captain]] in the [[United States Air Force]]. He was killed in the crash of a [[T-38 Talon|T-38]] jet, marking the first fatality among the American astronaut corps. He was survived by his wife Faith Clark Freeman and one daughter, Faith Huntington.
'''Theodore Cordy Freeman''' (February 18, 1930 – October 31, 1964) was a [[NASA]] [[astronaut]] and a [[Captain (United States)|captain]] in the [[United States Air Force]]. He was killed in the crash of a [[T-38 Talon|T-38]] jet, marking the first fatality among the American astronaut corps.


Freeman completed his secondary education in 1948. He attended the [[University of Delaware]] at Newark for one year, then entered the [[United States Naval Academy]] and graduated in 1953 with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree. In 1960, he received a [[Master of Science]] degree in [[aeronautical engineering]] from the [[University of Michigan]]. Freeman was also a member of the [[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics]], and the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]].
Freeman was born in [[Haverford, Pennsylvania]], and completed his secondary education in 1948. He attended the [[University of Delaware]] at Newark for one year, then entered the [[United States Naval Academy]] and graduated in 1953 with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree. In 1960, he received a [[Master of Science]] degree in [[aeronautical engineering]] from the [[University of Michigan]]. Freeman was also a member of the [[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics]], and the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]].


Freeman graduated from both the Air Force's Experimental Test Pilot and Aerospace Research Pilot Courses. He elected to serve with the Air Force. His last Air Force assignment was as a flight test aeronautical engineer and experimental flight test instructor at the Aerospace Research Pilot School at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in the [[Mojave Desert]].
Freeman graduated from both the Air Force's Experimental Test Pilot and Aerospace Research Pilot Courses. He elected to serve with the Air Force. His last Air Force assignment was as a flight test aeronautical engineer and experimental flight test instructor at the Aerospace Research Pilot School at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in the [[Mojave Desert]].
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He served primarily in performance flight testing and stability testing areas. He logged more than 3,300 hours flying time, including more than 2,400 hours in jet aircraft. Freeman was one of the [[Astronaut Group 3|third group of astronauts]] selected by NASA in October 1963. He was assigned the responsibility of aiding the development of boosters.<ref name="Collins">{{cite book|last1=Collins|first1=Michael|authorlink1=Michael Collins (astronaut)|year=2001|title=[[Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys]]|publisher=Cooper Square Press|isbn=0-8154-1028-X}}</ref>
He served primarily in performance flight testing and stability testing areas. He logged more than 3,300 hours flying time, including more than 2,400 hours in jet aircraft. Freeman was one of the [[Astronaut Group 3|third group of astronauts]] selected by NASA in October 1963. He was assigned the responsibility of aiding the development of boosters.<ref name="Collins">{{cite book|last1=Collins|first1=Michael|authorlink1=Michael Collins (astronaut)|year=2001|title=[[Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys]]|publisher=Cooper Square Press|isbn=0-8154-1028-X}}</ref>


On the morning of Saturday, October 31, 1964, Theodore Freeman was making a return flight from McDonnell-Douglas training facilities in St. Louis, MO. He was killed during final approach to landing when a [[goose]] flew into the port-side air intake of his NASA-modified [[T-38 Talon]] jet trainer causing immediate engine failure. The bird strike was plainly observed by two airmen on duty in the Ellington AFB Air Traffic Control Tower Cab. Flying shards of [[Plexiglas]] may have entered the [[jet engine]] during the crash, but were not the primary cause of the crash. Within seconds of the goose strike, the plane pancaked short of the base perimeter fence onto a public highway and caused the plane to immediately and violently lose structural integrity. The two observers did not witness any evidence of Freeman ejecting from the stricken [[aircraft]], but it was too close to the ground for a [[parachute]] to open properly in any event. The two (one E3, one E4) airman witnesses were never questioned or consulted during the crash investigation.
On the morning of Saturday, October 31, 1964, Theodore Freeman was making a return flight from McDonnell-Douglas training facilities in St. Louis, MO. He was killed during final approach to landing at [[Ellington Air Force Base]], [[Houston, Texas]], when a [[goose]] flew into the port-side air intake of his NASA-modified [[T-38 Talon]] jet trainer causing immediate engine failure. The bird strike was plainly observed by two airmen on duty in the Ellington AFB Air Traffic Control Tower Cab. Flying shards of [[Plexiglas]] may have entered the [[jet engine]] during the crash. Within seconds of the goose strike, the plane pancaked short of the base perimeter fence onto a public highway and caused the plane to immediately and violently lose structural integrity. The two observers did not witness any evidence of Freeman ejecting from the stricken [[aircraft]], but it was too close to the ground for a [[parachute]] to open properly in any event. The two (one E3, one E4) airman witnesses were never questioned or consulted during the crash investigation.{{fact|date=June 2013))


Faith Freeman first heard of her husband's death when a reporter came to her house: NASA subsequently ensured that in the case of future astronaut deaths, their families were informed by other astronauts as quickly as possible.<ref name="Collins"/>
Freeman was survived by his wife Faith Clark Freeman and one daughter, Faith Huntington. Faith Freeman first heard of her husband's death when a reporter came to her house: NASA subsequently ensured that in the case of future astronaut deaths, their families were informed by other astronauts as quickly as possible.<ref name="Collins"/>


The Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library of the [[Harris County Public Library]] and [[Houston Public Library]] systems is named in memory of Freeman. An [[artificial island]] off [[Southern California]] is also named for him. This is one of the four "Astronaut Islands" built in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach Harbor]] during the late 1960s as unsinkable platforms for oil drilling; the others were named Grissom, White and Chaffee, in honor of the astronauts killed in the [[Apollo 1]] fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fallen-astronauts.htm|title=Fallen Astronauts: Book Review|last=Brittingham|first=Hazel|date=March 21, 2004|publisher=Michael Robert Patterson|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.longbeach.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=17682|title=City of Long Beach Enterprise Zone|publisher=[[Long Beach, California|City of Long Beach]]|format=PDF|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref>
The Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library of the [[Harris County Public Library]] and [[Houston Public Library]] systems is named in memory of Freeman. An [[artificial island]] off [[Southern California]] is also named for him. This is one of the four "Astronaut Islands" built in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach Harbor]] during the late 1960s as unsinkable platforms for oil drilling; the others were named Grissom, White and Chaffee, in honor of the astronauts killed in the [[Apollo 1]] fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fallen-astronauts.htm|title=Fallen Astronauts: Book Review|last=Brittingham|first=Hazel|date=March 21, 2004|publisher=Michael Robert Patterson|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.longbeach.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=17682|title=City of Long Beach Enterprise Zone|publisher=[[Long Beach, California|City of Long Beach]]|format=PDF|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref>

Revision as of 11:30, 16 June 2013

Theodore Cordy Freeman
Born(1930-02-18)February 18, 1930
Haverford, Pennsylvania
StatusDied during training
DiedOctober 31, 1964(1964-10-31) (aged 34)
Houston, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
OccupationTest pilot
Space career
NASA Astronaut
RankCaptain, United States Air Force
Selection1963 NASA Group
MissionsNone

Theodore Cordy Freeman (February 18, 1930 – October 31, 1964) was a NASA astronaut and a captain in the United States Air Force. He was killed in the crash of a T-38 jet, marking the first fatality among the American astronaut corps.

Freeman was born in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and completed his secondary education in 1948. He attended the University of Delaware at Newark for one year, then entered the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1960, he received a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan. Freeman was also a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

Freeman graduated from both the Air Force's Experimental Test Pilot and Aerospace Research Pilot Courses. He elected to serve with the Air Force. His last Air Force assignment was as a flight test aeronautical engineer and experimental flight test instructor at the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert.

He served primarily in performance flight testing and stability testing areas. He logged more than 3,300 hours flying time, including more than 2,400 hours in jet aircraft. Freeman was one of the third group of astronauts selected by NASA in October 1963. He was assigned the responsibility of aiding the development of boosters.[1]

On the morning of Saturday, October 31, 1964, Theodore Freeman was making a return flight from McDonnell-Douglas training facilities in St. Louis, MO. He was killed during final approach to landing at Ellington Air Force Base, Houston, Texas, when a goose flew into the port-side air intake of his NASA-modified T-38 Talon jet trainer causing immediate engine failure. The bird strike was plainly observed by two airmen on duty in the Ellington AFB Air Traffic Control Tower Cab. Flying shards of Plexiglas may have entered the jet engine during the crash. Within seconds of the goose strike, the plane pancaked short of the base perimeter fence onto a public highway and caused the plane to immediately and violently lose structural integrity. The two observers did not witness any evidence of Freeman ejecting from the stricken aircraft, but it was too close to the ground for a parachute to open properly in any event. The two (one E3, one E4) airman witnesses were never questioned or consulted during the crash investigation.{{fact|date=June 2013))

Freeman was survived by his wife Faith Clark Freeman and one daughter, Faith Huntington. Faith Freeman first heard of her husband's death when a reporter came to her house: NASA subsequently ensured that in the case of future astronaut deaths, their families were informed by other astronauts as quickly as possible.[1]

The Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library of the Harris County Public Library and Houston Public Library systems is named in memory of Freeman. An artificial island off Southern California is also named for him. This is one of the four "Astronaut Islands" built in Long Beach Harbor during the late 1960s as unsinkable platforms for oil drilling; the others were named Grissom, White and Chaffee, in honor of the astronauts killed in the Apollo 1 fire.[2][3]

Books

A family-approved account of Freeman's life and career appears in the 2003 book Fallen Astronauts by space historians Colin Burgess and Kate Doolan.[4]

Oriana Fallaci's If the Sun Dies, a book on the early days of the American space program, features an account of Freeman.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Collins, Michael (2001). Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys. Cooper Square Press. ISBN 0-8154-1028-X.
  2. ^ Brittingham, Hazel (March 21, 2004). "Fallen Astronauts: Book Review". Michael Robert Patterson. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  3. ^ "City of Long Beach Enterprise Zone" (PDF). City of Long Beach. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  4. ^ Burgess, Colin; Doolan, Kate; Vis, Bert (2003). Fallen Astronauts: Heroes Who Died Reaching for the Moon. Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-6212-4.
  5. ^ Fallaci, Oriana (1966). If the Sun Dies. New York: Atheneum.

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