Lieutenant Colonel Richard "Dick" Scobee

Source: Wikipedia

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Find-A-Grave Memorial #1678

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[http://jeannettestakeonlife.blogspot.com/2007/12/comander-francis-r... Jeannette Stake on Life}

"Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee (May 19, 1939 – January 28, 1986) was an American astronaut. He was killed commanding the Space Shuttle Challenger, which suffered catastrophic booster failure during launch of the STS-51-L mission.

He is survived by his wife June, two children, Kathie R. (Scobee) Fulgham and Major General Richard W. Scobee, and a grandson, Parker Scobee.

Born in Cle Elum, Washington to Francis William Scobee and Edlynn (Miller) Scobee, Scobee attended Auburn Senior High School, Cascade Middle School, and Washington Elementary in Auburn, Washington. He graduated in 1957."

Francis Richard Scobee- FamilySearch Family Tree: Birth: May 19 1939 - Auburn, Washington Death: Jan 28 1986 - Cape Canaveral, Brevard, Florida Mother: Edlynn Miller

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Source: Legacy

Obituary- "Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee was born in Washington state in 1939. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1957 and, after serving in Vietnam, became an Air Force test pilot. Scobee was selected for NASA's astronaut program in 1978.

Having previously piloted the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984, Scobee was made Commander for the STS-51-L mission. He would oversee a crew of six others, including civilian teacher Christa McAuliffe.

On January 28, 1986, people across America, including many schoolchildren, watched in horror as the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just seconds after lift-off. Commander Scobee and his entire crew were killed."

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/ns/dick-scobee-obituary/148102406#sthash.KAuA...

Source: Wikipedia

Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee (May 19, 1939 - January 28, 1986) was an American astronaut. He was killed commanding the Space Shuttle Challenger, which suffered catastrophic booster failure during launch of the STS-51-L mission.

Early life

Born in Cle Elum, Washington to Francis William Scobee and Edlynn (Miller) Scobee, Scobee attended Auburn Senior High School, Cascade Middle School, and Washington Elementary in Auburn, Washington. He graduated in 1957.

Service

He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957, where he served as a reciprocating engine mechanic at Kelly Air Force Base in Texas. While off duty, he attended San Antonio College, and eventually received a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Arizona in 1965; the same year, he was awarded an officer's commission. Afterward, he attended flight school and earned his wings in 1966, serving as a combat aviator in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and other decorations.

After his tour of duty, Scobee attended the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, 100 miles north of Los Angeles, California. Upon graduation in 1972, he became an Air Force test pilot, logging thousands of hours of flight time in dozens of aircraft, including the Boeing 747, the experimental X-24B lifting body, the F-111 Aardvark, and the gigantic C-5 Galaxy.

Selected for NASA's astronaut program in January 1978, Scobee completed his training in August 1979. While awaiting his first orbital spaceflight mission, he served as an instructor pilot for the shuttle's 747 carrier aircraft. In April 1984, Scobee piloted Challenger mission STS-41-C, which successfully deployed one satellite and repaired another.

Challenger

Scobee was assigned commander for the ill-fated STS-51-L mission. The mission, designed to deploy a satellite to study the approaching Halley's Comet and to inaugurate the Teacher in Space Project, was delayed numerous times due to bad weather and technical glitches. When the mission finally did lift off the pad, an O-ring seal failure destroyed the shuttle 73 seconds into the flight, killing Scobee and the other six members of the crew; the tragedy, viewed live on national television, prompted several days of national mourning, as well as a major shakeup at NASA. Scobee died a Lieutenant colonel. At T+68 into the mission, the CAPCOM Richard Covey informed the crew that they were "go at throttle up", and Commander Scobee confirmed the call - his last recorded words were his response, "Roger, go at throttle up." The shuttle broke up 73 seconds into the flight, and at an altitude of 48,000 feet (14.6 km).

Some experts, including one of NASA's lead investigators, Robert Overmyer, who was closest to Scobee, believed most if not all of the crew were alive and possibly conscious during the entire descent until impact with the ocean. After the investigation, Overmyer stated, "I not only flew with Dick Scobee, we owned a plane together, and I know Scob did everything he could to save his crew. Scob fought for any and every edge to survive. He flew that ship without wings all the way down."

Family

Scobee was married to Virginia June Kent and had two children, Kathie R. (Scobee) Fulgham and Brigadier General Richard W. Scobee, USAF. Buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Scobee was survived by his wife and children. June Scobee remarried in 1989 to retired Army LTG Don Rodgers. Scobee's son graduated from the US Air Force Academy, has flown F-16s for the USAF, and has commanded the 944th Fighter Wing, the 301st Fighter Wing, and is now the deputy director of operations for NORAD. He led the military flyover during the pre game of Super Bowl XXX, which was played on the 10th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Disaster. January 28, 1996. He was promoted to Brigadier General in December 2010.

Awards and recognition

On July 9, 1994, the San Antonio College Planetarium facility was rededicated The Scobee Planetarium. In 2004, Scobee was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. After the Challenger disaster, North Auburn Elementary School was renamed Dick Scobee Elementary in his honor. Auburn Municipal Airport was also renamed Dick Scobee Field. Dick Scobee Road in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was also named in his honor.[6] Also located nearby in Myrtle Beach are Ronald McNair Boulevard and Christa McAuliffe Street. Lastly, in Houston, TX's George Bush Park, there is a R/C (Remote Controlled) Flying Field named in his honor. Scobee was portrayed by Barry Bostwick in the 1990 TV movie Challenger. He also made an appearance in the Imax documentary The Dream is Alive, shot during the STS-41C mission.[citation needed] Also, in San Antonio, TX, Dick Scobee Elementary was erected, with a dedication ceremony attended by his wife.

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American Astronaut. He was the pilot of the Space Shuttle "Challenger" when it exploded on January 28, 1986. Born in Cle Elum, Washington, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957 as an engine mechanic, and attended college in his off-duty hours and was eventually awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1965. He was made an officer the same year and attended flight school, earning his wings as a combat aviator in 1966 during the Vietnam War. On his return stateside, he attended the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, graduating in 1972 and becoming a test pilot for numerous experimental aircraft. In January 1978 he was selected for NASA's astronaut training program; upon his completion, he served as an instructor for the shuttle's 747 carrier and waited for his first assignment for spaceflight. His opportunity came on April 1984 when he piloted the Challenger space shuttle on a successful mission to deploy and repair satellites. Promoted to spacecraft commander, he was next assigned to pilot the Challenger on a study of Halley's comet on January 28, 1986. After numerous setbacks due to technical problems and difficult weather, the shuttle Challenger lifted off; seventy-three seconds after launch it exploded, killing all seven members of the crew. The Challenger disaster, broadcast live on television, became a defining moment of the generation. Dick Scobee was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, a few steps from the Challenger and Columbia memorials and near other astronauts who died in the twin disasters. In 2004, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 2 2018, 3:05:05 UTC