(credit To The Owners)

“Even among the astronauts, Ed White had always stood out; a strapping six-footer who had barely missed becoming an Olympic hurdler, he was known as one of the finest physical specimens in the Astronaut Office. And perhaps more than any astronaut except John Glenn, White subscribed to their ail-American image. In 1965, after he became the first American to walk in space, White easily wore the mantle of a national hero. There appeared to be no limit to how far he might go.” 

Andrew Chaikin, A Man on the Moon

Autographed photos Roger Chaffee received from his fellow astronauts for his 29th birthday in February, 1964

(Text of each inscription below the cut)

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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.

Ed White, Eddie, and Bonnie hang from monkey bars!

Just found some of my Neil doodles done a few months ago :3

If one picture screams Ed White it’s this one. Somewhere in the 1960′s.

Neil Armstrong at the Purdue University Gala Week Banquet May 1966

January 27th, 1967 – 1 p.m.

scott carpenter