Clifton Curtis Williams, Jr. – Major, United States Marine Corps American Astronaut

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Born September 26, 1932 at Mobile, Alabama, he joined the United States Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) while in college at the Alabama Ploytechnic in Auburn.

He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on August 9, 1954. He served in various flight training stations and was named on October 18, 1963 to become a member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Manned Spacecraft Division.

He was killed in the crash of his T-38 jet on October 5, 1967.

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COURTESY OF NASA

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NAME:
Clifton C. Williams, Jr. (Major, USMC)

PERSONAL DATA:
Born September 26, 1932, in Mobile, Alabama. His parents Mr. and Mrs. Clifton C. Williams, reside in Mobile.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
Brown hair; brown eyes; height: 6 feet; weight: 178 pounds.

EDUCATION:
Graduated form Murphy High School, Mobile, Alabama; received a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.

MARITAL STATUS:
Married to the former Jane E. Lansche of New Bern North Carolina. Her mother, Mrs. Jane Lansche, resides in New Bern.

CHILDREN:

Two children.

RECREATIONAL INTERESTS:
Hobbies include hunting, golf, and water sports.

ORGANIZATIONS:
An associate member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and member of Pi Tau Sigma (national mechanical honorary) and Tau Beta Pi (national engineering society).

EXPERIENCE:
Williams, a Marine Corps Major, is a graduate of the Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland.

     He was a test pilot for 3 years in the Carriers Suitability Branch of the Flight Test Division at Patuxent River. His work there included land based and shipboard tests of the F8E, TF8A, F8E (attack), and A4E and automatic carrier landing system.

     Of the 2,600 hours flying time accumulated, he has more than 2,200 hours in jet aircraft.

     Major Williams was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963. He served as backup pilot for the Gemini 10 Mission.

     Major Williams died in a plane crash, on October 5, 1967.

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