Charles Arthur Bassett II (December 30, 1931 – February 28, 1966) was an American electrical engineer, United States Air Force test pilot, and NASA astronaut. He was one of the third group of astronauts selected by NASA in 1963. Bassett was assigned as the pilot of Gemini 9, but died in a T-38 training jet crash alongside his command pilot, Elliot See, before the mission.
Early Life and Education
Charles Bassett was born in Dayton, Ohio, to Charles Arthur Bassett and Florence Catherine (née McGarvey) Bassett. He graduated from Berea High School in Berea, Ohio, in 1950. He attended Ohio State University for three years before entering the U.S. Air Force aviation cadet program. In 1960, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) through a program for military personnel.
Military Service
Bassett joined the United States Air Force in 1952. He completed flight training and received his pilot wings in 1953. He served as a fighter pilot and test pilot, flying various aircraft including the F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, F-104 Starfighter, and T-38 Talon. He accumulated over 3,600 hours of flight time, with more than 2,900 hours in jet aircraft. At the time of his selection to NASA, he held the rank of Captain.
NASA Career
Bassett was selected as one of fourteen astronauts in NASA's third group on October 18, 1963. After completing initial training, he was assigned to the Gemini program. In November 1965, Bassett was named as the pilot for the Gemini 9 mission, with Elliot See as the command pilot. Their mission objectives included rendezvous and docking with an Agena target vehicle, and performing an extravehicular activity (EVA) for Bassett.
Death and Legacy
On February 28, 1966, Bassett and See were flying T-38 Talon jets from Houston, Texas, to St. Louis, Missouri, to inspect their Gemini 9 spacecraft on the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation production line. Due to poor visibility and inclement weather, See misjudged his landing approach at Lambert Field, missing the runway and crashing into a McDonnell building, killing both pilots instantly.
Bassett was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, Jeannie, and two children, Richard and Karen. NASA's Astronaut Group 3 dedicated their 1984 book, We Seven, to Bassett and See, along with the other astronauts who died in the line of duty. A memorial tree and plaque in his honor are located in the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
See Also
- Elliot See
- Gemini 9
- NASA Astronaut Group 3
- Space Mirror Memorial
References
- NASA Biography: [Link to official NASA bio, if this were a live wiki]
- Arlington National Cemetery: [Link to burial info]