Clifton Williams

Clifton Curtis Williams Jr., born on September 26, 1932, was a distinguished American naval aviator, test pilot, mechanical engineer, and NASA astronaut. He served as a major in the United States Marine Corps and was known for his exceptional skills in aviation and engineering. Tragically, his life was cut short on October 5, 1967, when he died in a plane crash caused by a mechanical failure while piloting a NASA T-38 jet trainer.

Williams's journey began with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University, which he obtained in 1954. Shortly after, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) and became a Naval Aviator in 1956. His career advanced as he graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1961, where he made significant contributions to the Carrier Suitability Branch of the Flight Test Division at NAS Patuxent River.

In 1962, Williams made history as the first pilot to land a two-seat jet on an aircraft carrier from the rear cockpit. Although he never flew in space, he served as the backup pilot for the Gemini 10 mission in July 1966 and was selected to be the Lunar Module Pilot for an Apollo mission to the Moon, which was ultimately commanded by Pete Conrad.

Following Williams's untimely death, his legacy continued through the Apollo 12 mission, where Alan Bean honored him by placing Williams's naval aviator wings and silver astronaut pin on the lunar surface during his moonwalk. The mission patch was also modified to include four stars, symbolizing the three astronauts and one for Williams, a testament to his contributions and the impact he had on the space program.