Richard F. Gordon, Jr.

Richard F. Gordon, Jr. (born October 5 1929) (Captain, USN, Ret.) is a retired NASA astronaut.

Military and Flight Experience

Gordon was born in Seattle, Washington. He graduated from North Kitsap High School, Poulsbo, Washington, then received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Washington in 1951.

Related Topics:
Seattle, Washington - North Kitsap High School - Poulsbo, Washington - Bachelor of Science - Chemistry - University of Washington - 1951

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He received his wings as a naval aviator in 1953. He then attended All-Weather Flight School and jet transitional training and was subsequently assigned to an all-weather fighter squadron at the Naval Air Station at Jacksonville, Florida.

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1953 - Jet - Fighter - Jacksonville, Florida

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In 1957, he attended the Navy's Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, and served as a flight test pilot until 1960. During this tour of duty, he did flight test work on the F8U Crusader, F11F Tiger, FJ Fury, and A4D Skyhawk, and was the first project test pilot for the F4H Phantom II. He served with Fighter Squadron 121 at the Miramar, California, Naval Air Station as a flight instructor in the F4H and participated in the introduction of that aircraft to the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. He was also flight safety officer, assistant operations officer, and ground training officer for Fighter Squadron 96 at Miramar.

Related Topics:
1957 - Test Pilot - Patuxent River, Maryland - 1960 - F8U Crusader - F11F Tiger - FJ Fury - A4D Skyhawk - F4H Phantom II - Miramar, California - Atlantic - Pacific Fleet

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He won the Bendix Trophy Race from Los Angeles to New York in May 1961, in which he established a new speed record of 869.74 miles per hour and a transcontinental speed record of 2 hours and 47 minutes.

Related Topics:
Bendix Trophy Race - Los Angeles - New York - 1961

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He was also a student at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California.

Related Topics:
Naval Postgraduate School - Monterey, California

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He has logged more that 4,500 hours flying time—3,500 hours in jet aircraft.

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