Freeman, Theodore Cordy, 1930-1964

Theodore Cordy "Ted" Freeman (February 18, 1930 – October 31, 1964), was an American aeronautical engineer, U.S. Air Force officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut. Selected in the third group of NASA astronauts in 1963, he was killed a year later in the crash of a T-38 jet, marking the first fatality among the NASA Astronaut Corps. At the time of his death, he held the rank of captain.

<p>HOUSTON, Oct. 31 (AP)—Capt. Theodore C. Freeman, an American astronaut, was killed today when his T‐38 jet trainer crashed.</p>

<p>First reports indicated a goose might have caused the crash. Workers at the crash scene were reported to have found feathers amid the wreckage. Several flights of geese had been observed flying close to the ground at the time of the crash.</p>

<p>The 34‐year‐old Air Force officer had taken off after a thick morning fog lifted. Low‐hanging clouds remained in the area of Ellington Air Force Base where the plane went down at 8:50 A. M.</p>

<p>Witnesses said the craft was 300 to 500 feet high when the canopy left the aircraft. It was not clear whether Captain Freeman had ejected or had been thrown from the plane on impact.</p>

<p>His body was discovered about 100 yards from the wreckage, his parachute partly opened. The plane did not burn.</p>

<p>The craft, a two‐seater owned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was used for proficiency flights by the astronaut team.</p>

<p>Captain Freeman was in contact with Ellington flight control minutes before the crash. A native of Haverford, Pa., he was among the third group of 14 astronauts named Oct. 18, 1963, and began his training at the nearby Manned Spacecraft Center last Feb. 1.</p>

<p>Dr. Samuel C. Puma, of the spacecraft center's Medical Operations Office, pronounced the captain dead at the scene. The plane went down about two miles west of Ellington</p>

<p>He was making a 50‐minute jet proficiency flight, the first of two the astronaut had scheduled today.</p>

<p>Donald K. Slayton, the center's assistant director for flight crew operations, and Dr. Charles A. Berry, the center's medical officer, informed Mrs. Freeman at her home near the space center. She is the former Faith Dudley Clark of Orange, Conn</p>

<p>Other survivors include a daughter, Faith Huntington Freeman, 10, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Freeman, who live near Lewes, Del., where he completed his high school education in 1948.</p>

<p>Mrs. Freeman's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Clark Jr. of Grassy Hill Road, Orange.</p>

<p>Captain Freeman attended the University of Delaware for a year and was graduated from the United States Naval Acad­emy in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He elected to serve with the Air Force, and in 1960 received a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan.</p>

<p>Theodore C. Freeman</p>
<p>NASA Astronaut</p>
<p>Class of 1953</p>
<p>(Captain, USAF)</p>
<p>NASA Astronaut (Deceased)</p>

<p>PERSONAL DATA: Born February 18, 1930, in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Died October 31, 1964, at Ellington Air Force Base, Houston, Texas, in the crash of a T-38 jet. Survived by his wife Faith and one daughter.</p>

<p>EDUCATION: Freeman completed his secondary education in 1948. He attended the University of Delaware at Newark for one year, then entered the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1960, he received a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Michigan.</p>

<p>ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.</p>

<p>EXPERIENCE: Freeman graduated from both the Air Force's Experimental Test Pilot and Aerospace Research Pilot Courses. He elected to serve with the Air Force. His last Air Force assignment was as a flight test aeronautical engineer and experimental flight test instructor at the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He served primarily in performance flight testing and stability testing areas. He logged more than 3,300 hours flying time, including more than 2,400 hours in jet aircraft.</p>

<p>NASA EXPERIENCE: Freeman was one of the third group of astronauts selected by NASA in October 1963.</p>