Slayton, Donald K., 1924-1993

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Donald "Deke" Kent Slayton (1924-1993), U.S astronaut, was born in Sparta, Wisconsin. He was one of the original "Mercury Seven" NASA astronauts.

From the description of Slayton, Donald K., 1924-1993 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10574511

Deke Slayton was born in 1924 in Wisconsin, graduated from high school, and then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He completed his flight training and was commissioned in 1943. He was assigned to Europe where he flew combat missions with the 340th Bombardment Group. He returned to the United States and became an instructor pilot of B-25s. In 1945, he was sent to Okinawa, flying combat missions in A-26s before the Japanese surrender. After the war, Slayton once again was an instructor pilot and in 1946 he was discharged from the Air Force. He attended the University of Minnesota where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1949. Slayton was recalled to active duty in 1951 and stationed in Minneapolis before being sent to Germany. He was then sent to USAF Test Pilot School in California where he remained until 1959 when he was named as one of the Mercury Seven astronauts. Several months later, however, he was released from that assignment due to a heart condition. Slayton soon resigned his commission and worked for NASA as a civilian where he was Director of Flight Crew Operations from 1963 until 1972. By 1972, Deke Slayton was certified as eligible for manned space flights. In 1975 he was named the Apollo docking module pilot for the Apollo-Soyouz Test Project, a successful endeavor with the Soviets. Although this was Slayton's only space flight, he remained a manager and director for other NASA space exploits until 1982. He then founded a company to develop rockets for small commercial payloads, however, he died the following year from complications of a brain tumor.

From the description of Donald Kent "Deke" Slayton collection, 1943-1945. (US Air Force Academy). WorldCat record id: 748588990

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. MECURY SPACECRAFT 7 MR-3 ON BOARD PERISCOPE FOOTAGE, AND ASTRONAUT SHEPARD PAST MISSION ACTIVITY, 5 6/5 19/1961 1961. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. Project Mercury Astronaut Training National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. MERCURY SPACECRAFT 13 MA-6 JOHN GLENN PARADE IN HAMPTON, VA, 1962. National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Slayton, Donald Kent, 1924-. A test pilot's dream / D.K. Slayton. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn PROJECT MERCURY ASTRONAUT PRESS CONFERENCE National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Slayton, Donald K. "Deke", 1924-1993. Donald Kent "Deke" Slayton collection, 1943-1945. US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. MERCURY ASTRONAUTS VIRGIL GRISSOM AND ALAN SHEPARD TRAINING, 10/1960. National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Slayton, Donald K. "Deke", 1924-1993. Donald Kent "Deke" Slayton collection, 1943-1945. US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library
referencedIn PACIFIC FLEET DEPLOYMENT AND POST RECOVERY ACTIVITIES National Archives at College Park
referencedIn MERCURY SPACECRAFT 13 MA-6 ASTRONAUT JOHN GLENN SUITUP IN HANGAR S, CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. STOCK FOOTAGE - NARAD 2-61 (Johnsville, Pennsylvania) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn PROJECT MERCURY ASTRONAUTS DURING ZERO GRAVITY PREPARATIONS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn NIGHTLINE SHOW HISTORY, 5/5/86 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. Project quot;Mercuryquot; National Archives at College Park
editorOf PACIFIC FLEET RECOVERY ACTIVITIES National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Audio Recordings. 1942 - 1999. MAN IN SPACE National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Photographs Relating to Agency Activities, Facilities and Personnel, 1960 - 1991 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities, ca. 1947 - 1980. PRJECT MERCURY. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. MERCURY ASTRONAUTS DURING WEIGHTLESSNESS TRAINING AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA. National Archives at College Park
editorOf Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006Series: Source Files on Project Mercury, 1952 - 1968. Fact Sheets and Press Releases for Mercury Atlas 6 (MA-6). Seven Astronauts Were Needed for Seven Vital Jobs. National Archives at Fort Worth
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Project Apollo (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Slayton, Donald K. "Deke", 1924-1993. person
associatedWith United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Europe
Pacific Area
Subject
Astronauts
Astronauts
Space flight to the moon
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1924-03-01

Death 1993-06-13

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6126cmq

SNAC ID: 7528333