Edward Givens
Encyclopedia
Edward Galen "Ed" Givens Jr (January 5, 1930 – June 6, 1967) was an United States Air Force
officer and a NASA
astronaut
. He was selected in 1966 by NASA as a member of the 'Original 19' group
.
He was active in the Boy Scouts of America
where he achieved its second highest rank, Life Scout. He and his wife Ada had three children.
, California. Upon graduation he became an instructor in the Stability and Control Section.
His next assignment took him to the Naval Air Station Point Mugu
, California
, where he was a project pilot with Air Development Squadron 4. While there, he not only conducted operational evaluations but also was responsible for compiling and developing the operation procedures and tactics for fleet operation of the F8U-2N.
He served as Assistant to the Commandant at the USAF Experimental Flight Test Pilot School from November 1961 to September 1962 and then attended the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, from which he graduated in 1963. When informed of his selection for astronaut training in 1966, he was assigned as Project Officer with USAF SSD Detachment 2 at the Manned Spacecraft Center.
He logged more than 3,500 hours flight time; 2,800 hours in jet craft.
support crew before being killed in an automobile accident while driving his Volkswagen
home from a meeting of the Quiet Birdmen
fraternal organization. Givens was at the wheel with two other officers in the car when he missed a sharp, unmarked turn and crashed into a ditch in Pearland, Texas
, near Johnson Space Center. Givens died on the way to the hospital. He was survived by his wife Ada and their three children.
.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
officer and a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
. He was selected in 1966 by NASA as a member of the 'Original 19' group
Astronaut Group 5
NASA's Astronaut Group 5 selected by NASA in April 1966. Of the six Lunar Module Pilots that walked on the Moon, three came from Group 5. The group as a whole is roughly split between the half who flew to the Moon and the other half who flew Skylab and Shuttle, providing the core of Shuttle...
.
He was active in the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
where he achieved its second highest rank, Life Scout. He and his wife Ada had three children.
Military career
Givens was commissioned in the Air Force upon graduating from United States Naval Academy in 1952 and received his flight training as a student pilot at the United States Air Force Air Training Command. In 1954, he was a flight commander and fighter pilot with the 35th Fighter Interceptor Group on duty in Japan. He served as an instructor at the Air Force Interceptor Weapons School from January 1956 to March 1958 and subsequently attended the United States Air Force Experimental Flight Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force BaseEdwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
, California. Upon graduation he became an instructor in the Stability and Control Section.
His next assignment took him to the Naval Air Station Point Mugu
Naval Air Station Point Mugu
Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu or NBVC Point Mugu is a military airbase located in Point Mugu, Ventura County, California, United States. Due to realignment actions which occurred in 2000, the base is now part of Naval Base Ventura County , a consolidated organization that also includes...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he was a project pilot with Air Development Squadron 4. While there, he not only conducted operational evaluations but also was responsible for compiling and developing the operation procedures and tactics for fleet operation of the F8U-2N.
He served as Assistant to the Commandant at the USAF Experimental Flight Test Pilot School from November 1961 to September 1962 and then attended the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, from which he graduated in 1963. When informed of his selection for astronaut training in 1966, he was assigned as Project Officer with USAF SSD Detachment 2 at the Manned Spacecraft Center.
He logged more than 3,500 hours flight time; 2,800 hours in jet craft.
NASA career
Givens was one of the 'original 19' astronauts, the fifth group selected by NASA, in April 1966. After completing astronaut training, he briefly served on the Apollo 7Apollo 7
Apollo 7 was the first manned mission in the American Apollo space program, and the first manned US space flight after a cabin fire killed the crew of what was to have been the first manned mission, AS-204 , during a launch pad test in 1967...
support crew before being killed in an automobile accident while driving his Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
home from a meeting of the Quiet Birdmen
Quiet Birdmen
The Quiet Birdmen is a secretive club in the United States for male aviators. Founded in 1921 by World War I pilots, the organization meets in various locations, never announced to the public. Members, called QBs, must be invited to join, and they join for life...
fraternal organization. Givens was at the wheel with two other officers in the car when he missed a sharp, unmarked turn and crashed into a ditch in Pearland, Texas
Pearland, Texas
Pearland , is a city located along the Gulf Coast region in the US state of Texas within the metropolitan area and is in the counties of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris. As of the census of 2000, the city's population was 37,640. As of 2008, Pearland is estimated to have a population of 90,700...
, near Johnson Space Center. Givens died on the way to the hospital. He was survived by his wife Ada and their three children.
Books
A family-approved account of Givens' life appears in the 2003 book "Fallen Astronauts" by Colin BurgessColin Burgess (author)
Colin Burgess is an Australian author and historian, specializing in space flight and military history. He is a former customer service manager for Qantas Airways, and a regular contributor to the collectSPACE online community. He lives in New South Wales...
.