Clifton Williams was a major in the United States Marine Corps and a NASA astronaut who never flew in space. A skilled test pilot who reached the rank of major, his career path led him to the cusp of lunar exploration before his life ended in a fatal aviation accident during the autumn of 1967.
Military and Test Pilot Career
Williams entered the U.S. Marine Corps through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps after graduating from Auburn University in 1954 with a degree in mechanical engineering. By 1956, he had qualified as a Naval Aviator. He furthered his technical expertise by graduating from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1961. During his subsequent service in the Carrier Suitability Branch at NAS Patuxent River, he gained recognition for his flight precision, becoming the first pilot to land a two-seat jet on an aircraft carrier from the rear cockpit in 1962.
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In 1963, NASA selected Williams as part of its third group of astronauts. He served as the backup pilot for the Gemini 10 mission in July 1966. Following this assignment, he was designated as the Lunar Module Pilot for an upcoming Apollo mission commanded by Pete Conrad. Had he survived, he would have been part of the crew that eventually conducted the second lunar landing, known as Apollo 12. Alan Bean replaced him on the crew following the 1967 incident.
Aviation Accident and Legacy
On October 5, 1967, Williams was piloting a NASA T-38 jet trainer near Tallahassee, Florida, while en route to visit his parents in Mobile. A mechanical failure resulted in a loss of flight control. Although he attempted to use the ejection seat, he did not survive the impact. He was 35 years old at the time of his death. Following the Apollo 12 mission, astronaut Alan Bean honored him by placing Williams’s naval aviator wings and silver astronaut pin on the lunar surface. The mission patch also included a fourth star dedicated to his memory.
Fast facts
- Born: 1932, Mobile, United States
- Died: 1967, Tallahassee, United States
- Military Rank: Major, United States Marine Corps
- Education: Auburn University, United States Naval Test Pilot School
- Occupation: Astronaut, Test Pilot, Engineer
- Burial Site: Arlington National Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Did Clifton Williams ever go to space?
No, he never completed a spaceflight, though he served as the backup pilot for Gemini 10 and was assigned as the Lunar Module Pilot for an Apollo mission.
How did Clifton Williams die?
He died in a crash involving a NASA T-38 jet trainer due to a mechanical failure that caused his flight controls to stop responding near Tallahassee, Florida.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Auburn University, United States Naval Test Pilot School and Murphy High School
- Worked as military officer, test pilot and astronaut
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