Edward Givens

Edward Galen "Ed" Givens, Jr. ( born January 5, 1930 in Quanah, Texas, † June 6, 1967 in Pearland at Houston, Texas ) was an American astronaut candidate and a major in the United States Air Force ( USAF).

Career

Givens joined the USAF after the United States Naval Academy and flight training at the USAF Air Training Command successfully completed in 1952. Two years later, in 1954, he was the Flight Commander and fighter pilot in the 35th Fighter Interceptor Group in Japan. In addition, he served from January 1956 to March 1958 as an instructor at the USAF Interceptor Weapons School.

He then attended the USAF Experimental Flight Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. His next assignment took him to the Naval Air Station Point Mugu, where he developed new tactics and flight operations with the fighter F8U -2N. From November 1961 to September 1962 he was assistant to the commander of the USAF Experimental Flight Test Pilot School. He then attended the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, which he successfully completed in 1963.

In 1966, Givens was finally selected as an astronaut for NASA. Having completed astronaut training successfully, he was selected for the support crew of Apollo 7.

On 6 June 1967 Edward Givens died as a result of a traffic accident as he drove from the meeting of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots home.

Overall, Edward Givens graduated more than 3,500 flight hours, including 2,800 in jet-powered aircraft.