Virgil Ivan Grissom, more widely known as Gus Grissom, (April 3, 1926 – January 27, 1967) was one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and a United States Air Force pilot. He was the second American to fly in space. Grissom was killed along with fellow astronauts Ed White and Roger Chaffee during a training exercise and pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission at the Kennedy Space Center. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying ...
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Virgil Ivan Grissom, more widely known as Gus Grissom, (April 3, 1926 – January 27, 1967) was one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and a United States Air Force pilot. He was the second American to fly in space. Grissom was killed along with fellow astronauts Ed White and Roger Chaffee during a training exercise and pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission at the Kennedy Space Center. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and, posthumously, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Grissom was born in Mitchell, Indiana. As a child he attended the local Church of Christ and became a lifelong member. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 46. Grissom graduated from Mitchell High School in 1944. He married Betty Moore Grissom on July 6, 1945. They would have two children, Scott and Mark. Grissom was a master Mason and member of Mitchell Lodge 228.
Grissom enlisted in the Army Air Forces following his graduation from high school in 1944. He was sent to Sheppard...
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