Jack Swigert
John Leonard Swigert Jr. was born on the 30th of August 1931, in Denver, Colorado to parents Dr. John Leonard Swigert Sr. and Virginia Anne Swigert. At the age of 14, he became fascinated by aviation while watching planes take off from nearby Combs Field. Young Jack decided he wanted more than just being a spectator at the airfield. He took on a newspaper route to earn money for flying lessons. By age 16, he held a licensed private pilot certificate. This early determination set the stage for his future career in flight.
Swigert attended Blessed Sacrament School, Regis Jesuit High School, and East High School before graduating in 1949. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from University of Colorado in 1953. During college years, he played football for the Buffaloes. Later, he earned a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Hartford campus in 1965. A Master of Business Administration degree followed from University of Hartford in 1967. His recreational interests included golf, handball, bowling, skiing, swimming, and basketball.
Following graduation from Colorado in 1953, Swigert joined the United States Air Force. Upon completing Pilot Training Program and Gunnery School at Nellis Air Force Base Nevada, he was assigned as a fighter pilot in Japan and South Korea. In 1953, he survived his plane crashing into a radar unit on a Korean airstrip. This incident demonstrated his resilience during active duty service.
After completing his tour of active duty in the USAF, he served as a jet fighter pilot with the Massachusetts Air National Guard from 1957 to 1960. He then flew with the Connecticut Air National Guard from 1960 to 1965. Swigert held positions as an engineering test pilot for North American Aviation before joining NASA. He previously worked as an engineering test pilot for Pratt Whitney from February 1957 to June 1964. He logged over 7,200 hours in flight, including more than 5,725 hours in jet aircraft.
Swigert unsuccessfully applied for NASA's second and third astronaut selections before finding success. He was accepted into the NASA Astronaut Corps as part of NASA Astronaut Group 5 in April 1966. Swigert became a specialist on the Apollo command module. He was one of the few astronauts who requested to be command module pilots specifically.
He served as capsule communicator during the ascent phase of Apollo 7's flight. The mission marked the first support crew for an Apollo mission. Swigert participated in demonstrating the Rogallo wing as a feasible land landing system for returning space vehicles. This work earned him the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Octave Chanute Award for 1966. His technical background made him valuable for complex spacecraft operations.
Swigert was one of three astronauts aboard the Apollo 13 Moon mission launched the 11th of April 1970. Originally part of the backup crew for the mission, he was assigned to the mission three days before launch. He replaced astronaut Ken Mattingly because the prime crew had been exposed to German Measles from Charles Duke. Mattingly had no immunity to the disease, so NASA did not want to risk him falling ill during critical phases of the flight.
Apollo 13 was the third crewed lunar-landing attempt but aborted after rupture of an oxygen tank in the spacecraft service module. Swigert was the astronaut who first announced Houston we have a problem here. Commander Jim Lovell repeated the statement immediately. Swigert along with fellow astronauts Lovell and Fred Haise traveled around the Moon and returned safely to Earth on April 17 after about five days and 23 hours. The Apollo 13 astronauts flew farther away from Earth than any other astronauts before or since due to their chosen slingshot route.
During 1972, the Apollo 15 postal covers incident caused NASA investigators to inquire into other astronauts. A number of Apollo astronauts including Swigert made agreements with West German stamp dealer Hermann Sieger. They autographed philatelic items in exchange for payment of about $2,500. Swigert originally denied involvement when interviewed by NASA investigators.
Christopher C. Kraft stated that investigators subpoenaed his bank records finding more funds than expected. Records showed a predated charitable donation existed. Swigert's subsequent admission caused NASA Deputy Administrator George M. Low to remove him from Apollo Soyuz Test Project crew. Deke Slayton had recommended Swigert as command module pilot for the mission because he deserved another chance to fly after performing well during Apollo 13 selection two days before launch.
Aware that his spaceflight career was most likely over, Swigert took leave of absence from NASA in April 1973. He went to Washington DC to become executive director of Committee on Science and Astronautics U.S. House of Representatives. Eventually he left NASA and the committee in August 1977 to enter politics directly.
He ran for U.S. Senate from Colorado in 1978 but was soundly defeated in Republican primary in September by Congressman Bill Armstrong. Armstrong was far better known than Swigert. In 1979, Swigert became vice president of B.D.M. Corporation in Golden. He left in 1981 to join International Gold and Minerals Limited as vice president for financial and corporate affairs. In February 1982, Swigert left International Gold and Minerals Limited to run for U.S. Congress in newly created 6th district as a Republican.
When a malignant tumor in right nasal passage was found, the astronaut politician disclosed this to voters. Doctors told him he would finish radiation treatments on June 15 and make complete recovery. However, in August, Swigert developed back pain and was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. On the 2nd of November 1982, he won seat with 64% of popular vote.
On the 19th of December 1982, seven weeks after election, he was airlifted from home in Littleton to Georgetown University Hospital Washington DC. He died of respiratory failure at its Lombardi Cancer Center on December 27, seven days before beginning congressional term. He was aged 51 when he passed away. He was last member-elect of House to die before taking office until Luke Letlow's death from COVID-19 in December 2020.
Swigert received Presidential Medal of Freedom shortly after conclusion of Apollo 13 mission. Following sparse parade, he received City of New York Gold Medal on June 3. He also received City of Houston Medal for Valor in 1970. The crew received NASA Distinguished Service Medal presented by Vice President Spiro Agnew in 1970. Apollo 13 crew got American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award for 1970.
In 1983, Swigert among 14 Apollo astronauts inducted into International Space Hall of Fame. In 1988, he entered Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame. In 1995, Kevin Bacon portrayed him in Ron Howard film Apollo 13. In 1997, Swigert along with 23 other Apollo astronauts posthumously inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center. A statue made by George and Mark Lundeen placed on display in U.S. Capitol Building as one of two statues given by state of Colorado to National Statuary Hall Collection.
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Common questions
When was Jack Swigert born and where did he grow up?
John Leonard Swigert Jr. was born on the 30th of August 1931, in Denver, Colorado to parents Dr. John Leonard Swigert Sr. and Virginia Anne Swigert.
What role did Jack Swigert play during the Apollo 13 mission launched the 11th of April 1970?
Swigert was one of three astronauts aboard the Apollo 13 Moon mission who replaced astronaut Ken Mattingly three days before launch due to exposure to German Measles from Charles Duke. He became the astronaut who first announced Houston we have a problem here after an oxygen tank rupture occurred in the spacecraft service module.
Why was Jack Swigert removed from the Apollo Soyuz Test Project crew in 1973?
NASA Deputy Administrator George M. Low removed him from the Apollo Soyuz Test Project crew because investigators found evidence that he had received payments for autographing philatelic items with West German stamp dealer Hermann Sieger. Records showed more funds than expected despite his initial denial of involvement in the Apollo 15 postal covers incident.
When did Jack Swigert die and what caused his death?
He died of respiratory failure at its Lombardi Cancer Center on December 27, seven days before beginning congressional term. The astronaut politician passed away aged 51 after being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer following treatment for a malignant tumor in right nasal passage.
What political office did Jack Swigert win shortly before his death on the 2nd of November 1982?
On the 2nd of November 1982, he won seat with 64% of popular vote to run for U.S. Congress in newly created 6th district as a Republican. He became the last member-elect of House to die before taking office until Luke Letlow's death from COVID-19 in December 2020.