Richard F. Gordon Jr.

• 1. Seattle Boyhood And High School

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  Richard Francis Gordon Jr. entered the world on the 5th of October 1929 in Seattle, Washington. He was the first of five children born to Richard Francis Gordon Sr., a machinist, and Angela Frances Gordon, an elementary school teacher. His early years included active participation in scouting activities where he earned the rank of Star Scout. This background laid the foundation for his disciplined approach to life. He graduated from North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo, Washington, in 1947. The young man then moved forward to attend the University of Washington. There he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1951. During his college years he also joined the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

• 2. Naval Wings And Test Pilot Training

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  After earning his degree, Gordon joined the United States Navy and received his wings as a Naval Aviator in 1953. He attended All-Weather Flight School followed by jet transitional training. His assignment took him to an all-weather fighter squadron at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. In 1957 he attended the United States Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. He served as a flight test pilot until 1960. During this period he conducted flight test work on the F-8U Crusader, F-11F Tiger, North American FJ Fury, and A-4D Skyhawk. He was the first project test pilot for the F4H-1 Phantom II. He logged more than 4,500 hours of flying time with 3,500 hours spent in jet aircraft. He also studied at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California.

• 3. Bendix Trophy Speed Record

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  Gordon won the Bendix Trophy race from Los Angeles to New York City in May 1961. He flew an F4H-1 aircraft during this competition. The flight established a new speed record of 869.74 miles per hour. It also set a transcontinental speed record of 2 hours and 47 minutes. This achievement highlighted his exceptional skills as a test pilot. He served with Fighter Squadron 121 at the Naval Air Station Miramar, California. There he worked as a flight instructor in the F4H-1. He participated in introducing that aircraft to both Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. He held roles as flight safety officer, assistant operations officer, and ground training officer for Fighter Squadron 96 at Miramar.

• 4. Selection And Backup Duties

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  NASA named Gordon one of its third group of astronauts in October 1963. He was the oldest astronaut selected in that specific group. He had previously been a finalist for the second selection in 1962. His early career included serving as backup pilot for the Gemini 8 flight. In September 1966 he made his first space flight as pilot of Gemini 11 alongside Pete Conrad. At the time the flight set an altitude record which still stands as the highest-apogee Earth orbit. Gordon was already good friends with Conrad who had once been his roommate on the aircraft carrier. The two men shared a close professional bond before their historic mission began.

• 5. Gemini 11 Spacewalks

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  During the Gemini 11 mission Gordon performed two spacewalks. These extravehicular activities involved attaching a tether to the Agena target vehicle. He also retrieved a nuclear emulsion experiment package during these walks. The total time spent in space by Gordon reached 315 hours and 53 minutes. Of that duration 2 hours and 41 minutes were spent in EVA. This experience prepared him for future lunar missions. The Gemini program demonstrated American capability to perform complex tasks outside spacecraft. It proved that astronauts could work effectively in the vacuum of space while maintaining precise control over equipment.

• 6. Apollo 12 Lunar Orbit

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  Gordon flew as command module pilot of Apollo 12 in November 1969. His crewmates Pete Conrad and Alan Bean landed in the Ocean of Storms. Gordon remained in lunar orbit aboard the command module Yankee Clipper. He photographed tentative landing sites for future missions while they explored the surface below. The mission orbited the Moon 45 times. After Apollo 12 he served as backup commander of Apollo 15. He was slated to walk on the Moon as commander of Apollo 18 but budget cuts canceled that mission. His role required constant vigilance and technical expertise throughout the journey.

• 7. Post-Nasa Executive Roles

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  Gordon retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy in January 1972. He then served as executive vice president of the New Orleans Saints Professional Football Club from 1972 to 1976. In 1977 he became general manager of Energy Developers Limited, a Texas partnership involved in oil and gas industry ventures. He later served as president of Resolution Engineering and Development Company which provided design requirements for wild oil well control. Following a merger with Amarco Resources he assumed duties as vice president of marketing at Westdale. He also served as vice president for operations of the Texas Division. In March 1982 he became president of Astro Sciences Corporation providing engineering and project management services.

• 8. Awards And Hall Of Fame Inductions

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  Gordon received numerous military decorations including two Navy Distinguished Flying Crosses and a Navy Distinguished Service Medal. He earned the Bendix Trophy in 1961 and the Phi Sigma Kappa Merit Award in 1966. The Institute of Navigation awarded him in 1969 while the Godfrey L. Cabot Award came in 1970. He was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame with nine Gemini astronaut colleagues in 1982. On the 19th of March 1993 he entered the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame. In 2020 Gordon was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio. A Richard Gordon Elementary School in Kingston, Washington bears his name. He died in San Marcos, California on the 6th of November 2017 at age 88. His body rests at Arlington National Cemetery.