Posts: 323
From: Cleveland, OH USA
Registered: Aug 2006

posted 08-01-2013 01:10 PM               

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I was just on a plane flight and the man behind me was talking about his father who was an astronaut. I spoke to him as we were exiting the plane and he said his dad never actually flew in space.

His name was Bill Crippel (not sure of spelling of last name although he said it began with a C). His dad was a USAF pilot and a contemporary of astronaut Guy Gardner in terms of time frame.

I've looked in Colin Burgess' latest book to see if I could find any information about him but no luck so far. Anyone have any idea on collectSPACE? And no it is NOT Bob Crippen. Thanks for any help.

Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 08-01-2013 02:16 PM               

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Hmm... This is a puzzling mystery. I checked the NASA database -no results- and even the two groups of DoD Manned Spaceflight Engineers chosen in the early 80s, and no luck there as well.

Perhaps he was an astronaut candidate, put forward by the Air Force but never chosen by NASA?

Posts: 633
From: Poland
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-01-2013 02:17 PM            

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Maybe he is William W. "Bill" Crimmel?

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Astronauts, Cosmonauts & their flights

Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007

Posts: 633
From: Poland
Registered: May 2003

Posts: 323
From: Cleveland, OH USA
Registered: Aug 2006

posted 08-08-2013 08:44 AM               

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Thanks for your help everyone. I'm guessing that is the answer. We had just landed and it's very possible that I didn't hear the last name correctly. The son works at Virginia Tech but he remarked that his sister and brother in law both worked in the Air Force.

Thanks collectSPACE community. I knew you'd have an answer! — Marcy