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Author
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Topic: Bill Looney, Apollo LM test manager (1933-2016)
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rgarner
Member Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 03-25-2016 04:00 AM
   
This is somewhat late, but I learnt that Bill Looney passed away on Feb. 6 this year. William D. (Bill) Looney, Apollo Lunar Module spacecraft test manager for Grumman, died on February 6 in Merritt Island, Florida. He was 82.Bill Looney was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, on July 11, 1933 and grew up in Weehawken, NJ, with his three brothers, Jack, Harry and Ed. An avid collector of Wings cigarette cards as a boy, he had two dreams-to fly jet airplanes and design and build them. He graduated from New York University in 1955 with a degree in aeronautical engineering, worked at Lockheed for a year, and then began his active tour with the US Air Force. He flew F-86D fighter jets out of Anderson Air Force Base in Guam with the 41st Fighter Interceptor Squadron. He thought (as do many others) that the F-86 Sabre was a beautiful plane to fly, at a time when pilot's still flew by hand and eye. Flying the F-86 satisfied his passion to soar and, perhaps, ruined him for any lesser planes-he seldom flew in later years. He continued in the Air Force Reserves putting in 20 years and retiring as a USAF Major. After his active duty service in the Air Force, he landed his dream job at Grumman Aerospace on Long Island. He worked there for 35 years. While working full-time and helping to care for a rapidly growing family, he went back to his alma mater, NYU, and completed his master's degree in aeronautical engineering. Bill's full obituary, along with photos (including one dedicated to him from the Apollo 15 crew) can be found here. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2476
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 03-25-2016 04:17 AM
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rgarner
Member Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 03-25-2016 04:21 AM
Here is a picture of Bill (far left) and I'm not too sure, but is that Fred Haise crouching near the front? |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 03-25-2016 08:39 AM
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onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 03-25-2016 08:54 AM
.Yes that is Fred Haise (note the shuttle ALT patch) kneeling in the center; he joined Grumman in 1979. |
Jeff
Member Posts: 474
From: Fayetteville, NC, USA
Registered: May 2009
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posted 03-25-2016 09:02 AM
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minipci
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From: London, UK
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posted 03-25-2016 09:39 AM
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capoetc
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posted 03-25-2016 09:39 AM
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SpaceAholic
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posted 03-25-2016 10:26 AM
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jasonelam
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posted 03-25-2016 11:38 AM
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Jurg Bolli
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posted 03-25-2016 01:42 PM
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East-Frisian
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mode1charlie
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David Carey
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posted 03-25-2016 03:57 PM
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Rick Mulheirn
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posted 03-25-2016 04:32 PM
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star51L
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posted 03-25-2016 04:33 PM
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Kite
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posted 03-25-2016 05:49 PM
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mach3valkyrie
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posted 03-25-2016 06:37 PM
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Ronpur
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posted 03-25-2016 10:13 PM
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Joel Katzowitz
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posted 03-26-2016 07:21 AM
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Philip
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posted 03-26-2016 02:38 PM
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dss65
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posted 03-27-2016 12:26 PM
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OWL
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posted 03-27-2016 01:34 PM
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apolloprojeckt
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posted 03-27-2016 01:37 PM
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Gilbert
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posted 03-28-2016 12:01 PM
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hlbjr
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posted 03-28-2016 01:24 PM
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oly
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posted 03-28-2016 08:08 PM
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Panther494
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From: London UK
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posted 03-29-2016 01:49 AM
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Wehaveliftoff
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posted 03-29-2016 09:30 AM
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