Gus Grissom as a fighter pilot.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Sep 18, 2010 3:05 pm

I know that Gus flew F-86's and T-33's. Doeas anyone know what markings were on either of these aircraft. We are looking at making a display with some of his past aircraft. Thank you in advance

67N20 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 18, 2010 5:47 pm

I know it's completely off your request but I used to autocross against his son Scott in various Houston parking lots and at Texas World Speedway in the early and mid 80's. I had the better car (78 Trans Am to his 77 or 78 Z28) but he was the better driver. A nicer guy you would never meet.

Pogo · **Posted:** Sat Sep 18, 2010 6:40 pm

I'm gonna be totally off-topic too, but just have to say how great it is to see ol' Gus Grissom's name appear here, or anywhere else. A true American hero gave his everything while the entire world was watching, but who is mostly unsung any more.

Wonder how Betty's doing?

Clifford Bossie · **Posted:** Sat Sep 18, 2010 8:25 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

I know that Gus flew F-86's and T-33's. Doeas anyone know what markings were on either of these aircraft. We are looking at making a display with some of his past aircraft. Thank you in advance

It would be cool to have an F-86 displayed at Grissom in ole' Gus' markings!

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Sep 18, 2010 8:49 pm

Guys don't think you are being off topic at all. Those are great replies. Cliff, that is the exact reason I ask. We have a plan to rescue a Sabre and get it indoors and in his markings. Also loooking for info on any of his other aircraft. I agree that Gus is a name that we need to make sure isn't forgotten. Along with Roger and Ed.

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Sun Sep 19, 2010 1:50 pm

Do you have access to Gus's flight log books, if any still exist, to get serial numbers?

raconnel · **Posted:** Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:57 pm

Here is a video of him shot after he joined the astronaut program. In this case he's probably "borrowing" an F-102 to keep up his flight hours.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675 ... light-suit

Richard

JBoyle · **Posted:** Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:10 pm

Anyone know the units he served in and their time frame?
If you post them, that would be a start.

If it was post-WWII, there probably wouln't be nose art or special markings (unless he was a commander) so there's good chance the only way you could tell "his" plane would be the name on the canopy. So generic squadron markings would do.

raconnel · **Posted:** Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:37 pm

From the official NASA bio ( http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/Histo ... rissom.htm )

"After graduation, Gus made several half-hearted attempts to find employment. At one point, he considered accepting a mechanical engineering position at a brewery. However, because his heart was set on becoming a test pilot, he re-enlisted in the Air Force, finished air cadet training and won his wings.
Less than one year later, Grissom was shipped out to Korea to complete one hundred combat missions with the 334th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. He ignored the tradition of naming a jet after one's wife or girlfriend and chose to fly his F- 86 Sabre jet with the name "Scotty" boldly printed on it in honor of his son who had been born the year before."

and

"He was proud to be able to say, "I never did get hit and neither did any of the leaders that I flew wing for". (8) After spending six months in Korea, Gus reached the one hundred combat missions mark. His request to fly twenty-five additional missions was denied and he was sent back to the states, having earned both the Air Medal with cluster and the Distinguished Flying Cross during his tour of duty. "

After Korea he served as a flight instructor and then was accepted for test pilot training.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:43 pm

Thanks guys we are heading the right way with this.

lmritger · **Posted:** Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:02 am

Gus's name is still remembered here in Newport News; the Denbigh branch of the NN Public Library is named for Grissom.

I was fortunate enough to get a good closeup of Liberty Bell 7 when it made a swing through here a couple years ago, and shot a bunch of pics of it... I've always felt Gus got a raw deal with that (especially with how he was made to look like a bumbling fool in "The Right Stuff"), and deserves to be remembered with respect and admiration.

I'll keep an eye open to see if I can find anything on his Sabre for ya.

Lynn

michaelharadon · **Posted:** Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:53 am

lmritger wrote:

Gus's name is still remembered here in Newport News; the Denbigh branch of the NN Public Library is named for Grissom.

I was fortunate enough to get a good closeup of Liberty Bell 7 when it made a swing through here a couple years ago, and shot a bunch of pics of it... I've always felt Gus got a raw deal with that (especially with how he was made to look like a bumbling fool in "The Right Stuff"), and deserves to be remembered with respect and admiration..
Lynn

Fortunately, the raw deal did not extend to NASA as Gus got the first flight of the Gemini spacecraft, and would have also had the first flight of the Apollo. That pretty much says all there is to say about his professional competence and the respect he had at NASA.

His portrayal in The Right Stuff is one of the reasons I never have to see that movie again.

Django · **Posted:** Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:28 am

334th is based in the Eagle Squadron/4th FG.

Here are some paintings and pics of 334th F-86's.

http://www.starduststudios.com/James_Jabara.htm

http://www.starduststudios.com/Glen_Eagleston.htm

http://www.acepilots.com/korea/george.html

Hail Purdue · **Joined:** Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:51 am **Posts:** 6

At Purdue, we certainly recognize Gus with Grissom Hall. A few years ago Purdue had trading cards made up of the astronauts and handed them out during an astronaut reunion. Gus' card was rightly on top. Mrs. Grissom and Mrs. Chaffee were both at the reunion! It was an unbelievable night.

JBoyle · **Posted:** Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:09 pm

lmritger wrote:

I've always felt Gus got a raw deal with that (especially with how he was made to look like a bumbling fool in "The Right Stuff"), and deserves to be remembered with respect and admiration.

I agree he deserves recognition and respect...but I don't think the film (or book) was that unfavorable to him.

I think the sinking of his ship was included (in part...as well as being a well-known point of history) to illustrate that sometimes "stuff" happens...and to an extent, we're all subject to the vassitudes of fate.
Or to quote Peanuts..."Sometimes you're the hero, sometimes the goat".

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Gus Grissom as a fighter pilot.

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