Editing Ed White (astronaut) (section)

== Early life ==
Edward Higgins White II was born on November 14, 1930, in [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]],<ref name="nasabio" /> the son of [[Edward Higgins White Sr.]] (1901–1978), a [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] graduate (Class of 1924) who later rose to become a [[Major General (United States)|major general]] in the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/105237/major-general-edward-h-white/|title=Major General Edward H. White |work=Air Force |publisher=United States Air Force|access-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref> and Mary Rosina White ({{nee|Haller}}; 1900–1983).<ref name="brother">{{Cite news|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1555375/vietnam-fighter-pilot-finally-comes-home/ |title=Vietnam Fighter Pilot Finally Comes Home|last=Angell|first=Cory|date=June 20, 2018|work=Los Angeles Air Force Base|access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref> He had a younger brother, James Blair White (1942–1969),<ref name="brother" /> and an older sister, Jeanne.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=111}} His interest in [[aviation]] was sparked at the age of twelve when his father took him for a ride in a [[North American T-6 Texan]] trainer.<ref name="Mary White">{{Cite web|url=https://history.nasa.gov/Apollo204/zorn/white.htm|title=Detailed Biographies of Apollo I Crew – Ed White|last=White|first=Mary|website=Nasa History|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915192810/https://history.nasa.gov/Apollo204/zorn/white.htm |archive-date=September 15, 2019|access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref> He became a member of the [[Boy Scouts of America]],<ref name="astro-bsa">{{cite web |url=http://www.scouting.org/Media/FactSheets/02-558.aspx |title=Astronauts and the BSA |work=Fact sheet |publisher=Boy Scouts of America |access-date=March 20, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414205119/http://www.scouting.org/Media/FactSheets/02-558.aspx |archive-date=April 14, 2009 }}</ref> where he earned the rank of [[Second Class (Boy Scouts of America)|Second Class Scout]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/scouting_space.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213130/http://www.scouting.org/about/factsheets/scouting_space.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Edward Higgins White at scouting.org|archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref>

Due to the nature of his father's job, White's family moved often to different military bases across the country throughout his childhood. The White family moved from San Antonio, Texas to [[Dayton, Ohio]], where he attended Oakwood Junior High School,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/white-ii-edward-higgens/|title=White II, Edward Higgens|website=The National Aviation Hall of Fame|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013000204/http://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/white-ii-edward-higgens/|archive-date=October 13, 2017|access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> and to [[Washington, D.C.]], where he attended [[Western High School (D.C.)|Western High School]].<ref name="Mary White" /> After graduating in 1948, he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and attend West Point, but his family's peripatetic life presented a problem: an appointment to West Point from a [[United States Congress]]man was required, and the family had not been continuously resident in any one place for very long. White went down to the [[United States Capitol|Capitol]] and knocked on Congressmen's doors seeking an appointment, armed with a glowing reference from his high school principal. He eventually secured one from Congressman [[Ross Rizley]] from [[Oklahoma]].{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=113}}

White entered West Point on July 15, 1948.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=113}} He acquired the nickname "Red" from the color of his hair.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=116}} While at West Point, White competed for a spot on the 1952 [[U.S. Olympic team]] in the 400 meter [[hurdles]] race, but missed  qualification in the heat by 0.4 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usatf.org/usatf/files/69/695a8112-b7a0-4b9d-9dbb-8b4bca22677c.pdf|title=The History of United States Olympic Trials – Track and Field|last=Hymans|first=Richard|date=2008|website=USA Track and Field|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517231938/http://www.usatf.org/usatf/files/69/695a8112-b7a0-4b9d-9dbb-8b4bca22677c.pdf|archive-date=May 17, 2019|url-status=dead|access-date=May 17, 2019|quote=1. Moore 52.0, 2. Yoder 52.6, 3. Blackman 52.7, 4. Edward White (USAF) 53.1}}</ref> White was also a half-back on the West Point soccer team. His hobbies included [[Squash (sport)|squash]], [[handball]], [[Human swimming|swimming]], [[golf]], and [[photography]].<ref name="Mary White" /> His classmates included [[Michael Collins (astronaut)|Michael Collins]], who later became an [[astronaut]] as well.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=116}}

===Military service===
Upon graduation with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree from West Point, ranked 128th out of 523 in the Class of 1952, White was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the Air Force.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|pp=121–122}} Under a 1949 agreement, up to 25{{nbsp}}percent of the graduating classes of West Point and the [[United States Naval Academy]] at [[Annapolis]] could volunteer for the Air Force. Between 1950, when the agreement became effective, and 1959, when the first class graduated from the [[United States Air Force Academy]], about 3,200 West Point cadets and Annapolis midshipmen chose to do so.<ref>{{harvnb|Mitchell|1996|pp=60–61}}</ref> White received his initial pilot training at [[Bartow Municipal Airport|Bartow Air Base]], [[Florida]], and his jet training at [[James Connally Air Force Base]], [[Texas]].{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|pp=121–122}} After receiving his [[U.S. Air Force aeronautical rating|pilot wings]] in 1953, White was assigned to [[Luke Air Force Base]], [[Arizona]], for Fighter Gunnery School.{{sfn|Burgess|2013|p=156}} In February 1953, White married Patricia Eileen Finegan (1934–1983), whom he had met at a West Point football game.<ref name="roundup">{{cite news |newspaper=NASA Roundup |volume=1 |issue=24 |date=September 19, 1962 |pages=1, 4–5 |title= MSC Names Nine New Pilot Trainees |url=https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/roundups/issues/62-09-19.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/roundups/issues/62-09-19.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |access-date=May 7, 2019 }}</ref><ref name="cmgww.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.cmgww.com/historic/white/about/biography.html|title=The Official Site of Edward White II|publisher=Cmgww.com|access-date=November 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010706/http://www.cmgww.com/historic/white/about/biography.html|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> They had two children, Edward Higgins White III (born in 1953) and Bonnie Lynn White (born in 1956).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/10/20/when-our-dad-astronaut-ed-white-died-he-showed-that-the-future-belongs-to-the-brave|title=When our dad, astronaut Ed White, died, he showed that the future belongs to the brave|last1=Baer|first1=Bonnie|date=October 20, 2018|newspaper=Dallas News|access-date=May 12, 2019|last2=White III|first2=Ed}}</ref>

[[File:The families of Gemini 4 astronauts in Mission Control in Houston.jpg|thumb|right|The families of Gemini 4 astronauts visit Mission Control in Houston. Right to left: Patricia McDivitt, Bonnie White, Patricia White, [[flight controller]] [[Christopher Kraft]], and Edward White III.]]
White was assigned to the [[22nd Fighter Squadron]] at [[Bitburg Air Base]] in [[West Germany]], where he spent three and a half years flying [[North American F-86 Sabre]] and [[North American F-100 Super Sabre]] fighters. Among his colleagues were [[Buzz Aldrin]], who graduated a year ahead of him at West Point, and [[James Salter]].<ref name="nasabio">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/white_edward.pdf|title=Astronaut Bio: Edward H. White II|date=December 1997|website=Biographical Data|publisher=NASA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171324/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/white_edward.pdf|archive-date=September 20, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=June 20, 2021}}</ref><ref name="cmgww.com" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/aldrin_buzz.pdf|title=Astronaut Bio: Buzz Aldrin|date=January 1996|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402074622/http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/aldrin-b.html|archive-date=April 2, 2009|access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Salter |first1=James |title=Burning the Days |date=2007 |isbn=9780330448826 |page=174|publisher=Picador }}</ref> In 1957, White read an article about the astronauts of the future, and decided to become one. He believed that getting an advanced degree would improve his chances of being selected.<ref name="Mary White" /> Aldrin later recalled that White convinced him to follow this path as well.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=123}} In September 1958, White enrolled in the [[University of Michigan]] under Air Force sponsorship to study [[aeronautical engineering]]. His classmates included [[James McDivitt]], [[Jim Irwin]] and [[Ted Freeman]].{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=124}} White was awarded his [[Master of Science]] degree in 1959.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.engin.umich.edu/2017/02/reflecting-on-apollo-1-disaster/|title=Reflecting on Apollo 1 disaster, U-M alum astronaut Ed White|last=Sandberg|first=Ariel|date=February 8, 2017|website=The Michigan News Engineer Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516234922/https://news.engin.umich.edu/2017/02/reflecting-on-apollo-1-disaster/|archive-date=May 16, 2019|url-status=dead|access-date=May 16, 2019}}</ref>

After it became clear that being a [[test pilot]] would also improve his chances of being selected to become an astronaut, White attended the [[U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School]] at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], [[California]], with class 59-C, which graduated in July 1959. McDivitt was one of his classmates. White was assigned to the [[Aeronautical Systems Center|Aeronautical Systems Division]] at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], [[Ohio]]. There, he did flight tests for weapons development, and helped make recommendations for aircraft design on aircraft such as the [[Fairchild C-123 Provider]], [[Convair C-131 Samaritan]], [[Boeing C-135 Stratolifter]], the North American F-100 Super Sabre, [[Convair F-102 Delta Dagger]] and [[Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star]].{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=124}}  As a weightlessness- and extended-flight-training captain, he piloted the planes that were used to train astronauts in weightlessness. His passengers included [[John Glenn]], the first American to orbit the Earth, and [[Ham (chimpanzee)|Ham]], the first hominid in space.<ref name="Mary White" /> During his career, White would log more than 3,000 flight hours with the Air Force, including about 2,200 hours in [[Jet aircraft|jets]].<ref name="nasabio" />