Commander Dick Scobee

    Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, was born on May 19, 1939, in Cle Elum, Washington. He spent some of his younger years in Auburn, and attended school there. He graduated from Auburn Senior High School, in 1957. 
    Scobee enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957, and was later stationed at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. He attended night school and earned two years of college credit which led to his selection for the Airman's Education and Commissioning Program. He received a bachelor of science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Arizona in 1965.
    He received his commission in 1965 and his wings in 1966. Among his many assignments was a combat tour in Vietnam. Later, Dick Scobee would go on to be a test pilot and log many hours in various types of aircraft. In January 1978, Scobee was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA . After his training he became the pilot of STS 41-C which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on April 6, 1984.
    On January 28, 1986 at 11:38 AM, Dick Scobee died when the Challenger space shuttle mission 51-L  exploded after lift off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

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