Apollo 1 tragedy, reporter live from Cape Kennedy and Jules Bergman , ABC News, January 28, 1967

50 years ago tomorrow - Lt Col "Gus" Grissom was the second American in space. Of the Mercury 7 he was considered by many to be the best engineer, which was why he was tasked with assisting the development of Gemini while Mercury was still flying. He commanded the first Gemini flight. It's little remembered. But it was groundbreaking as it was the first manned spacecraft which could change direction, not merely orientation as Mercury and the Soviet craft could only do. He was also expected to perhaps be the first man to walk on the moon. But another aeronautical engineer from Ohio would have to rise to that challenge.

Lt Col Ed White was a USMA graduate who followed his father into the USAF. He was thought of as one of the more athletic astronauts. He had been a candidate for the US Olympic team. His fitness contributed to the decision for him to perform the first American EVA. He and his backup senior pilot, Dave Scott, would PT by removing and replacing the Apollo Block I's heavy and flawed hatch.

LCDR Roger Chaffee was the rookie. He was an Eagle Scout and like many early astronauts attended Purdue. He flew reconnaissance missions over Cuba during the Missile Crisis. Coincidently, he served as the Capsule Communicator to both of his crewmates during their Gemini missions.

Ad Astra Per Aspera