Francis R. “Dick” Scobee

Dick Scobee

Francis Richard “Dick” Scobee, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force (Retired), was born on May 19, 1939 in Cle Elum, Washington. He was a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Tau Beta Pi, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and the Air Force Association. He enjoyed flying, oil painting, woodworking, motorcycling, racquetball, jogging, and most outdoor sports.

Scobee and his crewmates, Mike Smith, Ron McNair, El Onizuka, Judy Resnik, Greg Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe, died on January 28, 1986 when the space shuttle Challenger broke apart shortly after liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center.

NASA Biography

Space Flights:

  • Pilot, STS-41C, Challenger, April 6-13, 1984, Solar Maximum Mission Satellite retrieval and repair
  • Commander, STS-51L, Challenger, January 28, 1986

Total Hours in Space: 167+

Astronaut Group: 8-January 31, 1978

Degrees: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Arizona, 1965.

Military Service & Awards: Served in Vietnam. Awarded the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and two NASA Exceptional Service Medals.

STS 51-L Crew members. Front row: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee and Ron McNair.
Back row: El Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis and Judy Resnik.

Interred at Arlington National Cemetery: May 19, 1986

Section: 46
Grave: 1129-4 front
Grid: O-23/24

How to locate: Located just to the left of the Challenger memorial when facing it. This is just west of the Memorial Amphitheater, near the mast of the U.S.S. Maine.

Dick Scobee headstone, front