Clifton Curtis “C.C.” Williams Jr., a Major in the United States Marine Corps, was born on September 26, 1932 in Mobile, Alabama.
He was an associate member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and member of Pi Tau Sigma (national mechanical honorary, and Tau Beta Pi (national engineering society).
Williams died on October 5, 1967 near Tallahassee, Florida in the crash of a T-38 jet.
He served on the backup crew for Gemini 10 and had been assigned to the backup crew for what would be the Apollo 9 mission. This crew placement would have most likely led to an assignment as Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 12. The Apollo 12 mission patch has four stars on it – one each for the three astronauts who flew the mission, and one for Williams.
Space Flights: None
Total Hours in Space: 0
Astronaut Group: 3-October 18, 1963
Degrees: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 1954
Military Service & Awards: Williams graduated from the Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland. He was test pilot for three years in the Carrier Suitability Branch of the Flight Test Division at Patuxent River. His work there included land based and shipboard tests of the F8E, TF8A, F8E (attack), and A4E and automatic carrier landing system.
Interred at Arlington National Cemetery: October 9, 1967
Section: 3
Grave: 2503-H-1
Grid: Q-15
How to locate: From the Memorial Amphitheater walk South on Memorial Drive, turn right on Porter Drive, then left on McPherson Drive and left onto McKinley Drive. The roadway curves around a rectangular-shaped grassy area. Turn to the left, then right, around the grassy area. When you see a large black McGee headstone to your left just before the intersection with Miles Drive, turn right to continue on McKinley and stop after a few feet. Your back will be to the Air Force memorial in the distance. The Williams gravesite is in the second row, just behind Irwin and Eisele.