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Service Details |
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Last Photo |
Personal Details
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Home State
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Year of Birth 1963 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
PO1 Jeff Frey (Ace)
to remember
McCool, William (Willie), CDR.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town Not Specified |
Last Address San Diego
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Date of Passing Feb 01, 2003 |
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Location of Interment Not Specified |
Wall/Plot Coordinates Not Specified |
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Last Known Activity
- NASA Astronaut and the Space Shuttle pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia Mission STS-107. CDR McCool was killed when the craft disintegrated during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, 01 FEB 2003
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Other Comments:
- Graduated second of 1,083 in the Class of '83 at the U.S. Naval Academy.
- Presented "Outstanding Student" and "Best DT-II Thesis" awards as graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Class 101.
- While at Strike Aircraft Test Directorate, he was responsible for management and conducts a wide varity of projects ranging from airframe fatigue life studies to avionics upgrades. With primary efforts dedicated to the flight test of the Advanced Capability (ADVCAP) EA-6B
- Held the positions of Admin and Operations Officer while attached to VAQ-132
Namesakes / Tributes:
- McCool Hill in the Columbia Hills on Mars.
- Guam South Elementary/Middle School was renamed CDR William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School in 29 August 2003.
- McCool Hall in the Columbia Village Apartments at the Florida Institute of Technology.
- Willie McCool Track and Field at Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas.
- The City of Lubbock, Texas dedicated the Willie McCool Memorial on 07 May, 2005.
- A Gawad Kalinga Village in Moncada, Tarloc, Philippines is to be named USN Commander Willie McCool Village. CDR McCool's Mother-in-Law Atilana Rambayon is from Moncada. Gawad Kalinga is a program to give land for the landless, homes for the homeless, food for the hungry and as a result providing dignity and peace for every Filipino.
- Camp McCool, in Bagram, Afghanistan. Is home to deployed EA-6B's while in Afghanistan.
NASA VIDEOS/AUDIO:
note: videos required Real Player to be installed.
These and many other video, audio clips, as well as a complete NASA website on STS-107 can be found HERE.
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1983-1984, 139X, Naval Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API), NAS Pensacola, FL
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1986-1987, 131X, VAQ-129 Vikings
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1987-1989, 131X, VAQ-133 Wizards
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1989-1992, 131X, NTPS - Navy Test Pilot School
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1992-1994, 131X, Naval Strike Warfare Center (NSWC)
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1994-1996, 131X, VAQ-132 Scorpions
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1996-2003, 131X, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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