S. David Griggs Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles
Died: June 17, 1989 in Earle, Arkansas
NASA Astronaut (Deceased)
PERSONAL DATA: Born September 7, 1939, in Portland, Oregon. Died June 17, 1989. He is survived by his wife, Karen, and two daughters. He enjoyed flying, auto restoration, running, and skiing.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Lincoln High School, Portland, Oregon, in 1957; received a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1962 and a master of science in administration from George Washington University in 1970.
ORGANIZATIONS: Member, Society of Experimental Test Pilots, National Air Racing Group, Naval Reserve Association, Naval Academy Alumni Association, Association of Naval Aviators, Naval Institute, Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Naval Order of the United States, Tailhook Association.
SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, 15 Air Medals, 3 Navy Commendation Medals, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, NASA Space Flight Medal, NASA Achievement Award, and NASA Sustained Superior Performance Award.
EXPERIENCE: Mr. Griggs graduated from Annapolis in 1962 and entered pilot training shortly thereafter. In 1964, he received his Navy wings and was attached to Attack Squadron-72 flying A-4 aircraft. He completed one Mediterranean cruise and two Southeast Asia combat cruises aboard the aircraft carriers USS Independence and USS Roosevelt. Mr. Griggs entered the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, in 1967, and upon completion of test pilot training, was assigned to the Flying Qualities and Performance Branch, Flight Test Division, where he flew various test projects on fighter and attack-type aircraft. In 1970, he resigned his regular United States Navy commission and affiliated with the Naval Air Reserve in which he currently holds the rank of Rear Admiral.
As a Naval Reservist, Rear Admiral Griggs has been assigned to several fighter and attack squadrons flying A-4, A-7 and F-8 aircraft based at Naval Air Station New Orleans, LA, and Miramar, CA. His most recent assignments have been as Commanding Officer, Attack Squadron 2082, Executive Officer, Carrier Group 0282, mobilizing to Battle Force Sixth Fleet, Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Naval Space Command 0166 stationed at the Naval Space Command Headquarters, Dahlgren, Virginia, and Commanding Officer, Office of Naval Research/Naval Research Laboratory 410, Houston, Texas. Rear Admiral Grigg's current mobilization assignment is as Chief of Staff Commander Naval Air Force, United States Pacific Fleet, San Diego, California.
He has logged 9,500 hours flying time -- 7,800 hours in jet aircraft -- and has flown over 45 different types of aircraft including single and multi engine prop, turbo prop and jet aircraft, helicopters, gliders, hot air balloons and the Space Shuttle. He has made over 300 carrier landings, and holds an airline transport pilot license and is a certified flight instructor.
NASA EXPERIENCE: In July 1970, Mr. Griggs was employed at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center as a research pilot, working on various flight test and research projects in support of NASA programs. In 1974, he was assigned duties as the project pilot for the shuttle trainer aircraft and participated in the design, development, and testing of those aircraft pending their operational deployment in 1976. He was appointed Chief of the Shuttle Training Aircraft Operations Office in January 1976 with responsibility for the operational use of the shuttle trainer, and held that position until being selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978. In August 1979, he completed a 1-year training and evaluation period and became eligible for Space Shuttle flight crew assignment.
From 1979 to 1983 Mr. Griggs was involved in several Space Shuttle engineering capacities including the development and testing of the Head-Up Display (HUD) approach and landing avionics system, development of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), and the requirements definition and verification of on-orbit rendezvous and entry flight phase software and procedures. In September 1983 he began crew training as a mission specialist for flight STS 51-D, which flew April 12-19, 1985. During the flight, Mr. Griggs conducted the first unscheduled extravehicular activity (space walk) of the space program. The space walk lasted for over three hours during which preparations for a satellite rescue attempt were completed.
At the time of his death, Mr. Griggs was in flight crew training as pilot for STS-33, a dedicated Department of Defense mission, scheduled for launch in August 1989. He died on June 17, 1989, near Earle, Arkansas, in the crash of a vintage World War II airplane.
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S. DAVID GRIGGS S. David Griggs signs an autograph note explaining that it is NASA policy not to carry covers on flights. Autograph Note Signed: "S D Griggs", 5½x2¾ lined sheet. In full: "It is NASA policy not to carry covers on board flights" read more...
Sale Price $180.00
$200.00
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DISCOVERY MISSION 51-D (APRIL 1985) Official NASA color photo of the entire crew, signed by astronauts, Griggs, Williams and Hoffman Photograph signed: "S. David Griggs", "Don Williams", "Jeffrey A. Hoffman". Color 10x8 overall, image 8¾x7 (one surface). NASA caption at top edge. read more...
Sale Price $510.00
$600.00
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DISCOVERY Color publicity photograph of the first space flight of an elected official. Photograph signed: "Jake Garn", "S.D. Griggs", "Rhea/Seddon", "Charles Walker", "Karol 'Bo' Bobko", "Don/Williams" and "Jeff Hoffman read more...
Sale Price $1,997.50
$2,350.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS S. David Griggs signs a philatelic envelope honoring Grumman Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA). Philatelic Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs", 6½x3¾. read more...
Sale Price $126.00
$140.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS S. David Griggs signs a philatelic envelope honoring his training in White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Philatelic Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs", 6½x3¾. read more...
Sale Price $162.00
$180.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS S. David Griggs signs a philatelic envelope honoring the 747 Columbia. Philatelic Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs", 6½x3¾. Printed cachet honoring the 747 Columbia, postmarked Edwards, California, April 27, 1981. S. read more...
Sale Price $126.00
$140.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS and HANK HARTSFIELD Both sign an envelope commemorating a training flight for a Space Shuttle mission. Commemorative Envelope signed: "D. David Griggs", "Hank Hartsfield", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $270.00
$300.00
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GLENN PINGREY, S. GRIGGS, JACK LOUSMA, an CHARLIE HAYES The flight engineer and other NASA professionals signed this First Day Cover honoring the Shuttle Training Aircraft program First read more...
Sale Price $342.00
$380.00
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ASTRONAUTS-IN-TRAINING Two astronauts in training sign a philatelic envelope honoring the Grumman Gulfstream II. Philatelic Envelope signed: "Karol J. Bobko", and "S.D. Griggs", 6½x3½. Rubber-stamped pictorial cachet at upper left: "Grumman Gulfstream II/Shuttle Training Aircraft (Sta)". read more...
Sale Price $270.00
$300.00
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SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY CREW (APRIL 1985) Astronauts Griggs, Bobko, Williams, Seddon and Hoffman sign a commemorative envelope postmarked during the mission. Commemorative Envelope signed: "Karol 'Bo' Bobko", "Don Williams", "Rhea Seddon", "S. D. read more...
Sale Price $414.00
$460.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS, ROBERT OVERMYER and VANCE BRAND The three space explorers sign this envelope honoring the Grumman Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) Commemorative Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs", "Bob Overmyer" and "V. read more...
Sale Price $531.25
$625.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS and ED RAINEY Both sign an envelope honoring the Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft Commemorative envelope signed: "S. David Griggs", "Ed Rainey", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $270.00
$300.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS, ED MENDENHALL and HARLEY WEYER All sign an envelope commemorating a training mission for shuttle astronauts. Commemorative Envelope signed: "S. David Griggs", "Ed Mendenhall", "Harley Weyer", 6½x3 ½. read more...
Sale Price $270.00
$300.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS and L. D. BLACKSHEAR Both sign a philatelic envelope marking the test flight of the Grumman Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA). Commemorative Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs", "L. D. Blackshear", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $234.00
$260.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS and JOE H. ENGLE S. David Griggs and Joe Engle sign a philatelic envelope honoring the Grumman Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA). Philatelic Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs" and "Joe Engle", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $270.00
$300.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS and MARGARET RHEA SEDDON S. David Griggs and Margaret Rhea Seddon sign a philatelic envelope honoring the Space Shuttle Event at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Philatelic Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs" and "Rhea Seddon", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $234.00
$260.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS and VANCE BRAND Both sign this commemorative envelope honoring the Grumman Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) Commemorative Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs" and "Vance Brand" 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $432.00
$480.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS and VANCE BRAND The two astronauts sign this commemorative envelope honoring the Grumman Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) Commemorative Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs" and "V. Brand" 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $432.00
$480.00
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S. DAVID GRIGGS S. David Griggs signs a philatelic envelope honoring the Viking missions to Mars. Philatelic Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs", 6½x3¾. Honoring the Viking missions to Mars, postmarked Hampton, Virginia, July 20, 1978. S. read more...
Sale Price $552.50
$650.00
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GORDON FULLERTON and S. DAVID GRIGGS Gordon Fullerton and S. David Griggs sign a philatelic envelope honoring the Grumman Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA). Philatelic Envelope signed: "Gordon Fullerton" and "S.D. Griggs", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $270.00
$300.00
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ASTRONAUTS-IN-TRAINING Three astronauts in training sign a philatelic envelope honoring the Grumman Gulfstream II. Philatelic Envelope signed: "Karol J. Bobko/Shuttle Astronaut", "S.D. Griggs" and "Harley Weyer", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $270.00
$300.00
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ASTRONAUTS-IN-TRAINING Three astronauts in training sign a philatelic envelope honoring the Grumman Gulfstream II. Philatelic Envelope signed: "S.D. Griggs", "Bob Overmyer" and "Harley Weyer", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $324.00
$360.00
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KEN MATTINGLY, HARLEY WEYER and DAVID GRIGGS Ken Mattingly, Haley Weyer and David Griggs sign a philatelic envelope honoring the Grumman Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA). Philatelic Envelope signed: "Ken Mattingly", "S.D. Griggs" and "Harley Weyer", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $306.00
$340.00
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SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY: STS-51D MISSION Commemorative Envelope signed by all 7 crew members: Bobko, Williams, Seddon, Griggs, Hoffman, Walker and (Senator) Garn Commemorative Envelope signed: "Taylor Wang", "Eugene H. Trinh", "Ludwing van Den Berg", 6½x3½. read more...
Sale Price $450.00
$500.00