Background
Schirra, Walter Marty was born on March 12, 1923 in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States. Son of Walter Marty and Florence (Leach) Schirra.
Schirra, Walter Marty was born on March 12, 1923 in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States. Son of Walter Marty and Florence (Leach) Schirra.
Student, Newark College Engineering, 1940-1942; Bachelor of Science, United States Naval Academy, 1945; D. Astronautics (honorary), Lafayette College D. Astronautics (honorary), University Southern California D. Astronautics (honorary), New Jersey Institute Technology.
Commissioned ensign, United States Navy, 1945; advanced through grades to captain, United States Navy, 1965; designated naval aviator, 1948; service aboard battle cruiser, Alaska, 1945-1946; service with, 7th Fleet, 1946; assigned, Fighter Squadron 71, 1948-1951; exchange pilot, 154th United States Air Force Fighter Bomber Squadron, 1951; engaged in development Sidewinder missile, China Lake, California, 1952-1954; project pilot, F7U-3 Cutlass also instructor pilot, F7U-3 Cutlass and FJ3 Fury, 1954-1956; operations officer, Fighter Squadron 124, United States Ship Lexington, 1956-1957; assigned, Naval Air Safety Officer School, 1957; assigned, Naval Air Test Center, 1958-1959; engaged in suitability development work, F4H, 1958-1959; joined, Project Mercury, man-in-space, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1959; pilot spacecraft, Sigma 7 in 6 orbital flight, October 1962; in charge operations and training, Astronaut Office, 1964-1969; command pilot, Gemini 6 which made rendezvous with target, Gemini 7, December 1965; commander 11 day flight, Apollo 7, 1968 retired, 1969; president, Regency Investors, Inc., Denver, 1969-1970; chairman, chief Executive officer, ECCO Corporation, Englewood, Colorado, 1970-1973; chairman, Sernco, Inc., 1973-1974; with, Johns-Manville Corporation, Denver, 1974-1977; vice president development, Goodwin Companies, Inc., Littleton, Colorado, 1978-1979; independent consultant, 1979-1980. Director Kimberly Clark, 1983-1991.
Fellow American Astronautical Society, Society Experimental Test Pilots.
Married Josephine Cook Fraser, February 23, 1946. Children: Walter Marty III, Suzanne Karen.