Les Schneider
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| Birthdate | December 13, 1939 |
| Hometown | Woodstock, New York |
| Education | U.S. Air Force Academy |
| Medals | Distinguished Flying Cross |
[edit] Background
Leslie (Les) George Schneider, born December 13, 1939, grew up in Woodstock, New York. He and his younger brother Wayne Schneider were raised by their grandmother. He attended New Dorp High School, which added him to their Hall of Fame, from 1953 to 1957 and attended the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO from 1957 to 1961. Shortly thereafter he began his tour of duty in Vietnam as the captain of search and rescue missions using DC-4 and C-130 Hercules Aircraft.
Following Vietnam, Les began as a flight engineer for Trans World Airlines (TWA). He then transferred to Saudia Airlines and spent seven years there where he learned arabic and earned his gemologists degree. Upon return to the United States, he flew for TWA until his retirement in 1996 as a DC-9 Captain.
[edit] Gemini 8
Les Schneider's most significant achievement occurred on March 16th, 1966. He and his 10-man searescue crew aboard Naha Rescue One (a DC-4 aircraft) were on emergency alert to rescue the Gemini 8 capsule containing Neil Armstrong and Maj. David Scott in case of an emergency re-entry.
Mechanical problems forced Armstrong to do just that, perform an emergency re-entry into the East China Sea. Captain Schneider and his crew sprung into action and performed a flawless, textbook rescue. Each of the men aboard the plane executed his assignment precisely.
Although not as well known as the Apollo 13 crash and rescue, the rescue performed by this crew proved to have great importance since it was Mr. Armstrong who would be the one to step onto the moon.
