Apollo 1 Audio - 27 January, 1967

Apollo 1 (AS-204) was scheduled to be the first manned flight of the Apollo program. On 27th January 1967, a fire broke out during a test which killed astronauts Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee.
This is the audio leading up to and including the fire.
Apollo 1 is a vital part of the history of manned spaceflight. The deaths of Grissom, White and Chaffee should never be forgotten.
The Challenger and Columbia disasters are probably more well known due to the news coverage they received.
This video is to remind people of the sacrifice made by three astronauts, who are maybe less known to most people, but made a priceless contribution to the Apollo program. This led to man being successful in walking on the Moon. History should be preserved for the public, and true heroes always remembered.

[NxDoyle]

Time may inch away from this event, but you're not forgotten, gentlemen.

[HeliosEusebio]

28:44 "How are we gonna get to the Moon if we can't talk between three buildings?"

Classic Gus. Almost fitting for those to be his last words.

[silvereagle]

Unfortunate that it took something like this to make those ships safe. Thank you Apollo 1, Challenger, Columbia.

[chasekaplan]

It's real cool of you to have taken the time to upload this and to have shown detailed descriptions in real time. Hearing the shouts and screams are truly haunting. I wish something so horrible would have never happened; however I suppose a monumental stuff up would have happened sooner or later. Brave men

[roberthorwat]

Stopped listening after 20 minutes. It's hard to imagine anything more poignant than this transcription, which I am extremely grateful to you for the time and effort you put in to creating this. It is truly a great tribute. Not sure I can listen to the rest. As someone said, every engineer should listen to this. Rest in peace Grissom, White and Chaffee.

[tomlavelle]

I’m 54 years old. I took a big step today in growing up finally. I’ve known of this audio for 6 months, and could never nerve myself up to listen to it. I just did now. I think it’s a testament to the crews bravery that they kept as calm as they did. Wasn’t as bad to hear as I thought, forgive me guys. But I don’t understand the part about not being in real time, I thought it was 18 sec. between first mayday and final transmission, was some of this cut out? I’m glad I finally heard it, though. I can stop wondering about it. Again, so brave a crew. I’da been screaming my bloody head off. The difference between real men & the rest of us! Rest In Peace.

[truefailure]

A part of my brain, perhaps the desensitized part, tries not to think about it, brush it away as the past, or something fictional. But... The other part of my brain acknowledges those are the screams of men who died in pain, panic and flames.

... I don't even know what else to say on the matter, as anything I could say would be inadequate in attempting to understand what that moment was like for those men, how they felt both physically and emotionally, and only my imagination can fill in the blanks.

But... What my imagination comes up with is quite terrifying... And it's a good thing I can still feel the sorrow and compassion I do for these fallen heroes.

Rest In Peace gentlemen. May your sacrifice not ever be forgotten.

[That_Random_Bloke]

Not just American heroes, but heroes who everyone around the world can look up to and mourn. RIP gentlemen 🇺🇸

[timmy]

Chaffee's screams at the end were blood curdling. 😭😭😭 RIP to the crew of Apollo 1.

[diamond]

I heard about this in social studies. Didn’t hear the audio but now, it’s terrifying. I don’t think I’ll forget those screams.

[StephenLuke]

RIP
Gus Grissom
(1926-1967)
Ed White
(1930-1967)
and
Roger B. Chaffee
(1935-1967)

[Rose-snrj]

I was reading "A Man on The Moon" and read the part about the Apollo 1 crew and I was just curious as to whether or not they had it on tape and unfortunately my curiosity got the best of me. Although incredibly emotional and tragic, I think it's important to hear this. Those brave men deserve to be remembered

[alannewman]

rip gus ed and roger 50 years ago today

[curtc]

Brought tears to my eyes...RIP brave explorers

[chynnadoll]

I hope and pray they passed quickly. 😢😔😔🙏🙏🙏. Those brave, brave men.

[altfactor]

News of this disaster didn't reach the news services for almost two hours.

I seem to recall that ABC, CBS, and NBC television all broke into regular programming with several bulletins between 8:30 and 9 P.M. Eastern time, and all ran "instant specials" from 9 to 9:30 P.M. Eastern time, pushing back the rest of their prime-time schedules back by a half hour.

The CBS instant special is on You Tube; Walter Cronkite didn't appear until near the end.

Supposedly, after the "Evening News" that night, Cronkite took his family out to dinner, was found by a CBS News product at a restaurant, and was driven to the studio in time to briefly appear before the special ended at 9:30 P.M. EST.

[AIRL-asteroid]

They were the best of the best. A tragedy that still haunts us all.

[ryanking]

"WE HAVE A BAD FIRE..."

"WE'RE BURNING UP..!!! AHH-"

*We "watch" as heroes die in a one of the worst ways possible...*

[RayRay-mjpn]

I was there on 34. I seen the sign with the names of these brave men. By the VAB. Grissom was one of my heroes as astronauts go. Despite their deaths the moon landings still happened as Im sure they wanted. Yet, it makes me sad when others say it was all a lie. That it never happened. Makes me think of Grissom and others who gave their lives for peace and exploration and those who wish to mock and discredit their scarifice for humanity. What has humanity become?

[luigipopdrop]

I know astronauts should be calm, but they were too calm.