Fred Haise

Location Description

Just west of the intersection of I-110 and US-90. The statue and monument are in the parking lot opposite the Biloxi Lighthouse, on the south side of US-90/Beach Blvd

Bio

“Fred Haise was an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer born on November 14, 1933, in Biloxi, Mississippi. He is best known for his role as the Lunar Module Pilot on the Apollo 13 mission, which was the third manned mission to land on the moon.

Haise began his career as a test pilot in the United States Air Force, and he went on to work as an engineer and research pilot for several aerospace companies. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1966, and he flew on several missions as a member of the Apollo program.

Haise is most famous for his role on the Apollo 13 mission, which was one of the most dramatic and tense moments in the history of space exploration. When an explosion in one of the oxygen tanks severely damaged the spacecraft, Haise and the other astronauts were forced to abandon their plans to land on the moon and instead focused on making it back to Earth safely.

Haise retired from NASA in 1979 and went on to work in private industry. He is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and experienced astronauts in history, and he continues to be a respected and influential figure in the field of space exploration.

Fred Haise’s legacy is one of bravery, dedication, and determination in the face of adversity. He is remembered as a pioneering figure in the history of space exploration, and his contributions to the field continue to inspire future generations of astronauts and space enthusiasts.”

Monument Description

Fred’s hometown, Biloxi, had planned to unveil a statue of him in his moon suit on the 50th anniversary of his only spaceflight. However, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the sculptor’s illness. The statue’s Saturn V base was further damaged by Hurricane Zeta in 2020, causing further delays. Despite these setbacks, Biloxi refused to give up, and on April 13, 2022, the statue was finally dedicated, with Fred himself as the honored guest at the unveiling.

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