H. H. Luetjen Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0687

Scope and Content

Photographs, artwork, commemoratives, and other materials related to H. H. Luetjen's work on the Mercury and Gemini space programs for McDonnell Douglas and NASA as well as historical collecting interests. The collection is organized into two series. Series 1 primarily contains official NASA produced photographs related to the Mercury and Gemini space programs and flights, especially those related to astronaut John Glenn, as well as artwork, commemoratives, posters, and an autobiography written by Luetjen about his life and work on the space program. Series 2 contains photographs and commemoratives of historical figures, aircraft, and events of interest to Luetjen.

Dates

Creation: 1933 - 2001
Creation: Majority of material found within 1960 - 1962

Creator

Luetjen, Hulen H. (Luge), 1925-2016. (Person)

Access

The collection is open for research.

Biographical/Historical Note

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Hulen H. “Luge” Luetjen was born on February 10, 1925 in Smithton, Missouri. After serving in the Army, he entered the University of Missouri-Rolla and graduated in 1950. Upon graduation he was commissioned an R and D officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He served on the faculty at UMR before joining McDonnell Aircraft as a structures engineer.

On February 10, 1952, he married Joan DeGraffenreid. He later married Marilynn Faulkner. He had two sons Ron Luetjen and Rob Luetjen.

After working on numerous fighter aircraft programs he joined the Advanced Design department to work on project Mercury, America's first manned space program. He opened the company office at Cape Canaveral, FL in September 1959 and was subsequently the company Test Conductor for the Mercury program, Chief Engineer for the Gemini program and Launch Operations Director for the Skylab program.

He also served on the committee investigating the Apollo fire in which Grissom, Chaffee and White were killed. He subsequently represented the company at the funeral of astronaut White. Before retiring in 1990 he was Program Director for several missile programs at the company's Titusville, FL facility, his last assignment being Ombudsman for all company personnel in Florida.

In 2002 he authored a book entitled "Before Mercury Rose – The Half Life of an Ex-Spaceman" which covered in detail his life before 1960 and an abbreviated history of the early manned space programs that follow. A second edition was published in 2004.

He was a member of numerous honorary and professional organizations, among them the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the National Space Society, and the Ombudsman Association.

He passed away in 2016.

Sources:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sedaliademocrat/name/h-h-luetjen-obituary?id=17880895

Extent

1.17 Linear Feet (4 Boxes, 1 Oversize Framed Item)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Location

Please note that a few oversized items from this collection are housed in the Auxiliary Library Facility off campus and will require advance notice for timely retrieval. Please contact the Special and Area Studies Collections department prior to your visit.