John A. Powers
| John A. Powers | |
|---|---|
1962 NASA portrait
|
|
| Birth name | John Anthony Powers |
| Nickname(s) | Shorty Powers |
| Born |
August 22, 1922 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | December 31, 1979 (aged 57) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Buried at | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch |
 U.S. Air Force
|
| Rank |
 Lieutenant colonel
|
| Unit |
349th Troop Carrier Group (WWII) 13th Bombardment Squadron (Korean War) |
| Awards |
Bronze Star Air Medal Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Other work | Project Mercury public affairs officer |
John Anthony Powers (August 22, 1922 – December 31, 1979), better known as Shorty Powers, was an American public affairs officer for NASA from 1959 to 1963 during Project Mercury. A U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and war veteran, he was known as the "voice of the astronauts," the "voice of Mercury Control," and the "eighth astronaut." He received his nickname for his 5-foot, 6-inch (1.68 m) height.
Powers was born August 22, 1922, to first generation Welsh immigrant parents in Toledo, Ohio. Powers father's last name was actually Power, however, upon signing the immigration documents, Power became Powers. When Powers was an infant his family moved to Downers Grove, Illinois where he was a cheerleader at Downers Grove North High School, from which he graduated in 1941. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and became a C-46 and C-47 pilot with the 349th Troop Carrier Group. He was one of six pilots who volunteered to learn the technique of snatching fully loaded troop gliders off the ground, and spent the end of World War II ferrying gasoline in cargo planes to Gen. George Patton's command in Germany.
Powers left the service in January 1947; but was recalled to active duty in December 1948 and flew as part of the Berlin Airlift, making 185 round-trip flights. He later volunteered for the Korean War. He flew 55 night missions in B-26 bombers with the 13th Bombardment Squadron and received the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross and a combat promotion to Major.
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