From B-17 bombing runs over Europe in World War II to scientific discoveries aboard NASA space shuttle missions, former astronaut Dr. Jan Davis chronicles two transformative eras in American aviation history from a personal perspective in her book “Air Born: Two Generations in Flight.”
Davis will share “Air Born” stories during an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) super bonus program on Friday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to noon in Room 112 of the Student Services Building at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). The event is open to the public free of charge. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System.
“OLLI is proud to offer this great event to the public,” said Clay Williams, OLLI at UAH program manager. “It serves as an example of the wonderful programming that OLLI produces for its members as we celebrate the motto of ‘Never Stop Learning’.”
Before Davis became a NASA astronaut in June 1987, she received two degrees from UAH, a master’s in 1983 and a doctorate in 1985, both in mechanical engineering. She went on to log more than 673 hours in space on three shuttle flights as mission specialist for STS-47 in 1992 and STS-60 in 1994 and as payload commander for STS-85 in 1997.
Her father, Ben Smotherman, was a B-17 pilot in World War II. He was shot down over The Netherlands in July 1943 and endured 21 months as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III. While reading her father’s Wartime Log, Davis discovered echoes between his combat experiences and her own experiences and emotions during shuttle launches and space travel.
OLLI at UAH, a vibrant community of lifelong learners age 50-plus, gives members the opportunity to stay intellectually and socially active through courses, special activities and bonus lectures. Courses, offered in-person and online, cover various topics designed to enhance knowledge and skills.
For more information on OLLI at UAH, visit uah.edu/library/olli.