Commander Edward Straker
Born:
January 14, 1938, Boston, Massachusetts
Father:
Barrett Anthony Straker (Deceased)
Mother:
Charlene A. (Massie) Straker (Deceased)
Current Posting:
Commander in Chief SHADO Operations
1955-1959:
Attended UMASS as an ROTC candidate and graduated with a degree in astrophysics.
1959:
Commissioned a Second Lieutenant - (age 21)
Assigned as a missile launch officer as a first assignment from ROTC.
1960:
First Lieutenant - (age 22)
1961:
Pilot training (49 weeks) Edwards AFB (age 23) Completes pilot training and receives first assignment and goes through follow up training for his assigned aircraft the F4.
1962:
Captain - (age 24)
1962 - 1964:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Masters degree in astrophysics, two years lunar research - (age 26)
1965:
Major - Test Pilot school, Edwards AFB - (age 27)
1966:
Volunteered for combat. Assigned to Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand - (age 28)
Captured by Viet Cong in late 1966.
Was injured and rescued (escaped) late 1967 by a Marine patrol.
1968:
Accelerated Naval Aviation tactics Newport Naval War College.
1968
Air Force Intelligence
1968:
Lieutenant Colonel - (age 30)
Early 1969:
Assigned as Aide to General James L. Henderson, Angel Project - Peterson AFB, & Pentagon - (age 31)
1970:
Straker promoted to Colonel - (age 32). Involved in Rolls Royce accident' that caused the death of the British Defense Minister who was meeting with Henderson and Straker.
April 1971:
Straker makes the presentation promoting SHADO to the United Nations Special Committee on Aerospace. He was subsequently given the job of Commander-in-Chief of Operations, United Nations International Astrophysical Commission Operational Unit known as SHADO. This assignment was at the insistence of the French delegate Duval and was given unanimous approval - (age 33)
Spends time getting SHADO set up and is selected for astronaut training somewhere in the 1972-1978 time frame. (This is an abbreviated version, with a few minor changes, of the biography found in the SHADO Library.)
Although the Commander has more airtime than any other character, he sparks quite a bit of debate in any discussion forum. Under the cold icy exterior lies a very complex man.
His back story has more onscreen canon than any of the other characters. We know from the series that he was married just before the UN gave approval to SHADO and the startup and construction ended up destroying the marriage. It is generally believed that Ed and Mary separated soon after their son was born.
In 1970 Straker was a full Colonel in the USAF and there has been much debate as to his age. Deb has him at 32 and I have gone with that as a basis for my work. He could not have been much younger that that as most full birds are in their mid to late thirties. Being promoted that young would indicate an exceptional military career.
Straker was an astronaut and therefore a test pilot as well. In “The Man Who Came Back” we learn that Straker and Collins had flown the mission to put SID in operation. He probably rode a Saturn V on the mission as it was the only booster (Even today) capable of mounting a mission to the SID parking orbit.
Fan Fiction writers have portrayed him in a wide range of relationships mostly with original characters. In my “Soul Mates” saga I explored a relationship with Virginia Lake. It was a new concept and it had only been hinted on in the FAB-UFO round robin “Feelings of Misgivings.” Being the first to tackle the concept was a treat. In my other storylines they are very close friends although they share an underlying attraction they never act on.
I see Ed Straker as a person that had walked through and survived hell that would have crushed a lesser man. I also saw him mellowing towards the end of the series and my stories reflect that trait.
His back story has more onscreen canon than any of the other characters. We know from the series that he was married just before the UN gave approval to SHADO and the startup and construction ended up destroying the marriage. It is generally believed that Ed and Mary separated soon after their son was born.
In 1970 Straker was a full Colonel in the USAF and there has been much debate as to his age. Deb has him at 32 and I have gone with that as a basis for my work. He could not have been much younger that that as most full birds are in their mid to late thirties. Being promoted that young would indicate an exceptional military career.
Straker was an astronaut and therefore a test pilot as well. In “The Man Who Came Back” we learn that Straker and Collins had flown the mission to put SID in operation. He probably rode a Saturn V on the mission as it was the only booster (Even today) capable of mounting a mission to the SID parking orbit.
Fan Fiction writers have portrayed him in a wide range of relationships mostly with original characters. In my “Soul Mates” saga I explored a relationship with Virginia Lake. It was a new concept and it had only been hinted on in the FAB-UFO round robin “Feelings of Misgivings.” Being the first to tackle the concept was a treat. In my other storylines they are very close friends although they share an underlying attraction they never act on.
I see Ed Straker as a person that had walked through and survived hell that would have crushed a lesser man. I also saw him mellowing towards the end of the series and my stories reflect that trait.
