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Iven Carl Kincheloe Jr.
American flying ace / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iven Carl "Kinch" Kincheloe Jr.[lower-alpha 1][2] (July 2, 1928 – July 26, 1958)[3][4] was an American pilot. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, in which he was recognized as a flying ace. He continued as a test pilot after the war, participating in the Bell X-2 program, in which he set an altitude record of 126,200 feet (38,470 m) in 1956. For this suborbital flight above most of the atmosphere, he became known as "The First Spaceman".[4][5][6] He was selected for the Air Force's program to put a man in space,[7] but was killed in a plane crash in 1958.
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Iven C. Kincheloe Jr. | |
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Born | Iven Carl Kincheloe Jr. (1928-07-02)July 2, 1928 |
Died | July 26, 1958(1958-07-26) (aged 30) Edwards Air Force Base, California, U.S. |
Cause of death | Air crash |
Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
Education | Purdue University, B.S. 1949 |
Known for | near-space altitude record |
Awards | Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Air Medal (4) |
Aviation career | |
Air force | ![]() |
Battles | Korean War |
Rank | ![]() |
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