This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
Photograph was edited for publication purposes. Joseph A. Walker was born on February 20, 1921 in Washington, Pennsylvania. He was a pilot in World War II, an experimental physicist, a National Aeronautics and Space Administration test pilot and astronaut. He was one of the first of twelve pilots to fly the North American X-15, an experimental spaceplane operated by the Air Force and NASA. Walker died on June 8, 1966, when his F-104 Starfighter chase aircraft collided with a North American XB-70 Valkyrie. Photograph caption dated August 12, 1960 reads "Mrs. Joe Walker with sons, Tommy, Joey and Jimmy." Grace Walker is the wife of astronaut Joe Walker, the first person to fly to space twice. The family lives in Lancaster.
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