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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 January 23, 1958 reads "Joe A. Walker, left, and Capt. Iven C. Kincheloe, right, will fly X-15 rocket ship better than one mile per second to an altitude of 100 miles next year at Edwards Air Force Base. Their only fear, they said at a press conference, is a repetition of the Vanguard episode."
Walker, Joseph A Kincheloe, Iven C United States.--Air Force--Officers Air pilots, Military Astronauts--United States Men Armed Forces--Officers Military uniforms Rocket planes--Models Edwards Air Force Base (Calif.)
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