Index

Aase, Carl, 72, 79

aero-space medicine, 187

aircraft:

B⁠-17, 107

B⁠-25, 206

B⁠-29, 48-50, 125, 127, 147, 171, 176, 201, 203

B⁠-36, 222, 264

B⁠-45, 30

B⁠-47, 20, 25, 216

B⁠-50, 146, 147, 151, 152

B⁠-52, 264-265, 299, 301, 310, 316, 322, 331, 335, 352, 358, 377, 392

B⁠-58, 215, 367

B⁠-70, 293, 295, 357, 373, 397

“Banshee” (McDonnell’s F2H), 25, 299

Boeing’s Clipper, 76

Boeing’s 707, 20

British Comet Jet airliner, 235

C⁠-3 Cub, 66

Convair’s 880, 297

Curtiss Robin, 74

DC⁠-6, 139

DC⁠-8, 297

DeHavilland Swallows, 33

Douglas D⁠-558⁠-II “Skyrocket,” 34, 46, 135, 139, 145, 149, 157, 158, 171, 177, 198, 212, 216, 223, 231, 241, 285

Douglas D⁠-558, “Skystreak,” 47

Douglas D⁠-558⁠-I “Skystreak,” 33, 39, 47, 135, 159, 216

Eagle Rock, 64, 66

F4H, 287

F4U, 109, 110, 111

F6F, 104, 109

F8U, 287

F9F, 216

F11F, 287

F⁠-80, 25

F⁠-84, 25, 39

F⁠-84⁠-F, 193, 195, 216

F⁠-86, 25, 193-194, 206, 216, 220, 233, 299

F⁠-100, 45, 186, 194-198, 206, 221, 231, 289, 299, 341

F⁠-101, 45, 186

F⁠-102, 45, 167, 193, 216

F⁠-104, 45, 185, 278, 300, 304, 341, 372, 381

F⁠-105, 186, 215, 297

F⁠-106, 167, 297

F⁠-107, 215, 297, 299

F⁠-108, 206, 293, 295, 357

“Glamorous Glennis,” 31, 127, 145

Hiller Helicopter, 216

Howard “Ike,” “Mike,” and “Pete,” 65

Howard “Mr. Mulligan,” 65, 75

Lancaster (British), 70

N3N (“Yellow Peril”), 90

P⁠-51, 206, 241

R⁠-4⁠-D, 107

T⁠-39, 299, 374

Travelair “Mystery Ship,” 65, 66

U⁠-2, 275

Weddell-Williams “Special,” 65

X⁠-1, 21-23, 26, 28, 31, 33, 47-58, 119, 125, 126, 128, 135, 137, 139, 158, 198, 223, 228, 237, 293, 311

X⁠-1⁠-A, 137, 138, 145, 159, 162, 180, 184, 200-205, 238, 286, 293, 299, 368, 381, 391

X⁠-1⁠-B, 137, 145, 148, 185, 201, 204, 212, 224, 286

X⁠-1⁠-C, 137, 145

X⁠-1⁠-D, 137, 145, 146, 159, 201, 381

X⁠-1⁠-E, 185, 204, 208, 211, 286

X⁠-1-3 (“Queenie”), 145, 147, 148, 201, 350, 381

X⁠-2, 34-35, 135, 137, 139, 149, 150-153, 157, 165, 185, 201-207, 228, 231, 238, 247, 275, 286, 293, 343, 371, 381, 396

X⁠-3, 34, 141, 148-149, 152, 165, 198, 286, 293, 396

X⁠-4, 32-33, 38-44, 47, 135, 158, 198, 278, 286

X⁠-5, 34, 154-155, 158, 198, 216, 286

X⁠-15, 35, 49, 158, 165, 186, 187-189, 204, 207-208, 212, 216, 220, 222, 227, 231, 245, 249, 251, 264, 268, 272, 277, 282, 286, 290, 295, 299, 300, 304, 310, 322, 325, 338, 343, 358, 377, 389, 392, 401, 405, 409

X⁠-15 Number 2, 346, 350

X⁠-15 Number 3, 407

X⁠-15B, 279, 280-283, 287, 295, 318

XF⁠-85, 299

XF⁠-92A, 148, 165, 167, 193, 216, 278

YF⁠-84, 216, 276

Allavie, Capt John E. (“Jack”), 266, 314, 325, 328, 335, 367 ff., 371, 376, 394

Allen, Edward (“Eddie”), 23, 27, 76, 373

Ames, NACA laboratory, 26, 29, 35, 156

Ankenbruk, Herman O., 174, 175, 177

Apt, Capt. Milburn (“Mel”), 213-214, 215-216, 247, 270, 367, 389, 396

Army’s Ballistic Missile Agency, Huntsville, Ala., 374

Atwood, J. Lee, 209-212

auxiliary power unit (APU), 310-312

Babb, Harold, 60

Baker, Joel R. (“Bob”), Jr., 210

ballistic-missile nose, 224

Barker, Peter R. (“Pete”), 314, 315, 328 ff.

Barnes, Francis Lowe (“Pancho”), 29, 40, 65, 215

Beach, Melvin L. (“Mel”), 309, 326

Beal, Arthur, 78, 81, 84

Bell (aircraft company), 21-23, 31, 34, 127, 137, 146, 149, 153, 201, 204

Benner, Roland R. (“Bud”), 226, 349, 356

Berkowitz, Harry W. (“Bill”), 300, 314, 352, 359, 360, 367

Bikle, Paul, 298, 390

Blossom, Mrs. (author’s sixth grade teacher), 72

Bock, Capt. Charles, 266, 314, 315, 316, 320 ff., 328, 329, 331 ff., 338, 339, 340, 352, 355, 360, 361, 367, 394

Boeing (aircraft company), 20-21, 82, 85, 88, 287

Bonney, Walter, 169, 170, 178

Boyd, Col. Albert, 31, 40, 41, 146, 165, 190

Braun, Wernher von, 374, 377

Bridgeman, William B. (“Bill”), 34, 46, 48-49, 52, 139, 148, 159, 210, 216, 238

Brown, Claude (brother-in-law), 36

Brown, Clinton, 163

Brown, Elena Ruth (“Babe”)—sister, 36, 62, 78, 102

Brown, Louise, 56

Bryan, John C. (“Jack”), 210

Buchanan, G. A., 84, 85

Butchart, Stanley P. (“Stan”), 175, 176, 193, 200 ff.

Butler, Capt. Francis M., 190

Caldwell, Comdr. Turner F., Jr., 47

Canary, John O. (“Jack”), 221

Cannon, Joseph A. (“Joe”), 147, 148, 299

“captive” fuel tests, 152

Carl, Maj. Marion, 47, 159, 216, 241, 287

Carmen, L. Robert, 35, 142, 157, 226, 293-294

Carpenter, Brig. Gen. John W., 297

Century Series supersonic fighters, 45, 136, 185

Champine, Robert S. (“Bob”), 30, 128

Civilian Pilot Training (CPT), 84

Clark, Dr. David M., 239-240, 242, 243, 253 ff.

Clark, Mrs. (author’s first grade teacher), 72

Clousing, Laurence, 27

Cokely, E. R. (“Ed”), 298-299

Colvin, Lou, 111, 112

commercial jet airliner (U. S.), see Boeing 707

Cooper, Brig. Gen. Marcus, 297

cosmic radiation, 164, 187

Crossfield’s family:

Albert Scott (father), 56, 407;

Alice (wife), 22, 28-29, 37, 96, 102, 120, 285;

Amasa Scott (grandfather), 56;

Becky (daughter), 37, 121;

Lucia (mother), 55;

Mary Ann (sister), 62, 80;

Tommy (son), 37

See also Elena Ruth Brown

Crow, Sgt. Herbert G., 314

Doolittle, James H. (“Jimmy”), 23, 76, 152, 186

Douglas (aircraft company), 34, 186, 204

Drake, Hubert M., 35, 142, 157, 226

Drakeford, Sir Arthur, 57

Drakeford, Peter A., 57

Drakeford, Ruth, 57

“Dry lakes,” 42, 44, 282;

Cuddeback Dry Lake, 42, 380;

Harper Dry Lake, 43;

Rogers Dry Lake, 42, 52, 129, 151, 223, 301, 321, 340;

Rosamond Dry Lake, 43, 338, 355, 380;

Three Sisters Dry Lakes, 43, 380

Dryden, Dr. Hugh, 152, 153, 159, 161, 168, 179, 188, 206, 283

Durrup, Lt. Paul, 237, 238

Dwyer, Bessie, 57

Dwyer, Thomas Aloysius, 54

Dwyer, Thomas Aloysius, Jr., 55

Earhart, Amelia, 65

Edwards (desert test center), Calif., 28

ejection seat, 230, 233, 259, 260

Elkin, Hugh, 222, 396

Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 319, 409

“escape capsule,” 230-232

Everest, Maj. Frank K. (“Pete”), 31, 32, 40, 42-43, 127, 146, 147, 165, 180, 184, 190, 201, 204, 207, 210, 213, 214, 216, 237-238, 367, 371, 389, 396

Everest, Frank K., The Fastest Man Alive, 146

“extra-atmospheric” flight, 164

Feltz, Charles, 220-222, 225, 226 ff., 244, 251, 260, 261, 262 ff., 267-270, 275 ff., 284, 289, 290, 292 ff., 303, 307 ff., 316, 326, 333, 336, 342, 349, 356, 359, 364, 365, 371, 385, 391, 395, 406

Ferren, Roy, 380, 382

Finch, Thomas, 154

Flagg, John, 255, 256, 257

Flateboe, Comdr. William, 111, 112

Flickinger, Brig. Gen. Don, 258, 267, 268, 277, 282, 283

Fohl, Simon S. (“Si”), 309-310

“forced eating” methods, 277

Freedman, Toby, 301, 383-384

Freeman, Oscar, 315, 328

Fulton, Fitzhugh, 49, 51-52, 367, 368, 394

Gahl, Capt. Edward C., 266

Gallanes, Harry, 400-401

Gates, Thomas S., Secretary of Defense, 396

Gibb, John, 349, 353, 356

Givens, Capt. Vergil C., 176

Glennan, Dr. T. Keith, 283

Goodlin, Chalmers (“Slick”), 21, 23, 30

Goodrich Tire and Rubber Company, 237

Gravity, positive (positive G), 129

Gregorious, Capt. John, 190

Griffith, John, 28, 29, 31, 39, 126

Grumman (aircraft company), 76

Harper, John, 30

Harvey, Quinton C. (“Q.C.”), 147, 299 ff., 308, 316, 322, 324, 328-329, 335-336, 339, 342, 346, 349, 355, 356, 359, 360, 365, 368, 371, 373, 376 ff., 386, 389, 401, 403, 407

Helsell, William A. (“Bill”), 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117

Henry, Dr. James P., 237

High Speed Flight Station, NACA, Edwards, 30, 191, 298

Hoffmann, “Bogie,” 94

Holguin, Paula, 55

Holtoner, Gen. Stanley, 190, 297

Hoover, Herbert R., 30, 31

Hoover, Robert A. (“Bob”), 196

Howard, Ben O. (“Benny”), 65, 75

Humphries, Mrs. (author’s fourth grade teacher), 72

Inconel X, 224, 229, 262, 290, 320, 343

International Harvester Company, 245

International Geophysical Year, 267

International Livestock Show, Chicago, 78

Jansen, George, 48, 50, 140

JATO, 47-48, 139

Jingle, Joe, 351

Johnson, Louis, Secretary of Defense, 45

Johnson, Col. Richard, 40

Johnston, E. W. (“Bill”), 248

Johnsville Centrifuge, 271-272

Jones, Harold, 81

Jones, Walter P., 126

Kincheloe, Iven, 213-214, 216, 286, 304-305, 367, 396

Kindelberger, J. H. (“Dutch”), 210

Kingsville Naval Air Station, 93

Kirsten, Professor Frank K., 19

Kotcher, Ezra, 26, 158

Konrad, John, 49, 52

Korean War, 25, 45

Laird, Norman, 66

Lamb, Comdr. William, 104, 105

Langley, NACA laboratory, 26, 30, 32, 157, 283

Lathrop, Neil T., 190

Lauffer, Brian, 383

Lawrence Sperry Award, 210

Layne, Eddie, 46

LeBlonde (French mfg. company), 79

Le May, Gen. Curtis, 266

Le Vier, Anthony W. (“Tony”), 186

Lewshon, William T., 152

Lienesch, Charles (“Carl”), 64, 66, 76, 80

Lilly, Howard C., 30, 33, 47

Lindbergh, Charles A., 21, 24, 75

Lox (liquid oxygen), 160, 172, 201

Lunn, Rose E., 265

Mach number, 16, 33-34, 39, 48, 129, 137, 143, 158, 171-172, 177-178, 183, 186, 247, 269, 362, 371, 391, 395

Marshall, Gen. George C., 45

Martin, Ernest (“Ernie”), 242

Martin, John, 48

May, Gene, 33, 34, 48

McDonnell (aircraft company), 20, 283

McKay, John B. (“Jack”), 193, 201-202, 224

McNulty, Vaughn, 66

Meade, Mrs. (author’s second grade teacher), 72

Mellinger, George, 373

Mercury Astronauts, 243, 283

MIS (Man in Space) program, 267, 268, 277, 282

missiles:

Bomarc, 356;

medium- and long-range (Thor, Jupiter, Atlas, Titan), 27, 156, 187, 206, 228, 269;

Nike, 356;

Navaho, 268-269, 279, 281;

Redstone, 157, 399;

Regulus, 215;

surface-to-surface (Atlas, Titan, Polaris), 357, 404;

Vanguard, 399;

V⁠-2, 156

Moise, John W. (“Jack”), 173, 368

Murphy’s Law, 352, 368, 404

Murray, Maj. Arthur (“Kit”), 181, 182, 184, 201, 202-203, 207, 216, 241, 299, 367, 391

NACA High Speed Flight Station, 30, 191, 298

NACA testing laboratories:

Ames, Calif. (Moffett Field, near San Francisco), 26;

Lewis, Cleveland, Ohio, 26;

Langley, Hampton, Va., 26, 30, 32, 157, 283

National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), 26-28, 30-33, 38, 40, 45, 65, 136, 141, 152

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 283, 287

Nautilus submarine, 269

Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, 105, 159

Naval Air Training Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, 91

Naval Air Training Center, Jacksonville, Florida, 99

Navy Aero-medical Acceleration Laboratory, Johnsville, Pa., 272

Newman, James (“Jim”), 172, 176

Nixon, Richard M., 303

North American Aviation, Inc., 204, 209, 247, 268, 312, 318, 334

Northrop, John K. (“Jack”), 40

“Nose Wheel Club,” 132

O’Sullivan, William J., 163

Owl, George A., Jr., 221, 229

Paymiller, Mrs. (author’s fifth-grade teacher), 63, 72

Payne, Richard E. (“Dick”), 128

Pearl Harbor, 86, 93, 247

Perkins, Oliver R. (“Perk”), 167, 168

Petersen, Lt. Comdr. Forrest S., (“Pete”), 287

“Phase Two” airplanes, 47

Popson, Maj. Raymond A., 155, 190

Post, Wiley, 237

Press-Telegram, newspaper of Long Beach, Calif., 66

pressure suit and equipment, 236-239, 240-242, 253, 258

“pressurized” cabin, 235

Project Mercury, 158, 283, 287

Puckett, Elvin V., 84

radiation disease, 274

Reaction Motors, Inc., 223

Reed, Elden, 78, 81, 84

Republic (aircraft corporation), 204, 205

reserve squadron VF⁠-74, 109, 113-114, 118

Rice, Ray, 212, 246

Richardson, Capt. Ralph N., 314, 326, 334, 344, 373, 390

Richter, Donald M. (“Sam”), 300, 301, 309, 316, 331, 342, 363, 364, 365, 366, 379, 384, 386-387

Ridley, Capt. Jackie L. (“Jack”), 31, 127, 130, 146, 181, 190

Robinson, Raun, 226

Robinson, Russell E. (“Robby”), 310-311, 313

rocket engines, 46

rocket engine XLR⁠-99, 223, 227, 233, 251, 281, 292-294, 301, 361, 399

Roosevelt, Theodore, 259

Rowan, Dr. E. J., 63

Russell, Jack, 160

Sand Point Naval Air Station, Seattle, Wash., 88

Satellites:

Dyna-Soar, 287;

Sputnik, 270, 280-283, 288, 302

Scott, Gen. Winfield, 56

Seeger, Oscar, 119, 123

Sellers, Capt. Wilbur (“Pete”), 125, 127, 190

“Semi-empirical Method of Obtaining Static and Dynamic Aerodynamic Parameters of Swept-back Wings Analyzed on a Basis of Plan Form,”—Crossfield’s master’s thesis, 122

Semone, Arthur (“Art”), 403

Sigma Xi, 121

Simons, Maj. David, 275

Smith, boot ensign, 104

Smith, George, 230-231

Smithsonian Institution, 31

sonic barrier, 23, 28, 30, 31, 47

Soucek, Rear Adm. Apollo, 168

Soule, Hartley, 26

“space suit,” 242

Sparks, Ralph (“Sparky”), 38, 40

speed of sound, 16, 21, 26

stability augmentation system (SAS), 193, 339

Stack, John, 26, 157

Stanley, Robert, 127, 137, 152

Stapp, Col. John Paul, 259

Staub, Blake, 313, 339

Storms, Harrison (“Stormy”), 205, 246-250, 252, 262, 267-270, 280 ff., 293, 311, 316, 326, 327, 330 ff., 342, 344, 349, 356, 359, 374, 375, 378, 384, 386, 393, 406

Strategic Air Command, 20, 21

“supersonic yaw,” 142, 160

Taft, William Howard, 57

“tail chase,” 95

Tau Beta Pi, 121

Taylor, James, 76, 373

Thach, Capt. John (“Jimmy”), 94

Thomas, Mrs. (author’s third grade teacher), 72

Thompson, Capt. Allen W., 190

Tucker, Charles E., 40

Turner, Roscoe, 65

twenty-mule teams, 29

Tymczyszyn, Joseph J., 20, 21, 121

Union Oil Refinery, Wilmington, Calif., 58, 76

University of Nebraska, 81

University of Washington, 19, 20, 80-81, 111, 119

Van Allen radiation belt, 275

Vensel, Joseph R. (“Joe”), 30, 31, 39, 44, 126, 153, 193, 198, 202, 203

Walker, Joseph A. (“Joe”), 126, 149, 154, 193, 200, 202, 286, 354, 359, 363, 368, 371, 372, 392-393, 405, 406

Walko, Frank, 152

Wallin, Mrs. (author’s kindergarten teacher), 72

Wedell, James (“Jimmy”), 65

weightlessness (zero G), 129, 164, 187, 276

Welch, George, 194

Weldon, Lt. Comdr. Harry, 238, 239, 241

White, Maj. Robert, 286, 305, 340, 354, 359, 364, 371, 381-383, 392, 397, 405, 406

Williams, Esther, 179

Williams, Walter C. (“Walt”), 28, 30-31, 38-39, 44, 52, 126, 138, 149, 153, 162, 169, 178, 199, 206-208, 213, 250, 251, 298, 305, 408

Wilrich, Louise, 78, 81, 84

Wilson, Charles E., Secretary of Defense, 270

Wilson, Woodrow, 26

wind-tunnel tests and data, 20, 33, 120, 163, 186, 211, 231, 248

wings:

cantilever, 19, 20;

delta, 32;

straight, 32;

swept, 32

Wolfe, Maj. Joseph E., 190

Woods, Robert, 26, 156, 157, 158

Yeager, Capt. Charles (“Chuck”), 23, 28, 32, 40-41, 47, 104, 125, 138, 149, 159, 162, 165, 180, 181, 198, 201, 207, 210, 215, 216, 221, 276, 299, 342, 367, 371

York, Sergeant, 104

Young, William (“Bill”), 78, 81, 84, 409

Ziegler, Jean L. (“Skip”), 146, 149, 151-152, 204, 299

Zimmerman, Charles H., 163

This book was set in

Futura and Caledonia types by

Harry Sweetman Typesetting Corp.

It was printed and bound at

the press of The World Publishing Company.

Typography and design are by Larry Kamp.