There he flew experimental aircraft and conducted aeromedical research. He flew P-51 fighters in Germany until 1953, when he joined the Air Force Missile Development Center. He entered the Air Force through the aviation cadet program at age 21, earning his wings in 1950. Kittinger was born in Tampa, Fla., in July 1928. (U.S.His records stood for 52 years until 2012, when he helped daredevil Felix Baumgartner break most of them. The red, white and blue striped ribbon represents the Distinguished Flying Cross. Captain Kittinger is wearing the wings of an Air Force Senior Pilot and an Air Force Basic Parachutist Badge. They spent 11 months at the infamous Hanoi Hilton. He is credited with shooting down a MiG 21 fighter.Īlmost to the end of his third combat tour, Lieutenant Colonel Kittinger was himself shot down and and he and his Weapons System Officer were captured. After two tours flying the Douglas B-26K Invader, he transitioned to the McDonnell F-4D Phantom II and returned to Southeast Asia for a voluntary third tour with the famed 555th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (“The Triple Nickel”). Air Force)Īfter returning to operations, Kittinger flew 483 combat missions in three tours during the Vietnam War. The helicopter in the background is a Piasecki H-21. A recovery team assists Captain Kittinger after his 102,800-foot parachute jump, 16 August 1960. Joseph Kittinger had previously worked on Project Man High, and would go on to a third high altitude balloon project, Stargazer. For this accomplishment, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (his second) and the Harmon Trophy. The total duration of Kittinger’s descent was 13 minutes, 45 seconds. Joe Kittinger nears the ground after a nearly 14-minute descent. His 28-foot (8.5 meter) diameter main parachute opened at 17,500 feet (5,334 meters) and he touched the ground 9 minutes, 9 seconds later. During the free fall descent, he trailed a small drogue parachute for stabilization. (-70 ☌.) Captain Kittinger free-fell for 4 minutes, 36 seconds, and reached a speed of 614 miles per hour (988 kilometers per hour). He breathed a combination of 60% oxygen, 20% nitrogen and 20% helium. During the 1 hour, 31 minute ascent, the pressure seal of Kittinger’s right glove failed, allowing his hand to painfully swell with the decreasing atmospheric pressure. Over this was a coverall garment to keep the pressure suit’s lacings and capstans from catching on anything as he jumped from the balloon gondola. MC-3A capstan-type partial-pressure suit and MA-3 helmet. Air Force)įor protection at the extreme high altitude-above 99% of the atmosphere-Joe Kittinger wore a modified David Clark Co. This was his third balloon ascent and high altitude parachute jump during Project Excelsior, a series of experiments to investigate the effects of high altitude bailouts. Air Force, stepped out of a balloon gondola, 102,800 feet (31,333 meters, 19.47 miles) above the Tularosa Valley, New Mexico. Air Force)ġ6 August 1960: At 7:12 a.m., Captain Joseph William (“Red”) Kittinger II, U.S. Captain Kittinger steps out of the Excelsior III gondola, 102,800 feet (31,333 meters) above the Earth, 7:12 a.m., 16 August 1960.
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