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Robert Michael "Bob" White, 6 July 1924 to 17 March 2010 (85 years) X-15 Missions: 16 flights from 13 April 1959 to 14 December 1962 Highest Speed: Mach 6.04 (4,093 mph)xxxxxxxxxxHighest Altitude: 314,750 feet (59.6 miles) |
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Robert M. White, US Air Force. X-15 Pilot no. 3. Edwards History Office |
White (leaning against wing) with P-51D at 354th Fighter Squadron in World War II. Robert White collection |
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Iven C. Kincheloe was the first US Air Force X-15 chief pilot, but was killed 26 Jul. 1958 in the crash of an F-104. Robert White then took over as prime pilot on the X-15. author's collection |
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White checks his instruments after abort called with flight 1-A-18 on 11 Aug. 1960. author's collection |
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Bob with his Model A Ford, which was passed down to him when Kincheloe died. Edwards History Office |
White launches on 12 Aug. 1960 for an altitude record with the LR-11s of 136,500 feet. Edwards History Office |
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White's return after last LR-11 flight with mission 1-21-36 on 7 Feb. 1961. Armstrong Flight Research Center |
Post flight lakebed servicing of X-15 no. 1 following final LR-11 flight. Edwards History Office |
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White prepares for first manned aircraft flight to Mach 4 with mission 2-13-26 on 7 Mar. 1961. Bob achieved Mach 4.43 or 2,905 mph at an altitude of 77,450 feet. Defense Audio Visual Agency |
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Launch and post landing on Rogers Dry Lake after first Mach 4 mission. Armstrong Flight Research Center |
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Purging the Ballistic Control System following the flight on 7 Mar. 1961. author's collection |
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White's shattered windshield coming back from 217,000 feet on 11 Oct. 1961. NASA Headquarters |
Post-flight activities on X-15 no. 2. Armstrong Flight Research Center |
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Preparation for launch of X-15 no. 2 with a T-38 chase plane close by to monitor rocket engine ignition. Armstrong Flight Research Center |
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White in X-15 for aborted flight 1-A-43 on 3 Nov. 1961, with F-100 chase plane nearby. Armstrong Flight Research Center |
Nestled under the B-52 wing pylon, engineers make ready for flight on 9 Nov. 1961. Armstrong Flight Research Center |
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White on the wing of B-52 no. 008, takes off from the Edwards runway on 9 Nov. 1961 at 09:00 PST. Armstrong Flight Research Center |
White at launch altitude in X-15 no. 2 above Mud Dry Lake launch area. North American Aviation |
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White preparing for drop on first Mach 6 flight with mission 2-21-37 on 9 November. Armstrong Flight Research Center |
Moments after release at 09:57 PST, White and X-15 no. 2 fall away. North American Aviation |
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Aiming for a martini touchdown. White had a standing bet for a martini with a friend for pinpoint landings. Bob liked his martinis and won on almost every mission. Smoke canister is ignited to give wind direction signal to the X-15 pilot prior to landing. author's collection |
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JFK presents the Harmon Trophy to Crossfield, Walker, and White on 28 Nov. 1961. Cathie Godwin collection |
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White and Neil Armstrong walk by the tail of X-15 no. 2 with the LR-99 rocket engine. author's collection |
White, with Joe Walker, and Scott Crossfield, at the White House with Harmon Trophy. author's collection |
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X-15 no. 3 prior to mating for the first astronaut qualification flight on 17 Jul. 1962. Defense Audio Visual Agency |
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The "Small Boy" atomic bomb test in Nevada delayed White's flight on 14 Jul. 1962. author's collection |
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B-52 flyover after White's record altitude flight of 314,750 feet on mission 3-7-14. Tony Landis collection |
White is congratulated by Charles Yeager and General Irving "Twig" Branch on 17 July. Edwards History Office |
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Maureen and Dennis with their father's certificate for exceeding 50 miles altitude. Edwards History Office |
Pam with her father listening to recordings of his astronaut qualification flight. Edwards History Office |
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Bob is greeted by Doris and children, Greg, Maureen, and Pam. author's collection |
White at the top of the entry stairs to gain access to the X-15, which is already loaded on the B-52 pylon. Armstrong Flight Research Center |
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President Kennedy presents the Collier Trophy to the X-15 pilot team on 18 Jul. 1962. NASA Headquarters |
Following the ceremony, White is in JFK's office with Gen. Curtis LeMay and others. NASA Headquarters |
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Doris White pins the first set of X-15 astronaut wings on her husband, then gives him a congratulatory kiss. He was America's 5th astronaut. On 17 Jul. 1962, White achieved 314,750 feet on mission 3-7-14, the first by a manned aircraft to more than 50 miles. Note in the newspaper photo at right that Doris's lips have been crudely airbrushed out to avoid the appearance of physical intimacy. author's collection |
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White exits X-15 no. 3 after an aborted flight. Robert White collection |
Bob with his son Greg on the lakebed after a flight, and letting him wear dad's helmet while sitting on an F-104 nose. Robert White collection |
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White exits the suiting van to start a mission. Robert White collection |
On the lakebed after a mission. A nominal X-15 flight is only about 10 minutes, but you can see the toll on the pilot. Armstrong Flight Research Center |
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Post flight operations on the lakebed included fire and rescue vehicles and personnel, along with an H-21 Workhorse support helicopter. Edwards History Office |
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White describes to reporters how his pressure suit inflated on 23 Jun. 1961 during mission 2-17-33. The cabin lost pressure on the first aircraft flight past Mach 5. Associated Press Wire Photo |
X-15 pilots gather round. Forrest Petersen (USN), Neil Armstrong (NASA), Bob Rushworth (USAF), Jack McKay (NASA), and Robert White (USAF). Edwards History Office |
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Portrait of Maj. Robert White while serving as chief X-15 pilot for the US Air Force. Photo was taken soon after he received his astronaut wings in July 1962. Robert White collection |
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Lt. Col. White with his family after arriving at Takhli Royal Thai AFB in May 1967. From Takhli, and also Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam, White would fly 70 missions against the North Vietnamese, earning him an Air Force Cross. White served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam; the only X-15 pilot to serve in three conflicts author's collection |
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Lt. Col. White in his F-105D in Thailand, preparing for a mission over North Veitnam. Robert White collection |
Wearing his g-suit and survival gear, White prepares to board his F-105D in Bitberg. Robert White collection |
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Col. Robert White (3rd from left) served as the Deputy Commander for Operations for the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli Royal Thai AFB in 1967. Robert White collection |
A wall mural honoring White at Bitburg Air Base, Germany. Note the X-15A-2, which White never flew, and that it is marked as no. 3. author's collection |
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