Herb Hoover

Herbert Henry Hoover (May 18, 1912 – August 14, 1952)[1] was an American NACA experimental test pilot who, on March 10, 1948, became the first civilian and second person to break the sound barrier,[2] a feat for which he was awarded the Air Medal "for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight."

Hoover came to NACA in 1940, working out of the Hampton, Virginia campus,[2] and volunteered to test fly the Lockheed XC-35, an experimental pressurized airplane with twin engines, through thunderstorms in an attempt to gauge the impact that the severe weather would have on the aircraft.

"[2][3] Hoover began flying the Bell X-1 in late 1947, although his first glide-familiarization flight was marred by a landing rough enough to cause the nosewheel to collapse, which "forced the rocket ship in the repair shop until mid-December".

[8] Hoover was killed on August 14, 1952, while piloting a four-jet-engined B-45A Tornado bomber near Burrowsville, Virginia, about 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Richmond.

[12] Although it was initially reported that Hoover had survived the crash and was searching for Harper, his body was found in the woods later that day, his hand on the ripcord of an unopened parachute.