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 flew the iconic orange Bell X-1 during this historic flight. During his short career with NACA, Hoover completed more than a dozen supersonic flights.