Editing Joseph Kittinger (section)

==Early life and military career==
Born in [[Tampa, Florida]], and raised in [[Orlando, Florida]], Kittinger was educated at [[The Bolles School]] in [[Jacksonville, Florida]], and the [[University of Florida]]. He became fascinated with planes at a young age and soloed in a [[Piper Aircraft#1940s|Piper Cub]] by the time he was 17. After racing [[speedboat]]s as a teenager, he entered the [[U.S. Air Force]] as an aviation cadet in March 1949. On completion of [[Aviation Cadet Training Program (USAAF)|aviation cadet training]] in March 1950, he received his [[U.S. Air Force aeronautical rating|pilot wings]] and a commission as a [[second lieutenant]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=93 |title=Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. |website=veterantributes.org |access-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-date=October 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004164123/http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=93 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was subsequently assigned to the [[86th Airlift Wing|86th Fighter-Bomber Wing]] based at [[Ramstein Air Base]] in [[West Germany]], flying the [[F-84 Thunderjet]] and [[F-86 Sabre]].<ref name=RefA>{{cite book |title=Come Up and Get Me: An Autobiography of Colonel Joe Kittinger |last1=Ryan |first1=Craig |last2=Kittinger |first2=Joseph |publisher=University of New Mexico Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0826348043}}</ref><ref name=aviationspeakers>{{cite web |url=https://www.aviationspeakers.com/joe-kittinger-jr |title=Joe Kittinger, Jr. |publisher=The Aviation Speakers Bureau |website=aviationspeakers.com |access-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201104321/https://www.aviationspeakers.com/joe-kittinger-jr |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1954, Kittinger was transferred to the [[Air Force Missile Development Center]] (AFMDC) at [[Holloman Air Force Base|Holloman AFB]], New Mexico. It was during this assignment that he flew the observation/chase plane that monitored flight surgeon Colonel [[John Stapp]]'s [[rocket sled]] run of {{convert|632|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} in 1955. Kittinger was impressed by Stapp's dedication and leadership as a pioneer in aerospace medicine. Stapp, in turn, was impressed with Kittinger's skillful jet piloting, later recommending him for space-related aviation research work. Stapp was to foster the high-altitude balloon tests that would later lead to Kittinger's record-setting leap from over {{convert|102,800|ft|m}}. In 1957, as part of ''[[Project Manhigh]]'', Kittinger set an interim [[balloon]] altitude record of {{convert|96,760|ft|m}} in ''Manhigh I'', for which he was awarded his first [[Distinguished Flying Cross (USA)|Distinguished Flying Cross]].<ref name=RefA/><ref name=aviationspeakers/>
{{multiple image
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 150
 | header= Project Excelsior
 | image1 = Joseph Kittinger and the Excelsior gondola.jpg
 | caption1 = Kittinger next to the ''Excelsior'' gondola
 | image2 = Kittinger-jump.jpg
 | caption2 = Kittinger's record-breaking skydive from ''Excelsior III''
 | image3 = Excelsior NMUSAF Display.jpg
 | caption3 = Replica of ''Excelsior III'' gondola and mannequin of Kittinger at the [[National Museum of the U.S. Air Force]]<ref name=afnationalmuseum/>
}}