Image: Joseph Kittinger in 1999 DF-SD-02-02568

Description: "Colonel Joe," as friends call him, continues to fly high, barnstorming across the country with his wife, Sherry, in an open-cockpit biplane. Retired US Air Force Colonel Joe Kittinger Jr.'s career was highlighted in the December 1999 issue of Airman Magazine. The story titled "Leap of Faith", describes Colonel Kittinger's historic balloon flights and his world record free fall from a balloon at an amazing 102,800 feet. He was also an "ace" pilot during the Vietnam War and four days before completing his tour he was shot down and spent 11 months as a prisoner of war. The Colonel continues to fly today and has his sights on an around-the-world balloon flight. ID: 991201-F-0308N-003
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