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Pictures: Breaking the Sound Barrier

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Mach Speed and More

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Photographer

Mach Speed and More

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer

Mach Speed and More

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Photographer

Chuck Yeager and Bell X-1 Supersonic Plane

United States Air Force Archive

USAF Capt. Charles E. Yeager (shown standing with the Bell X-1 supersonic rocket plane) became the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound in level flight on Oct. 14, 1947.

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