User:Tiptoeval/sandbox/Van H. Shepard

Van Huber Shepard (October 4, 1924--May 12, 1970) was an American test pilot and engineer. He is best known for his flights in the XB-70 Valkyrie experimental supersonic aircraft program. Biography Shepard was born October 4, 1924, in Sterlington, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana to Huber F. Shepard (1892-1974) and Marie Van Dusen Shepard (1895-1994). After graduating from Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana, he attended Northeast Junior College of Louisiana State University. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet in 1943, ad earned his pilot's wings and commission in 1944 at Pampa Army Air Field, Texas. World War II ended as he was completing training as a bomber command pilot.