Milburn Grant Apt | |
|---|---|
 Captain Mel Apt in the cockpit of the Bell X-2 | |
| Nickname(s) | Mel |
| Born | April 9, 1924 Buffalo, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | September 27, 1956 (aged 32) Edwards Air Force Base, California, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1956 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Awards | |
| Relations | Sharman Apt Russell (daughter) |
Milburn Grant "Mel" Apt[1] (April 9, 1924 – September 27, 1956) was a U.S. Air Force test pilot, and the first man to attain speeds faster than Mach 3.[2] He was killed after separating from the Bell X-2 in his escape capsule during the record-setting flight that exceeded Mach 3.[3] Shortly afterwards, Secretary of the Air Force Donald A. Quarles commended Apt, saying he was "flying faster than any human being has been known to fly."[4]
- ^ WWII Draft Registration Cards for Kansas, 10/16/1940–03/31/1947, St. Louis, Missouri: The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri, 1942
- ^ "New Air Mark Seen; X-2 Believed to Have Gone 2,200 M.P.H. Before Crash". The New York Times. 1956-10-18. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ "1,900-M.P.H. Rocket Plane Crashes and Kills Test Pilot". New York Times. Vol. 106 (Late City ed.). 1956-09-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ "Captain Apt Flew Fastest Before Crash". The Times Record. Troy, NY. 1956-10-10. p. 11.