f104c

The gentleman on the right is legendary aviator, air racer, Lockheed Test Pilot, and regarded by many as "The Father of Area 51," Anthony W. "Tony" LeVier. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_LeVier The aircraft in the background is a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. I am currently unable to identify the pilot in the pressure suit.

Next to Tony is Bob Mattey not sure of the spelling. He was also a test pilot and was killed in a plane crash not long after this photo

Since these people have been identified, you need to change the title and remove this from the "need identification" album.

Correction on the identity of the test pilot in the pressure suit. Tony LeVier (right) is shaking hands with fellow test pilot Joe B. Jordan (left), on the day that Gordon set the (then) world altitude record of 103,395 ft in a US Air Force Lockheed F-104C Starfighter (56-0885), December 14, 1959. See: www.i-f-s.nl/f-104-records/ blog.seattlepi.com/americanaerospace/2010/12/13/f-104c-wo... www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/joe-bailey-jordan/ Here is a film documenting the record-breaking flight: YouTube - The Joint Forces Channel: "Historic Footage Of F-104 Breaking Altitude Record"

This is a photo of Tony LeVier (right) shaking hands with fellow test pilot Joe B. Jordan (left), on the day that Gordon set the (then) world altitude record of 103,395 ft in a US Air Force Lockheed F-104C Starfighter (56-0885), December 14, 1959. See: www.i-f-s.nl/f-104-records/ blog.seattlepi.com/americanaerospace/2010/12/13/f-104c-wo... www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/joe-bailey-jordan/ Here is a film documenting the record-breaking flight: YouTube - The Joint Forces Channel: "Historic Footage Of F-104 Breaking Altitude Record"

F-104C-5-LO, s/n 56-0903. Assigned 436th TFS, 479th TFW. W/O 27 July 1966. Crashed after aircraft control stick kicker activation 16 NM SW George AFB, CA. F-104C-5-LO, s/n 56-0908. Assigned 436th TFS, 479th TFW. To 476th TFS 6252nd TFW, South Vietnam. W/O 22 July 1965. Aircraft damaged by small arms fire over Quang Tin Province. Swerved off runway and crashed into sand dune during emergency gear up landing at Chu Lai MCAS, South Vietnam. The pilot was fatally injured. F-104C-5-LO, s/n 56-0906. Assigned 436th TFS, 479th TFW. W/O 19 July 1960. Aircraft encountered engine nozzle problem during gunnery practice. Crashed while attempting emergency landing on Cuddeback Dry Lake 24 miles SE of China Lake. The pilot, Capt. John Houston, was fatally injured. F-104C-5-LO, s/n 56-0907. Assigned 434th TFS, 479th TFW. W/O 29 January 1959. Crashed after takeoff 5 miles SW of George AFB following compressor stall and loss of power. The pilot, Capt. Ed Skelton, ejected safely. This was the first F-104C lost due to a crash.