Iven Carl Kincheloe, Jr.

Iven C. Kincheloe Jr.
USAF Astronaut
Nationality	American
Status	Deceased
Born	Iven Carl Kincheloe Jr. (1928-07-02)July 2, 1928 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	July 26, 1958(1958-07-26) (aged 30) Edwards Air Force Base, California, U.S.
Other occupation	Test pilot
Alma mater	Purdue University, B.S. 1949
Rank	Captain, USAF
Selection	1957 MISS Group
Awards	Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross

Iven Carl "Kinch" Kincheloe Jr. (July 2, 1928 – July 26, 1958), (Capt, USAF), was an American test pilot, recipient of the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross, aeronautical engineer, and an ace in the Korean War.

Kincheloe was born July 2, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan but grew up in Cassopolis, Michigan. He was the only child of Iven C. Kincheloe Sr. (1894–1966) and Frances Wilder Kincheloe. He was interested in aircraft from a very young age. Following his high school graduation in 1945, he attended Purdue University. He joined the ROTC, was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon-Indiana Alpha fraternity, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1949. In the summer of 1948, the ROTC cadet was able to meet Chuck Yeager and sit in the cockpit of the Bell X-1.

After graduating in 1949, Kincheloe received his commission in the U.S. Air Force. After receiving his pilot wings in August 1950, he spent a year as a test pilot flying the F-86E at Edwards Air Force Base, California before being promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to Korea in September 1951. During the war, he flew F-80s on 30 combat missions and F-86s on 101 combat missions, downing five MiG-15s (becoming an ace and earning the Silver Star) before returning to the U.S. in May 1952. At this time, he had reached the rank of captain.