Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
John V. Becker Papers
Becker, John V. (John Vernon), 1913-2020
Ms.1990.052
5.4 Cubic Feet
4 boxes
1936-1980, n.d.
Please note: This collection is in off-site storage and requires 2-3 days notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives for more information.
THe John V. Becker Papers include correspondence, notes, memoranda and other materials related to NACA and NASA programs with which Becker was associated, including the X-1, X-15, X-20 (or Dyna-Soar) programs; research files for The High-Speed Frontier; transcripts of oral history interviews; and copies of publications and lectures by Becker, created between 1936 and 1980.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], John V. Becker Papers, 1936-1980, n.d., Ms1990-052, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The John V. Becker Papers were donated to Special Collections in 1990.
Processing Information
The initial processing, arrangement, and description of the John V. Becker Papers was completed in 1990. Additional description, re-housing of the collection, and the creation of series was completed in August 2018.
Biographical Note
John Vernon Becker was born in Albany, New York, in 1913. He graduated from NYU in 1935 with a degree in mechanical engineering and an MS in 1936. He began working at National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory later that year. During his career, he served as . Head of the 16-ft. Wind Tunnel Branch (1943-1947), chief of the Compressibility Research Division (1947-1957), and chief of the Aero-Physics Research Division (1958-1974) at NACA and NASA-Langley. He was a specialist in hypersonic and reentry aerodynamics and a pioneer in the development of hypersonic research aircraft, including the X-15. Becker retired from NASA in 1974. He was elected a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. In 1980, he authored
The High-Speed Frontier: Case Histories of Four NACA Programs, 1920-1950 (Washington, DC: NASA, 1980). He died in 2020.A longer biography of Becker is availalbe on the NASA website: https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/john-v-becker/.
See also Becker's obituary online at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/dailypress/name/john-becker-obituary?id=14163893.
Scope and Content
The John V. Becker Papers contain correspondence, notes, memoranda and other materials related to NACA and NASA programs with which Becker was associated, including the X-1, X-15, X-20 (or Dyna-Soar) programs, research files for
The High-Speed Frontier and other writings, transcripts of oral history interviews, and copies of publications and lectures by Becker. The majority of materials were created between 1936 and 1980, with the bulk dated between 1946 and 1976. There are also undated materials, but based on their content, they date to the same active time period of Becker's career.
Arrangement
The John V. Becker Papers are in their original order. Since this order grouped like materials together, series were added to help navigate the collection.
Series I: Biographical Information and Correspondence, 1936-1976, n.d., contains resumes, interviews with Becker, correspondence, and materials about his retirement.
Series II: Writings and Authored Studies, 1970-1980, n.d., includes books, reports, and studies written by Becker and reviews about those works. In addition, this series has writings by colleagues on which Becker commented.
Series III: Talks and Presentations, 1946-1976, consists of talks and presentations given by Becker between 1946 and 1976. These include presentations given to the public (at conferences or invited events), as well as presentation given in the context of his job (for the military, NASA, and corporate partners).
Series IV: Research and Meeting Files, 1954-1974, n.d., contains research and subject files on various projects from Becker's career including, but not limited to, wind tunnels, hypersonic and supersonic flight, the X-15 (and precursors and successors), Dyna-Soar, and active cooling programs. In addition, this series contains notes from meetings with supervisors, project partners, committees. This series may also have correspondence not located in Series I.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the John V. Becker Papersn by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Archives of American Aerospace Exploration (AAAE)
Aerospace engineers
Science and Technology
Series I: Biographical Information and Correspondence1936-1976, n.d.Biographical data, resumes, etc.11Interviews: May 27, 1973-Walt Bonney; February 10, 1976-Gene Emme12List of Publications13Correspondence, Miscellaneous14a-4bCorrespondence, Appointments to advisory groups, committees1936-197414cCorrespondence, Banquets & Awards14dRetirement1975-199014eSeries II: Writings and Authored Studies1970-1980, n.d.Roland's NACA History-JVB Comments15aHansen's Langley History15bBook Review-Hallion's Dryden History15cHRE Hindsight Study-Pre-HRE Scram jet res., aerospace plane16aHRE Hindsight Study-Contract, Report correspondence16bHRE Hindsight Study-Coord. National Programs16cHRE Hindsight Study-Final Report16dHRE Hindsight Study-Comments16eDuPont Engine Study1970-197716fThe High-Speed Frontier-Correspondence, proposals, contract17aThe High-Speed Frontier-Interviews17bThe High-Speed Frontier-Sample taped interviews17cUnused writings for SP44517dThe High-Speed Frontier (NASA SP445)-2 reviews198017eReviews and comments on The High-Speed Frontier17fThe Development of Winged Reentry Vehicles 18Series III: Talks and Presentations1946-1976Aviation Writers Association talk2/7/194619a"Problems in Newer Fields of Fluid Mechanics" December 29, 194919b"States of 2-Dimension Transonic Research" June 195019cChairman's remarksOctober 2-3, 195119d"Scale Effects at Supersonic Speeds" September 195319e"Supersonic Heat Transfer on Flared Bodies" January 19, 195619f"Future Aircraft, March 28, 195619g"Hypersonic Gliders," May 1, 1957; "The Coolant Requirements of Hypersonic Gliders" November 4, 195719h"Winged Configurations for Manned Satellites" March 195819i"Reentry" lectureNovember 26, 195819j"Comparisons of X-15, Mercury and Dyna-soar" February 10, 195919k"Comparative Studies of Reentry Vehicles" April 7, 195919l"Manned Hypersonic Vehicles" 1959-196019m"State of the Art 1959 Manned Reentry Vehicles" July 28, 195919n"Reentry" lectureSeptember 9, 195919o"Supersatellite Reentry" December 2-4, 195919p"Reentry R & D" 1960-196119q"Trajectory Control-Reentry at Escape Speed" June 21, 196119r"Reentry from Lunar Missionsm" August 5, 196119s"Reentry from Lunar Missions" September 8, 196119tRESA lectureOctober 17, 196121"Facilities for Hypersonic Research" September 14, 196222"Reentry from Deep Space Missions" October 17, 196323OART studiesJune 25, 196424"Studies of High L/D Hypersonic Config ICAS IV" August 8, 196425"Research on Hypersonic Aircraft" January 14, 196626"Fluid Mechanics Problems of Hypersonic Aircraft" August 28-31, 196627"The Evolution of Lifting Body R.V.s" December 196728"A Critical Look at the R & D of Hypersonic Aircraft" October 24, 196729"Research and Development for Long Range Supersonic Aircraft" November 1, 1968210a"X-15 in Retrospect" December 4-5, 1968210b"Research and Project Management" March 13, 1970211_Hypersonic Technology_ Briefings for G. Low, June 8, 1970, and D. NicksApril 23, 1970212ICAS VIISeptember 1970213Aeronautical Research Beyond Mach 3July 15, 1971214NASA/OAST Hypersonic Technology Programs1973215"Actively Cooled Hypersonic Aircraft" May 18, 1972216"Transport A/C Opportunities Beyond the M-2.7 SSt" July 27, 1973217"Hypersonic Technology" March 19, 1974218"Reflections on Hypersonics" December 5, 1976219Series IV: Research and Meeting Files1954-1974, n.d.Langley Wind Tunnel Development220a4-ft Supersonic Tunnel220b60,000 hp Compressor for 4ft Supersonic Tunnel-Design, manufacture, test photos220cAnalysis of Ram-Jet-powered wind tunnel220dUse of gases other than air in hypersonic tunnels220eAlternates to slotted throats for transonic testing in 16 ft tunnel220fIsentropic Compressor1953220g11-inch Hypersonic Wind Tunnel-conception, progress reports, early research, initial design220h11-inch Hypersonic Wind Tunnel-photos220i11-inch Hypersonic Wind Tunnel-Tests, tech reports, transfer to Virginia Tech220jX-1 research airplane (conceptual predecessor to X-15)221aLangley pre-X-15 study of 1954221b-cBell aircraft and Douglas visitors1964221cProject 1226 (X-15)1955221dX-15 Evaluation of contract proposals1955221eX-15 Design phase (samples)221fX-15, Advances in technology221gX-15 Follow-on program, termination31X-1532X-15 History, retrospective assessment33X-15 Sample correspondence34Hypersonic Research Airplane Study1956-195735aRound III meetingsOctober 16-18, 195735b"Minimum Manned Satellite," WADC BriefingsJanuary 30-31, 195836Dyna-soar, X-20 Concept1958-195937aX-20 Controls37bDyna-soar correspondence1959-196237cKorycircki Log of Key Dyna-soar Office Activies1957-196237dRVX-2, Proposed flight tests to validate Dyna-soar heating and aerodynamics37eDyna-soar related ASAF's Asset Project37fDyna-soar Reviews37gDyna-soar Briefings196237hDyna-soar Final Crises and Demise196337iDyna-soar Problem Areas remaining for R&D37j1968 Hypersonic Research Airplane study38a1972 Hypersonic Research Airplane reviews38bHypersonic Research Airplane industry field tripJune 197238c"MARV" proposal197338dX-24C approach to a hypersonic research airplane1974, 197638eNASA/USAF position paper advocating a hypersonic research airplane197638fLunar Mission Steering Group39Reentry Research Steering Committee1960310aReentry flight testsJanuary 7, 1961310bReentry Flight Program PresentationsNovember 7, 196041RVX-2 ProposalApril 1, 196042Reentry Flight Tests-supercircular speed, project fire43Airbreathing Launch Vehicle Studies44Supersonic Transport R&D; Hypersonic Transport R&D; Crituque of OART Program45aOART Management Council Reviews Hypersonic Technology Program1971-197345bJoint NASA/USAF Hypersonic ProgramNovember 9, 196246aUSAF/NASA Scramjet Programs Reviews1965-196746bUSAF/NASA Review of AEDC Triplet Facility196646cAACB-DOD/NASA Joint Study, Hypersonic TechnlogySeptember 197246dDOD/NASA Joint Reviews, Supersonic/Hypersonic Programs1973-197446eActive Cooling Aircraft Proposal-History and initial publications1966-197447aSymposium on Active Cooling AirframesNovember 17, 197047bActive Cooling Structures ProgramNovember 21, 197247cActive Cooling Inter-directional Group197447dActive Cooling Program and Reviews1972-197347eReorganizations1969-197448aExchanges with director48bAirlie House Retreats1970-197148cWilliamsburg Retreat197448dLRC Aircraft Design Steering Committee-Critiques of Aeronautics Program48eDirector's Reviews Aero-physics Division, 1968; Hypersonic Division197248fCommittee on Studies & Analogues197348gTechnical Report Survey, Theorhetical vs. Experimental48h