On October 14, 1947, Charles E. (Chuck) Yeager (1923–) was the first pilot to break the sound barrier. He flew a Bell X–1, attaining a speed of 750 miles (1,207 kilometers) per hour (Mach 1.06) and an altitude of 70,140 feet (21,379 meters) over the town of Victorville, California. The first woman to break the sound barrier was Jacqueline Cochran (c. 1906–1980). On May 18, 1953, she flew a North American F–86 Saber over Edwards Air Force Base in California, attaining the speed of 760 miles (1,223 kilometers) per hour.