Yeager, who never attended college and was often modest about his background, is considered by many, including Flying Magazine, the California Hall of Fame, the State of West Virginia, National Aviation Hall of Fame, a few U.S. presidents, and the United States Army Air Force, to be one of the greatest pilots of all time.
Awards and Medals
Unit Awards |
|
|---|---|
  |
Presidential Unit Citation with bronze oak leaf cluster |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
|
Campaign and Service Medals |
|
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American Defense Service Medal |
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American Campaign Medal |
   |
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with silver and one bronze service star |
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World War II Victory Medal |
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Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp |
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National Defense Service Medal with star |
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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
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Vietnam Service Medal with two campaign stars |
  |
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters |
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Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon |
|
Foreign Awards |
|
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Tongil Medal of the South Korean Order of National Security Merit |
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Officier of the French Legion of Honour |
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Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
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Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal |
Dates of Rank
Dates of Rank
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| INSIGNIA | RANK | SERVICE | DATE |
| no insignia at the time |
Private | U.S. Army (Army Air Corps) |
September 12, 1941 |
  |
Private First Class to Corporal |
U.S. Army (Army Air Forces) |
1941 to March 9, 1943 |
 |
Flight Officer | U.S. Army (Army Air Forces) |
March 10, 1943 |
 |
Second Lieutenant | U.S. Army (Army Air Forces) |
July 6, 1944 |
 |
First Lieutenant | U.S. Army (Army Air Forces) |
September 4, 1944 |
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Captain | U.S. Army (Army Air Forces) |
October 24, 1944 |
|
Second Lieutenant | U.S. Army (Army Air Forces) |
February 10, 1947 (accepted February 25, 1947, rank from July 6, 1944) |
|
First Lieutenant | U.S. Army (Army Air Forces) |
July 6, 1947 |
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Captain | U.S. Air Force | July 6, 1951 |
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Major | U.S. Air Force | February 15, 1951 (temporary) July 6, 1958 (permanent) |
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Lieutenant Colonel | U.S. Air Force | March 22, 1956 (temporary) August 1, 1964 (permanent) |
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Colonel | U.S. Air Force | March 14, 1961 (temporary) September 20, 1967 (permanent) |
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Brigadier General | U.S. Air Force | June 22, 1969 |
Aerial Victory Credits
Aerial Victory Credits
| Date | # | Type | Location | Aircraft flown | Unit Assigned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 4, 1944 | 1 | Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Kassel, Germany | P-51 | 363 FS, 357 FG |
| September 13, 1944 | 0.5 | Bf 109 | Kassel, Germany | P-51 | 363 FS, 357 FG |
| October 12, 1944 | 5 | Bf 109 | Hanover, Germany | P-51 | 363 FS, 357 FG |
| November 6, 1944 | 1 | Messerschmitt Me 262 | Assen, Germany | P-51 | 363 FS, 357 FG |
| November 27, 1944 | 4 | Focke-Wulf Fw 190 | Magdeburg, Germany | P-51 | 363 FS, 357 FG |
Other Achievements
Chuck Yeager Cadet Squadron
Official emblem of the General Chuck Yeager Cadet Squadron (SER-FL-237)
Other Awards |
|
|---|---|
| 1940–1949 | Harmon Trophy: Citation of Honorable Mention |
| 1947 | Collier Trophy and Mackay Trophy, for breaking the sound barrier for the first time |
| 1953 | Harmon Trophy |
| 1976 | Congressional Silver Medal |