Victoria Yeager – Page 9 – The Chuck Yeager Foundation

DECLASSIFIED-From Russia with Jackie Cochran – Yeager Oral History – Part 1

By Victoria Yeager / August 31, 2013

Parts of General Yeager’s Oral History with the Air Force have been declassified. Here is the first installment: Yeager: I was getting a little bit worried they were going to put her (Jackie Cochran) in jail. (laughter) I was about ready to go home anyway. So we whistled out of there to Spain and then…

DECLASSIFIED – SQUADRON SEES RED: Chuck Yeager Oral History – Part 2

By Victoria Yeager / August 31, 2013

Recently declassified: General Yeager’s words: When I took the squadron to Italy, we had the four 50-gallon drop tanks. We were replacing a squadron that was at Myrtle Beach. Now Aviano had TACAN (tactical air navigation). So our deployment – that was when TAC came out and said, “Take all the squadron colors off the…

Before Testing the MiG 15 – Korea – Chuck Yeager

By Victoria Yeager / August 22, 2013

This evening this was one of many stories General Yeager related to me: While prepping to test the MiG in Korea, a staff car came up. Gen Boyd got out. Pouring w/rain. Gen Boyd to me: Come here I want you to meet somebody. It was a 4 star general. 4 star general to me:…

President Bush Inaugural Parade

By Victoria Yeager / August 16, 2013

From Gen Yeager: January 29, 1989: Inauguration Parade for President Bush. First Lady Barbara Bush saw we were pretty cold so insisted we come sit with her and warm up next to the space heater. Go to 9 mins 6 secs in & you’all see Bob Hope and me on the float. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etHQmfPJey8

Huntin’ for Bear – 1947

By Victoria Yeager / August 13, 2013

From General Yeager: “Pancho’s was the scene of many a wild night. And it was also the staging area for many great adventures. One of the most memorable was during the sound barrier flights. At 2am on a Saturday night, and a bunch of us were still at the bar, when Russ Schleeh, a great…

Flying Pennsylvania Ave, Wash., DC for General/Mamie Eisenhower

By Victoria Yeager / August 4, 2013

General Yeager had agreed to serve as Grand Marshal for the National Memorial Day Parade 2012. He was honored to accept on behalf of and representing veterans to honor those who had died. Just before the Parade started, he was asked to speak. So that is how General Yeager came to be standing in front…

Test Pilot School – 1949 – Will I pass?

By Victoria Yeager / August 2, 2013

General Yeager tells his story: On the way back to Edwards, and to face the “firing squad” at TPS, from France, we stopped off in Madrid. At dinner, I said: “General Boyd-” but he interrupted. “Chuck, we’re after hours now. Call me ‘Al.’” I said….”General Boyd, the two of us can be stuck together on…

The French Engineers Just Shook Their Heads

By Victoria Yeager / July 20, 2013

From Chuck Yeager: A couple years after I broke the sound barrier, someone forced the issue and General Boyd was forced to order me back to test pilot school to complete the standard and evaluation course. The instructors knew I was not an academic and couldn’t wait to fail me, the pilot who broke the…

The Hell There Ain’t….

By Victoria Yeager / July 10, 2013

General Yeager told me this story July 10, 2013: Jack Ridley was itching to fly the X-1 after we succeeded in breaking the sound barrier. Finally, when he got his chance, he asked if I would fly chase. Almost every flight in the X-1 had an issue from electricity going out, to no radio, to…

“Chuck, I can’t see in here!”

By Victoria Yeager / July 10, 2013

General Yeager: I never lost a pilot while flying chase, but there were many close calls. From Carl Bellinger: Flying chase was an art that not many test pilots bothered to perfect. There’s no glory flying chase – no goal assist, no brownie points. But a skilled and dedicated chase pilot often meant the difference…

Yeager Will Get it (P-80) Back (in one piece)

By Victoria Yeager / June 11, 2013

I wasn’t so thrilled when I was shot down to say the least, but because I survived and was an evadee, after the war, I got my pick of airbases. I chose Wright Field in Dayton, OH because it was the closest to home, Hamlin, West Virginia. There was an opening as Maintenance Officer in…

How Can I Bust my Butt, How can I Prevent It? Chuck Yeager’s Advice Re Flying: Rule 1:

By Victoria Yeager / June 11, 2013

From Chuck Yeager: I used to & still do think: How can I bust my butt? How can I prevent it? The X-1 did not have any redundancy re ejecting the fuel. If you didn’t eject all the fuel before landing, you were landing a bomb with gear not stressed for the weight – so…