Adventures with Chuck
DECLASSIFIED: Gen Chuck Yeager assigned to Clark AFB re Vietnam 1966
Recently declassified from General Chuck Yeager’s copyrighted USAF oral history – assigned to Clark AFB re Vietnam Yeager: I finished up my tour there with the school at Edwards and got a new assignment ot Clark Airbase in the Philippines as Commander of the 405th Fighter Wing. I reckon you would call it a multitype…
Read More about DECLASSIFIED: Gen Chuck Yeager assigned to Clark AFB re Vietnam 1966DECLASSIFIED-From Russia with Jackie Cochran – Yeager Oral History – Part 1
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…
Read More about DECLASSIFIED-From Russia with Jackie Cochran – Yeager Oral History – Part 1DECLASSIFIED – SQUADRON SEES RED: Chuck Yeager Oral History – Part 2
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…
Read More about DECLASSIFIED – SQUADRON SEES RED: Chuck Yeager Oral History – Part 2Before Testing the MiG 15 – Korea – Chuck Yeager
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:…
Read More about Before Testing the MiG 15 – Korea – Chuck YeagerPresident Bush Inaugural Parade
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
Read More about President Bush Inaugural ParadeHuntin’ for Bear – 1947
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…
Read More about Huntin’ for Bear – 1947Flying Pennsylvania Ave, Wash., DC for General/Mamie Eisenhower
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…
Read More about Flying Pennsylvania Ave, Wash., DC for General/Mamie EisenhowerTest Pilot School – 1949 – Will I pass?
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…
Read More about Test Pilot School – 1949 – Will I pass?The French Engineers Just Shook Their Heads
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…
Read More about The French Engineers Just Shook Their HeadsThe Hell There Ain’t….
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…
Read More about The Hell There Ain’t….“Chuck, I can’t see in here!”
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…
Read More about “Chuck, I can’t see in here!”Yeager Will Get it (P-80) Back (in one piece)
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…
Read More about Yeager Will Get it (P-80) Back (in one piece)