Aviation – Page 4 – The Chuck Yeager Foundation

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…

In Search of Chuck Yeager’s Evading Germans 1944

By Victoria Yeager / April 22, 2013

I had wanted to explore with CY the places where CY had been shot down and was working with the Maquis, escaping into Spain. Finding specific spots was an adventure. Not many who were involved in 1944 were still around, kids didn’t get the history from their parents, many would-be not so good historians who…

Gabriel – head of the Neracais French Maquis

By Victoria Yeager / March 19, 2013

Gabriel was larger than life. Gabriel LaPeyrusse, Mayor of Nerac, head of the Maquis during World War II, was one of many who protected and saved my husband during World War II. General Yeager and I visited his house recently. It’s a pretty and historic house with a large yard. The fields behind it used…

From Chuck Yeager. 1944 Shot down France

By Victoria Yeager / March 17, 2013

March 4, 1944 1st daylight raid over Berlin. Weather was stinkin’. Only 2 P-51s guarding a box of bombers. They hit their targes. I shot down my first enemy aircraft (a/c). Woo hoo. I was out of ammo returning home. I espied the stragglers of the bombers in formation heading home. I called ahead. “Can…

Capt Chuck Yeager Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross 1949

By Victoria Yeager / July 23, 2011

Distinguished Flying Cross Awarded for actions during the Cold War The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Charles Elwood Yeager (AFSN: 16076A), United…

Photos from Yeagers’ South Africa trip

By Victoria Yeager / December 29, 2010

Just got some photos I had taken in South Africa and some taken by another of us. What a great time we had! So many people were very appreciative of us visiting South Africa. And we thoroughly enjoyed all the wonderful people we met. Here are a few photos of Tokyo Sexwale, a very positive, enthusiastic,…

No fly day

By Victoria Yeager / August 29, 2010

General Yeager and I planned to eat lunch and then go fly. We did a couple errands after lunch since we were early – plane was booked. When we got to the airport, it was 108 degrees. Wow! Hot! The diamond has a bubble canopy that bakes you and it had been closed for a…