Flying with Chuck Yeager
Captain Chuck Yeager’s 1st flight in XS-1
August 6, 1947 After undergoing training on the X-1, then called the XS-1, and all of its systems at Muroc Army Air Base, CA (later – September 18, 1947 Edwards Air Force Base), he went up for his first unpowered flight, and to everyone’s surprise, almost immediately after dropping from the B-29, he nonchalantly performed…
Read MoreGermans at the Door – Escape and Evasion Continues
March 5, 1944 continued I decided to stay put until dark. Several times I hear low-flying planes-Germans hunting for me. I’m sweating but stay well-hidden under thick brush. I saw a lot of farmland coming down and at night I’ll pop out of these woods long enough to raid some turnips and potatoes. I figure…
Read MoreGeneral Yeager Leads Fly By for General Eisenhower’s Memorial – in his own words
General Yeager told this story at the National Memorial Day Parade in 2012: “Don’t tell anybody but: After General Eisenhower died, Mamie Eisenhower asked if I could plan, lead and execute a fly-by during his funeral procession. “I responded: Yes, ma’am! “I called the Pentagon and Andrews to set it up. A two star said:…
Read MoreI Never Lost a Pilot While Flying Chase by Chuck Yeager
Many, many pilots died testing airplanes over the Mojave desert from Muroc, then Edwards AFB, CA. Over 51 streets were named after those who lost their lives flying test. Even Edwards is named after Glen Edwards. General Yeager’s own words flying chase for test pilots: I never lost a pilot while flying chase; but there…
Read MoreIn His Own Words: Emmett Hatch, black pilot, in Chuck Yeager’s Squadron 1950’s
In his own words from Yeager, An Autobiography pp 290-297: “The Air Force had only been integrated seven or eight years by the time I became a fighter pilot. I came up through the ranks as an enlisted man, the same as Chuck Yeager, but it wasn’t easy for me as a black man. There…
Read MoreFrom Chuck Yeager shot down over France
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…
Read MoreYeager! Can’t you do anything right?
In General Yeager’s own words: After returning from being shot down, to return to combat, I had to go all the way up the chain of command until I found myself before General Eisenhower, The problem was if I was shot down again, the Germans might find me, torture me, and get information re the…
Read MoreWWII: March 5, 1944 -Unteroffizier Irmfred Klotz Shot me Down – Chuck Yeager
The generally accepted research shows that 22 year old Unteroffizier Irmfred Klotz flying a Focke Wulf 190 shot my airplane down on March 5, 1944. I was 21, thinking I was Sierra Hotel just the day before, now this guy is thinking he’s Sierra Hotel. The day after I shot down his first two enemy aircraft, although…
Read MoreTraining Jackie Cochran-to Become 1st Woman to Break Sound Barrier
I first met Jackie Cochran in 1947, not long after I broke the sound barrier, in Secretary of the Air Force Scott Symington’s office. She was a tall, blonde woman in her forties. “I’m Jackie Cochran,” she said pumping my hand. “Great job, Captain Yeager. We’re all proud of you.” She invited me to lunch…
Read MoreB-51 – Chuck Yeager & Russ Schleeh
Even Col Boyd never got to fly it – although he wanted to do so, he never found the time. In the ’50s, I used to fly it cross country to get home to Hamlin – speedy for its day. Three engines. Russ Schleeh and I were two of the first to fly it. Only…
Read MoreChuck Yeager – F-100D
I usually flew 6590 – a two seater. He could do the flight planning….and I could fly. But this was a single seater. c. GCYI
Read MoreDECLASSIFIED: 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…
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