Historical

March 18-19, 1944. WWII.In the Woods with the Maquis

By Victoria Yeager / March 20, 2014

March 18-19, 2014 We bike ride back to Nerac in record time and sack out in the shed at Gabriel’s. At night, Raoul leaves. Gabriel takes me out in the forest. Uh oh. We hike for hours. I’m on guard. Where is he taking me? Why? I try not to think about how freezing cold…

March 16-17, 1944:WWII. Close call-Germans Walk Right in Front of Me

By Victoria Yeager / March 17, 2014

March 16, ’44: The girl leaves. No chance. But really too dangerous – don’t ever know who is on what side. March 17, 1944: Not much to do so I venture a little closer to the road – watch the passersby from under the shade of the tree, think about my next move. How am…

DECLASSIFIED: Gen Chuck Yeager assigned to Clark AFB re Vietnam 1966

By Victoria Yeager / August 31, 2013

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…

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

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…

From Chuck Yeager: Working with the Maquis (Shot Down in France Part II)

By Victoria Yeager / March 23, 2013

March 20 ’44 Spend most the day working on Gabriel’s old engine in the shed. Gabriel is happy I’ve got something to keep me busy. He thinks it will keep me busy the rest of the war – that it will never work. March 20-21, ’44.Night: Gabriel knows I’m itching to do something in war.…

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…