Lt Col Chuck Yeager leads USAFE Gunnery Champs – 1955-1956

USAFE Champs Led by Top Gunner Lt Col Chuck Yeager

While stationed in Germany my wing won the Gunnery Meet in Europe. Then we moved to Nellis where all the pros were, the biggest competitors – that’s all they did at Nellis – gunnery.

And we beat the heck out of them, too.

Air to air, air to ground. Air to air someone else is bravely towing the target.

I remember everything was suddenly alert and busy, people flustered and high concern. I asked why.

Answer: A GENERAL is coming out, flying himself in an F-86!

Yep.

General Boyd; who, eight years earlier, had made an unpopular choice in picking me, the most junior test pilot, to attempt to fly the X-1 into history; had grabbed an F-86 to come out and watch us.

He was so proud of us – mostly former Edwards guys who had been under his command.

I was top guy in the whole Air Force. Meant a lot to me that Gen Boyd came out.

Still does.

c. GCYI