flying with Chuck Yeager
Capt Yeager meets Howard Hughes
General Yeager in his own words: “I read this today: ‘Sept 13, 1935 – Aviator Howard Hughes, Jr., of Houston, set a new airspeed record of 352 mph with his H-1 airplane (Winged Bullet).’ Hughes helped design and flew the Spruce Goose. Once. November 2, 1947. History re that is here: The Largest Flying Boat…
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 MoreWorld War II: Waiting Orders to Go Back on Combat
While waiting to get back on combat, after returning from being shot down, I was doing some maintenance and training the new guys. I was up in the air mock dogfighting with a couple of new guys when Base Ops called: Are your guns hot? Me: Yes. BO: Go out over the North Sea, there’s…
Read MoreTiede Refuses to I.D. me and Almost Gets US Both Court-martialed.
After returning to England from being shot down, working with the Maquis and French Underground, escaping over the Pyrenees full of snow, I was taken to a panel of three colonels whose job is to determine if I am who I say I am and not a spy. They brought a guy from my squadron…
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 MoreMarch 1944: Escaping the Germans over the Pyrenees
By the first light, we set out in the rain, deciding to at least start out together and see how it goes. By noon, two of us have made it to the timberline in gale winds. The others are not even in sight. The French have provided bread, cheese, and chocolate in our knapsacks. The…
Read MoreMarch 25, 1944: Maquis Kick Me Out
The Maquis live off the villages, not off the woods. The villages are dangerous, crawling with Germans and Vichy police, but guys slip into town to buy food, cigarettes, and medicine, using phony ration stamps and money. I’m amazed that no one is ever caught, or if they are, maybe I’m not told about it.…
Read MoreMarch 22, 1944: Hiding from German Air Patrols
March 22, 1944. We are in the woods, eating. It’s early morning. We hear the German patrol airplane. Everyone stops still. We listen. It’s fairly close. We check our surroundings. We are under good cover but…recently a few of the guys had gone off and ambushed a German patrol. The Germans are very angry. No…
Read MoreWed-Thurs: March 15-16, 1944: WWII.Cute Girl in French Underground
March 15, ’44: Gabriel’s house. Gabriel is a bigger than life kind of guy and a big guy. He lives life large, large laugh, much eating, much drinking. Amazing talent has to quietly maneuver between the Germans, the Maquis, and the citizens of Nerac. He brings his vegetables 2 market every Saturday. He meets with…
Read MoreMarch 12-13, 1944.Hiding from Germans.Have to leave
March 12, 1944. More fishing, playing soccer, hiking in the woods. This is the area of foie gras but even geese are a bit scarce. Also special Bordeaux wines – also scarce. The Germans have taken almost everything that the farmers haven’t hidden. March 13. They tell me to get some rest. I’m leaving tonight.…
Read MoreMarch 10, 1944 WWII. Yeager Still in Hiding from Germans
March 10, 1944. Jean comes running back. He had been in hiding but fairly close to the road. A few Germans had driven past maybe to the site where the German pilot or his plane had come down. Rumors are swirling that some French sympathetic to the Germans have turned in (and on) some neighbors…
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