WWII – Page 3 – The Chuck Yeager Foundation

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…

Wed-Thurs: March 15-16, 1944: WWII.Cute Girl in French Underground

By Victoria Yeager / March 16, 2014

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…

March 14-15. Bicycle 2 nights to Nerac. One Step Ahead of the Germans

By Victoria Yeager / March 15, 2014

March 14, 1944 late, early March 15, 1944: Dr. Henri comes to pick me up at the farm. He’s a welcome face. Dr. Henri was one of the first people I met right after I bailed out of my plane. He had doctored my wounds. He speaks English pretty well. He’s Jewish so everyone drops…

March 12-13, 1944.Hiding from Germans.Have to leave

By Victoria Yeager / March 14, 2014

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.…

March 11, 1944: WWII. Hiding from Gestapo

By Victoria Yeager / March 11, 2014

March 11, 1944: The father had come and gotten us before dark yesterday. We were fairly safe in the woods – the Germans are a bit scared they might get ambushed. I’m getting a little antsy. Will I spend the rest of the war here? Was it still going on? What was happening? My wounds…

March 10, 1944 WWII. Yeager Still in Hiding from Germans

By Victoria Yeager / March 10, 2014

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…

March 9, 1944 WWII Hiding from the Germans

By Victoria Yeager / March 9, 2014

Jean and I go to the bigger lake to fish. He, as alert as I am and wise beyond his years, shows me the hidden way. Hanging out with Jean, I learn a little French. It’s a long way. We bring back some fish for le dejeuner (lunch). The young mother makes a shirt for…

March 8, 1944. WWII. On the Run from the Germans

By Victoria Yeager / March 8, 2014

General Yeager’s words: March 8, 1944. Six year old Jean and I played soccer. Then he took me to a little lake where we fished. I’m alert. The Germans are still on the prowl looking for me. I learn that the plane of the Germans who shot me down came down in a field just…

March 7, 1944. WWII.Escaping the Germans

By Victoria Yeager / March 7, 2014

March 7, 1944 evening General Yeager’s words: I’m in hiding during the day in the basement of the house in Casteljaloux. You have to go to the back of the house to get in. Not comfortable in the middle of town. Rumors are neighbors have turned in neighbors in this town. Wonder what they would…

March 6, 1944.Evening.WWII. Evading the Germans

By Victoria Yeager / March 7, 2014

March 6, 1944 evening: dark We ride off on bicycles: make it as far as Castaljaloux where they put me in the back of a house for the rest of the night and the next day. It’s right in the middle of town. Neighbors are pretty close. The Germans are still looking for me but have…

WWII.Mar 6, 1944: Behind Enemy Lines:Germans Everywhere Looking for Yeager

By Victoria Yeager / March 5, 2014

March 6, 1944: Behind Enemy Lines:Germans Everywhere Looking for Me: In the morning, I hear a rhythmic banging. I crawl to where I could see – it is a woodsman chopping wood. We were told, if we’re shot down or behind enemy lines, to approach poor people – they would be the most likely to…

WWII. Other POVs. March 5, 1944

By Victoria Yeager / March 4, 2014

Children of the local pastor: My brother and I had just walked out of the rectory next to the church. My father is the pastor. The noise above us – well, we knew a big battle was raging in the air. Deafening and scary. We see a plane on fire heading left to right diagonally toward…