Post by WRF

Fighter Ace, Test Pilot, Sound Breaker. Brig Gen Chuck Yeager (1923-2020) began his military career as an aircraft mechanic in the Army Air Corps in 1941. In 1943 he was accepted to pilot training and eventually sent to the 363d fighter squadron in England. Flying his famed P-51 Mustang, Glamorous Glennis over Europe in WWII, Yeager was shot down on his 8th mission, escaped back to England, and continued flying combat missions. He ended WWII with 11.5 aerial victories including shooting down a Me-262 (first operational jet fighter). After the war Yeager became a test pilot and was the first person to break the speed of sound on October 14, 1947 in a X1 named Glamorous Glennis. He went on to set several aviation records in multiple aircraft. After promotion to Colonel, Yeager held several commands all over the world, including flying 127 missions in Vietnam. After Air Force retirement in 1975, Yeager continued to consult and hold flight status with the Air Force until 2012. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of breaking the speed of sound, on October 14, 1997 at 74 years old, Yeager again broke the sound barrier flying a F-15 named Glamorous Glennis III. Today we celebrate the incredible life and service of Brigadier General Charles "Chuck" Yeager.