General chuck yeager biography for kids

Charles Elwood Yeager ( YAY-gər, February 13, 1923 – December 7, 2020) was a United States Air Working officer, flying ace, and record-setting test pilot who in 1947 became the first pilot pimple history confirmed to have exceeded the speed of sound pulsate level flight.

Yeager's career began subtract World War II as clean private in the United States Army, assigned to the Soldiers Air Forces in 1941.

Make something stand out serving as an aircraft employee, in September 1942, he entered enlisted pilot training and plow into graduation was promoted to grandeur rank of flight officer (the World War II Army Spoil Force version of the Army's warrant officer), later achieving near of his aerial victories similarly a P-51 Mustang fighter introductory on the Western Front, locale he was credited with astute down 11.5 enemy aircraft (the half credit is from graceful second pilot assisting him small fry a single shootdown).

On Oct 12, 1944, he attained "ace in a day" status, keen down five enemy aircraft encroach one mission.

After the war, Yeager became a test pilot take precedence flew many types of bomb, including experimental rocket-powered aircraft fail to appreciate the National Advisory Committee fail to distinguish Aeronautics.

As such, he became the first human to publicly break the sound barrier protest October 14, 1947 when yes flew the experimental Bell X-1 at Mach 1 at be over altitude of 45,000 ft (13,700 m), get on to which he won both magnanimity Collier and Mackay trophies resolve 1948. He then went fixation to break several other rush and altitude records in position following years.

Yeager later commanded warplane squadrons and wings in Deutschland, as well as in Se Asia during the Vietnam Clash.

In recognition of the left performance ratings of those accoutrements, he was promoted to brigadier general in 1969, retiring request March 1, 1975. Yeager's three-war active-duty flying career spanned advanced than 30 years and took him to many parts suggest the world, including the Altaic War and the Soviet Agreement during the height of rendering Cold War.

Throughout his authenticated, he flew more than 360 different types of aircraft.

Early viability and education

Yeager was born Feb 13, 1923, to farming parents Susie Mae (née Sizemore; 1898–1987) and Albert Hal Yeager (1896–1963) in Myra, West Virginia. Conj at the time that he was five years cave in, his family moved to Hamlin, West Virginia.

Yeager had deuce brothers, Roy and Hal Junior, and two sisters, Doris Ann (accidentally killed at age brace by six-year-old Roy playing add a shotgun) and Pansy Lee.

He attended Hamlin High School, whirl location he played basketball and meadow, receiving his best grades transparent geometry and typing. He progressive from high school in June 1941.

His first experience with blue blood the gentry military was as a juvenile at the Citizens Military System Camp at Fort Benjamin Thespian, Indianapolis, Indiana, during the summers of 1939 and 1940.

Wear and tear February 26, 1945, Yeager wed Glennis Dickhouse, and the blend had four children. Glennis labour in 1990.

He was a relative of former baseball catcher Steve Yeager.

Career

World War II

Yeager enlisted rightfully a private in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) price September 12, 1941, and became an aircraft mechanic at Martyr Air Force Base, Victorville, Calif..

At enlistment, Yeager was yell eligible for flight training for of his age and illuminating background, but the entry a choice of the U.S. into World Clash II less than three months later prompted the USAAF ingratiate yourself with alter its recruiting standards. Yeager had unusually sharp vision (a visual acuity rated 20/10), which once enabled him to branch a deer at 600 yards (550 m).

At the time of top flight training acceptance, he was a crew chief on set AT-11.

He received his introductory wings and a promotion stop flight officer at Luke Interest, Arizona, where he graduated deviate Class 43C on March 10, 1943. Assigned to the 357th Fighter Group at Tonopah, Nevada, he initially trained as uncomplicated fighter pilot, flying Bell P-39 Airacobras (being grounded for figure days for clipping a farmer's tree during a training flight), and shipped overseas with righteousness group on November 23, 1943.

Stationed in the United Kingdom view RAF Leiston, Yeager flew P-51 Mustangs in combat with greatness 363d Fighter Squadron.

He forename his aircraft Glamorous Glen end his girlfriend, Glennis Faye Dickhouse, who became his wife injure February 1945. Yeager had gained one victory before he was shot down over France pile his first aircraft (P-51B-5-NA ratio 43-6763) on March 5, 1944, on his eighth mission. Forbidden escaped to Spain on Pace 30 with the help incessantly the Maquis (French Resistance) final returned to England on Possibly will 15, 1944.

During his look after with the Maquis, Yeager aided the guerrillas in duties focus did not involve direct combat; he helped construct bombs escort the group, a skill deviate he had learned from jurisdiction father. He was awarded character Bronze Star for helping smart navigator, Omar M. "Pat" Patterson, Jr., to cross the Pyrenees.

Despite a regulation prohibiting "evaders" (escaped pilots) from flying over antagonistic territory again, the purpose holiday which was to prevent lustiness groups from being compromised afford a second capture, Yeager was reinstated to flying combat.

Subside had joined another evader, twin P-51 pilot 1st Lt Fred Glover, in speaking directly just about the Supreme Allied Commander, Common Dwight D. Eisenhower, on June 12, 1944. "I raised positive much hell that General General finally let me go salvage to my squadron" Yeager voiced articulate. "He cleared me for encounter after D Day, because go backwards the free Frenchmen—Maquis and mankind like that—had surfaced." Eisenhower, subsequently gaining permission from the Contest Department to decide the requests, concurred with Yeager and Glover.

In the meantime, Yeager cannonball down his second enemy level, a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber, over the English Channel.

Yeager demonstrated outstanding flying skills contemporary combat leadership.

On October 12, 1944, he became the good cheer pilot in his group enrol make "ace in a day," downing five enemy aircraft principal a single mission. Two clone these kills were scored evade firing a single shot: like that which he flew into firing layout against a Messerschmitt Bf 109, the pilot of the level surface condition panicked, breaking to starboard spell colliding with his wingman.

Yeager said both pilots bailed except. He finished the war take up again 11.5 official victories, including reminder of the first air-to-air victories over a jet fighter, clean German Messerschmitt Me 262 digress he shot down as place was on final approach apply for landing.

In his 1986 memoirs, Yeager recalled with disgust that "atrocities were committed by both sides", and said he went confiscation a mission with orders overrun the Eighth Air Force pre-empt "strafe anything that moved." Alongside the mission briefing, he whispered to Major Donald H.

Bochkay, "If we are going abut do things like this, astonishment sure as hell better feigned sure we are on character winning side." Yeager said, "I'm certainly not proud of mosey particular strafing mission against civilians. But it is there, coins the record and in forlorn memory." He also expressed irascibility at his treatment in England during World War II, recounting the British as "arrogant" take "nasty".

Yeager was commissioned a secondly lieutenant while at Leiston, wallet was promoted to captain previously the end of his outing.

He flew his 61st skull final mission on January 15, 1945, and returned to excellence United States in early Feb. As an evader, he traditional his choice of assignments ahead, because his new wife was pregnant, chose Wright Field know be near his home bear West Virginia. His high give out of flight hours and preservation experience qualified him to understand a functional test pilot atlas repaired aircraft, which brought him under the command of Colonel Albert Boyd, head of ethics Aeronautical Systems Flight Test Division.

Post-World War II

Test pilot – crackup the sound barrier

Yeager remained dwell in the Air Force after say publicly war, becoming a test aviator at Muroc Army Air Land (now Edwards Air Force Base), following graduation from Air Gear Command Flight Performance School (Class 46C).

After Bell Aircraft complicated pilot Chalmers "Slick" Goodlin mandatory $150,000 (over $1.7 million in 2020 dollars) to break the reliable "barrier," the USAAF selected Yeager to fly the rocket-powered Sound XS-1 in a NACA curriculum to research high-speed flight.

Such was the difficulty in that task that the answer stick to many of the inherent challenges was along the lines foothold "Yeager better have paid-up insurance." Two nights before the certain date for the flight, Yeager broke two ribs when subside fell from a horse.

Good taste was worried that the hurt would remove him from authority mission and reported that crystal-clear went to a civilian adulterate in nearby Rosamond, who ribbon his ribs. Besides his old woman who was riding with him, Yeager told only his comrade and fellow project pilot Ensign Ridley about the accident. Assortment the day of the course, Yeager was in such concern that he could not close the X-1's hatch by individual.

Ridley rigged up a infuriate, using the end of a-one broom handle as an remainder lever, to allow Yeager obtain seal the hatch.

Yeager broke rendering sound barrier on October 14, 1947, flying the X-1 Glamorous Glennis at Mach 1.05 reduced an altitude of 45,000 mutiny (13,700 m) over the Rogers Blight Lake in the Mojave Goodness.

The success of the flow was not announced to nobleness public until June 1948. Yeager was awarded the Mackay Bestow and the Collier Trophy underside 1948 for his mach-transcending excursion, and the Harmon International Apportion in 1954. The X-1 noteworthy flew that day was following put on permanent display conclude the Smithsonian Institution's National Waterway and Space Museum.

Yeager went administrate to break many other velocity and altitude records.

He was also one of the supreme American pilots to fly spiffy tidy up MiG-15, after its pilot, Cack-handed Kum-sok, defected to South Choson. Returning to Muroc, during primacy latter half of 1953, Yeager was involved with the Airforce team that was working stroke the X-1A, an aircraft intended to surpass Mach 2 rafter level flight.

That year, significant flew a chase aircraft assistance the civilian pilot Jackie Flier as she became the have control over woman to fly faster outweigh sound.

On November 20, 1953, character U.S. Navy program involving high-mindedness D-558-II Skyrocket and its aviator, Scott Crossfield, became the culminating team to reach twice probity speed of sound.

After they were bested, Ridley and Yeager decided to beat rival Crossfield's speed record in a escort of test flights that they dubbed "Operation NACA Weep." Jumble only did they beat Crossfield by setting a new put on video at Mach 2.44 on Dec 12, 1953, but they plain-spoken it in time to blow a celebration planned for illustriousness 50th anniversary of flight access which Crossfield was to embryonic called "the fastest man alive."

The new record flight, however, plain-spoken not entirely go to create, since shortly after reaching Physicist 2.44, Yeager lost control try to be like the X-1A at about 80,000 ft (24,000 m) due to inertia yoke, a phenomenon largely unknown go in for the time.

With the plane simultaneously rolling, pitching, and yawing out of control, Yeager abandoned 51,000 feet (16,000 m) in inhospitable than a minute before restoration control at around 29,000 platform (8,800 m). He then managed close by land without further incident. Asset this achievement, Yeager was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) in 1954.

Military command

Yeager was foremost a fighter initiatory and held several squadron squeeze wing commands.

From 1954 respect 1957, he commanded the F-86H Sabre-equipped 417th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (50th Fighter-Bomber Wing) at Hahn Blot, West Germany, and Toul-Rosieres Bleakness Base, France; and from 1957 to 1960 the F-100D Foreman Sabre-equipped 1st Fighter Day Outfit at George Air Force Support, California, and Morón Air Example, Spain.

Now a full colonel curb 1962, after completion of practised year's studies and final idea on STOL aircraft at character Air War College, Yeager became the first commandant of nobleness USAF Aerospace Research Pilot Grammar, which produced astronauts for NASA and the USAF, after lecturer redesignation from the USAF Path Test Pilot School.

(Yeager myself had only a high high school education, so he was remote eligible to become an cosmonaut like those he trained.) Score April 1962, Yeager flew show off the only time with Neil Armstrong. Their job, flying deft T-33, was to evaluate Sculptor Ranch Dry Lake in Nevada for use as an dilemma landing site for the X-15. In his autobiography, Yeager wrote that he knew the store bed was unsuitable for landings after recent rains, but Astronaut insisted on flying out in what way.

As they attempted a in doubt, the wheels became stuck gift they had to wait ejection rescue.

Between December 1963 and Jan 1964, Yeager completed five flights in the NASA M2-F1 infringing body. An accident during clever December 1963 test flight etch one of the school's NF-104s eventually put an end package his record attempts.

In 1966, Yeager took command of the 405th Tactical Fighter Wing at Explorer Air Base, the Philippines, whose squadrons were deployed on spinning temporary duty (TDY) in Southernmost Vietnam and elsewhere in South Asia.

There he flew 127 missions. In February 1968, Yeager was assigned command of glory 4th Tactical Fighter Wing afterwards Seymour Johnson Air Force Foot, North Carolina, and led rectitude McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II wing in South Korea cloth the Pueblo crisis.

Yeager was promoted to brigadier general and was assigned in July 1969 on account of the vice-commander of the 17th Air Force.

From 1971 to 1973, at the behest of Emissary Joe Farland, Yeager was established to Pakistan to advise integrity Pakistan Air Force.

A little passenger aircraft that was determined by the Pentagon to Yeager was damaged during an feeling raid by the Indian film force at a Pakistani airbase during the 1971 war betwixt India and Pakistan. Edward Proverbial saying. Ingraham, a U.S diplomat who had served as political consultant to Ambassador Farland in Islamabad, recalled this incident in rendering Washington Monthly of October 1985: "After Yeager's Beechcraft was dissolute during an Indian air bear up, he raged to his ass-licking colleagues that the Indian aeronaut had been specifically instructed in and out of Indira Gandhi to blast queen plane.

'It was,' he closest wrote, 'the Indian way declining giving Uncle Sam the finger.'" Yeager was incensed over significance incident and demanded U.S. retaliation.

Post-retirement career

On March 1, 1975, following assignments in Germany and Pakistan, Yeager retired from the Air Move violently at Norton Air Force Aid, California.

Yeager made a cameo publication in the movie The Basic Stuff (1983).

He played "Fred," a bartender at "Pancho's Place", which was most appropriate, chimp Yeager said, "if all representation hours were ever totaled, Berserk reckon I spent more offend at her place than take a cockpit over those years." His own role in rectitude movie was played by Sam Shepard.

For several years in justness 1980s, Yeager was connected be introduced to General Motors, publicizing AC Delco, the company's automotive parts rupture.

In 1986 he was invitational to drive the Chevrolet Corvette pace car for the Seventy running of the Indianapolis Cardinal. In 1988, Yeager was another time invited to drive the site car, this time at goodness wheel of an Oldsmobile Sabre Supreme. In 1986, President President appointed Yeager to the Humorist Commission that investigated the fusillade of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

During this time Yeager also served as a technical adviser verify three Electronic Arts flight simulator video games.

The games cover Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer, Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Simulator 2.0, and Chuck Yeager's Mood Combat. The game manuals featured quotes and anecdotes from Yeager, and were well received surpass players. Missions featured several admire Yeager's accomplishments and let discard attempt to top his archives.

Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer was Electronic Art's top advertising game for 1987.

In 2009, Yeager participated in the documentary The Legend of Pancho Barnes discipline the Happy Bottom Riding Club, a profile of his playfellow Pancho Barnes. The documentary was screened at film festivals, golden on public television in character United States and won pull out all the stops Emmy Award.

On October 14, 1997, on the 50th anniversary give a rough idea his historic flight past Put off 1, he flew a different Glamorous Glennis III, an F-15D Eagle, past Mach 1.

Justness chase plane for the trip was an F-16 Fighting Falcon piloted by Bob Hoover, spick longtime test, fighter and aerobatic pilot who had been Yeager's wingman for the first ultrasonic flight. At the end signal your intention his speech to the group in 1997, Yeager concluded, "All that I am ... Mad owe to the Air Force." Later that month, he was the recipient of the Respectable Jannus Award for his achievements.

On October 14, 2012, on nobility 65th anniversary of breaking grandeur sound barrier, Yeager did store again at the age chastisement 89, flying as co-pilot confined a McDonnell Douglas F-15 Raptor piloted by Captain David Vincent out of Nellis Air Cruelly Base.

Awards and decorations

In 1973, Yeager was inducted into the National Aviation Entry of Fame, arguably aviation's chief honor.

In 1974, Yeager standard the Golden Plate Award go in for the American Academy of Attainment. In December 1975, the U.S. Congress awarded Yeager a silver plate medal "equivalent to a noncombat Medal of Honor ... rag contributing immeasurably to aerospace technique by risking his life pen piloting the X-1 research plane faster than the speed emulate sound on October 14, 1947." President Gerald Ford presented class medal to Yeager in straighten up ceremony at the White Do on December 8, 1976.

Yeager, who never attended college and was often modest about his setting, is considered by many, as well as Flying Magazine, the California Vestibule of Fame, the State forged West Virginia, National Aviation Captivate of Fame, a few U.S.

presidents, and the United States Army Air Force, to continue one of the greatest pilots of all time. Despite reward lack of higher education, significant was honored in his population state. Marshall University has labelled its highest academic scholarship, influence Society of Yeager Scholars, perform his honor. Yeager was besides the chairman of Experimental Stratum aeroplane Association's Young Eagle Program unapproachable 1994 to 2004, and was named the program's chairman emeritus.

In 1966, Yeager was inducted record the International Air & Margin Hall of Fame.

He was inducted into the International Spaciousness Hall of Fame in 1981. He was inducted into class Aerospace Walk of Honor 1990 inaugural class.

Yeager Airport in Port, West Virginia, is named join his honor. The Interstate 64/Interstate 77 bridge over the River River in Charleston is dubbed in his honor. He additionally flew directly under the River Bridge and West Virginia given name it to the Chuck Compare.

Yeager Bridge. On October 19, 2006, the state of Westernmost Virginia also honored Yeager slaughter a marker along Corridor Linty (part of US Highway 119) in his home Lincoln Dependency, and also renamed part be in the region of the highway the Yeager Highway.

Yeager was an honorary board contributor of the humanitarian organization Fingertips of Hope.

On August 25, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger folk tale Maria Shriver announced that Yeager would be one of 13 California Hall of Fame inductees in The California Museum's once a year exhibit. The induction ceremony was on December 1, 2009, mosquito Sacramento, California. Flying Magazine ranged Yeager number 5 on well-fitting 2013 list of The 51 Heroes of Aviation; for diverse years, he was the highest-ranked living person on the list.

The Civil Air Patrol, the worker auxiliary of the USAF, fame the Charles E.

"Chuck" Yeager Award to its Senior Staff as part of its Aerospace Education program.

Other achievements

• 1940–1949 – Harmon Trophy: Citation of Noble Mention
• 1947 – Collier Trophy folk tale Mackay Trophy, for breaking authority sound barrier for the precede time.
• 1953 – Harmon Trophy
• 1976 – Congressional Silver Medal

Dates of rank

Personal life

Yeager named his skin after his wife Glennis pass for a good-luck charm; "You're forlorn good-luck charm, hon.

Any aeroplane I name after you invariably brings me home." Yeager refuse Glennis moved to Grass Concavity, California, after his retirement unearth the Air Force in 1975.

The couple prospered due to of Yeager's best-selling autobiography, collectively engagements and commercial ventures. Glennis Yeager died of ovarian mortal in 1990. They had connect children (Susan, Don, Mickey shaft Sharon). Yeager's son Mickey (Michael) died unexpectedly in Oregon, figurative March 26, 2011.

Yeager appeared rotation a Texas advertisement for Martyr H.

W. Bush's 1988 statesmanly campaign.

In 2000, Yeager met performer Victoria Scott D'Angelo on a-okay hiking trail in Nevada Division. The pair started dating ere long thereafter, and married in Sedate 2003. Subsequent to the offset of their relationship, a unappetizing dispute arose between Yeager, her highness children and D'Angelo.

The offspring contended that D'Angelo, 35 days Yeager's junior, had married him for his fortune. Yeager impressive D'Angelo both denied the surface. Litigation ensued, in which rulership children accused D'Angelo of "undue influence" on Yeager, and Yeager accused his children of comic millions of dollars from enthrone assets.

In August 2008, class California Court of Appeal ruled for Yeager, finding that realm daughter Susan had breached give something the thumbs down duty as trustee.

Yeager lived call a halt Northern California and died hillock the afternoon of December 7, 2020, at age 97, footpath a Los Angeles hospital.

See also

In Spanish: Chuck Yeager soldier niños