Chuck Yeager Biography
Chuck Yeager, born Charles Elwood Yeager on February 13, 1923, in Myra, West Virginia, was a popular American Air Force policeman, aviator, and also test pilot. He is most notoriously recognized for coming to be the initial pilot to break the throughout a manned, powered trip in 1947.
Early Life and also Education
Yeager matured in a humble family members, the kid of Albert Hal and also Susie Mae Yeager. He had 2 bros as well as two siblings. Throughout his childhood years, Yeager established a love for the outdoors, as well as angling and also hunting were amongst his favored activities. He graduated from Hamlin High School in 1941 and also registered in the Citizens Military Training Camp program during the summer seasons of his high school years.
Military Career as well as World War II
Adhering To the United States' entry right into World War II, Yeager enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in September 1941. He ended up being an airplane mechanic as well as was later selected for pilot training under the Flying Sergeants Program. After finishing his training as a fighter pilot, he was appointed as a flight officer and sent to Europe.
While offering in the European movie theater, Yeager flew an overall of 64 combat objectives, rejecting 13 adversary airplane, consisting of 5 in a solitary day. On his eighth objective, Yeager was obliterated over France, but he evaded capture and also handled to get away back to England with the help of the French Resistance.
Breaking the Sound Barrier
After the war, Yeager succeeded as a test pilot at Muroc Army Airfield in California, where he flew airplane like the P-80 Shooting Star and also the X-1 rocket plane. On October 14, 1947, Yeager made history as the initial pilot to damage the sound barrier, getting to a document rate of more than 700 miles per hour in his Bell X-1 aircraft, which he named "Glamorous Glennis" after his partner.
This innovative achievement catapulted Yeager right into the international spotlight, and he spent the following numerous years continuing to check innovative aircraft, such as the X-2, X-3, X-4, and also X-5. Yeager additionally functioned as the very first commander of the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where he played a crucial function in training astronauts like
Neil Armstrong for NASA's area program.
Later Career as well as Retirement
Along with his test pilot duties, Yeager held numerous command settings throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Amongst them, he functioned as a squadron leader throughout the Korean War as well as helped to develop the 405th Fighter Wing in Europe during the Cold War. Yeager was advertised to the ranking of Brigadier General in 1969, and in 1971, he became the Director of Aerospace Safety for the Air Force, managing mishap examination and aircraft safety.
Yeager retired from the Air Force in 1975, but his participation in aviation continued. He set brand-new speed and altitude records in the F-15 Eagle and also flew trip demos in vintage aircraft like the P-51 Mustang.
Personal Life
Chuck Yeager wed Glennis Faye Dickhouse in February 1945, and together they had four kids: Donald, Michael, Sharon, and also Susan. Glennis died in 1990, and Yeager later on wed Victoria Scott D'Angelo in 2003. Yeager, an established outdoors type, taken pleasure in searching as well as fishing throughout his life.
Legacy as well as Honors
Chuck Yeager passed away on December 7, 2020, at the age of 97. His extraordinary success as an aviator earned him numerous awards as well as awards, consisting of the Congressional Silver Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Yeager's exceptional occupation and bravery remain to work as a motivation for generations of pilots and air travel lovers across the globe.
Our collection contains 9 quotes who is written / told by Chuck.
Related authors: Neil Armstrong (Astronaut), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)
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