Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review, February 5, 2021

Yeager’s History: At the Speed of Life

Feb. 13, 1923 — Born, Myra, W.Va. bre-equipped 1st Fighter Day Squadron, George
June 1941 — High school graduation AFB, Victorville, Calif., and Morón AB, Spain
September 1941 — Joined Army; trained as 1961 — Completed yearlong studies at Air
aircraft mechanic War College. Thesis on short takeoff and land-
Summer 1942 — Under the Flying Sergeants ing aircraft.
program, began pilot training 1962 — Became first commandant of the re-
Early 1943 — Earned his wings, flew state- named U.S. Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot
side until England transfer School, preparing future astronauts for NASA
November 1943 — Began flying P-51 Mus- and the Air Force
tangs against Luftwaffe Dec. 10, 1963 — Became first pilot to eject
March 1944 — On his 8th mission, shot down in a full pressure suit after rocket-assisted NF-
Me-109 fighter and He-111K bomber before be- 104 he was testing went into a flat spin nearly
ing shot down over France. 21 miles above earth. He sustained burns from
Late spring 1944 — Returned to England af- the ejection
ter escape with help of French resistance. 1966 — Commanded 405th Tactical Fighter
Summer 1944 — Flew 56 combat missions, Wing, Clark AB, Philippines, deploying on rota-
shooting down 11 more German aircraft, includ- tional duty in South Vietnam and other locations.
ing five Messerschmidt 109s in one day, and four Flew 127 combat missions
on another February 1968 — Commanded 4th Tactical
July 1945 — Tested P-80 Shooting Star and Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., and
P-84 Thunder jet fighters at Wright Field, Ohio. led F-4 Phantom II wing in South Korea during
Also flew and evaluated captured German and Pueblo crisis
Japanese fighter aircraft 1969 — Promoted to brigadier general and
August 1947 — Arrived at Muroc Army Air assigned as vice commander of 17th Air Force
Corps Base (now Edwards) as Air Force project 1971-1973 — At request of U.S. ambassa-
officer on Bell X-1 rocket research aircraft dor, assigned as adviser to Pakistani Air Force.
Oct. 14, 1947 — Flew the X-1 beyond the Beechcraft assigned to Yeager by the Pentagon
speed of sound at the age of 24 was damaged in air raid on Pakistani airbase dur-
June 10, 1948 — U.S. government finally an- ing 1971 war with India. Yeager complained the Air Force photograph
nounces first Supersonic Flight. Indian pilot was instructed to attack his plane, A signed photograph by Capt. Chuck Yeager sitting in Bell X-1 cockpit.
1953 — Flew the Bell X-1A to twice the speed saying it was, “the Indian way of giving Uncle
of sound, Mach 2.435, and then saved the aircraft Sam the finger.”
when it went out of control, safely landing it June 1973 — Named Director of the Air 1986 — Appointed by President Ronald Rea- III, an F-15D Eagle past Mach 1. Chase plane
1954-1957 — Commanded 417th Fighter- Force Inspection and Safety Center at Norton gan to the National Commission on Space and pilot in F-15 Fighting Falcon was test pilot Bob
Bomber Squadron (50th Fighter-Bomber Wing) AFB, Calif. the team of investigators into the cause of the Hoover, who was Yeager’s wingman for the first
at Hahn AB, West Germany March 1975 — Following assignments in Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. supersonic flight. At the end of his speech to the
1957 — Toul-Rosieres AB, France Germany and Pakistan, retired from the Air Oct. 14, 1997 — On 50th anniversary of first crowd in 1997, Yeager concluded, “All that I am;
1957-1960 — Commanded F-100D Super Sa- Force at Norton AFB, Calif. Mach 1 flight, he flew a new Glamorous Glennis I owe to the Air Force.”

February 24 • 10aM - NooN

Antelope Valley Economic Development

and Growth Enterprise presents Peter Zeihan

a geopolitical strategist and author of
The Accidental Superpower and The Absent Superpower

Register at avedgeca.org • Register NOW

Aerotech News and Review
6 www.aerotechnews.com ........ facebook.com/aerotechnewsandreview February 5, 2021