Chuck Yeager: RIP

[Steggy]

A man who definitely had the right stuff. Chuck Yeager, 1923-2020

[NP317]

Sigh.
RussN

[pete]

Now that just sucks.

[10KPete]

Nooooooo! He is my hero from the first and growing up while he was doing his best work had a very positive influence on me.

We've lost another legend....

Pete

[armscor 1]

He was the right stuff.
RIP.

[RMinMN]

There's a saying in the Air Force, "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots but there are no bold old pilots". I think Chuck Yeager put the lie to that.

[SteveM]

Yeager had 11 kills and one "assist" in his P51 Mustang, so he was shown as 11-1/2 kills.

He flew the famous sound barrier flight with two broken ribs that he hid from everyone but a civilian doctor, his wife, and a buddy who rigged up a broomstick so that he could lever the door on the cockpit closed.

He was an icon to my generation, but imagine the effect he had on the generation who were kids at the time of his flight (which actually was not made public for three years). I'm sure a LOT of people became pilots because of him.

He actually trained astronauts but was not allowed to become one because he only had a high school education.

Steve

[Rich_Carlstedt]

What a Legend , and my boyhood hero as well
One favorite memory was a radio show interview when the announcer asked
how he got shot down in German territory and not be captured ?
and Chuck responded
" There isn't a German alive that can catch a West Virginia boy in the hills"

RIP Chuck--you did good !
https://achievement.org/achiever/general-chuck-yeager/

Rich

[Mr Ron]

He was certainly not "politically correct" like today's phony's.

[SteveM]

One favorite memory was a radio show interview when the announcer asked
how he got shot down in German territory and not be captured ?
and Chuck responded
" There isn't a German alive that can catch a West Virginia boy in the hills"

It was policy that fighter pilots who had escaped after being shot down were not allowed to fly again, as they could compromise underground organization.

He lobbied like hell to get back in the air, all the way up to Ike and was finally allowed back in the air after d-day because all the underground groups were now operating in the open.

Steve