Chuck Yeager and True American Greatness
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- Опубліковано 7 гру 2020
- Chuck Yeager passed away last night at the age of 97 leaving behind a legacy of greatness as a warfighter and test pilot. In this episode, Ward reviews the details of an amazing and uniquely American life.
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I worshipped General Yeager as a kid after seeing The Right Stuff in the early 80s. My father hunted down some means by which to contact the General asking for an autograph. My dad had no idea if the letter sent would even be answered.
Sure enough 4 months later a beautiful black and white autographed photo of Chuck in full flight gear standing in front of a Tiger shark II arrived. It hangs in my office to this day.
Ward, as I watched this video I couldn't help but get teary eyed. I spend most of my adult life in the Navy around fighter aircraft as a maintainer and became a private pilot along the way. I can remember very vividly talking to Chuck Yeager one on one at the Oshkosh Flyin many years ago. He and one of his best friends, Bob Hoover would drive around the Oshkosh grounds in a golf cart and one time they stopped by the Ultralight field and started talking to myself and another general aviation guy about Ultralight Aircraft. I still am amazed at this fact that here is a guy that broke the sound barrier but still wanted to talk and watch Ultralight Aircraft. He was and will always remain a pilots pilot. He autographed my book "Chuck Yeager" that day at a book signing and is my most treasured aviation item. I still remember his comment during a safety talk. In an emergency always fly the airplane first then deal with the situation. Sorry this was so long. Thank you for a great tribute.
Yes he's my greatest HERO why I wanted to FLY after TOP GUN Chuck was my greatest inspiration. Bob Hoover is the other. He was a natural
Many pilots for first rule FLY THE AC FIRST and foremost most important item. Watxh air disasters on TV and the biggest thing I see they don't do is FLY THE AIRCRAFT Many pilots flew into mountains because they go back to basics aviate navigate communicate
How they can get lost FLY into mountains is just mind boggling not knowing your MCA Is like not knowing you V SPEEDS and stalling cause opps you didn't know
Always amazed me that Chuck was ONLY a brigadier.
@@soonerfrac4611 he was a flier. They only made him a STAR at the end of his career cause once he became a BRIG it’s definitely all over on the flight line no more flights no more flying. NOPE. I bet he turned down many chances of advancing just to say flying
@@soonerfrac4611 I never got the impression that he was a politician...
@@AerobaticsPilot Even Yeager credits Bob Hoover with being the best pilot ever. And Yeager was never known for modesty. LOL Don't get me wrong, Yeager was great and it's not bragging if you can back it up, and he could!
“If Chuck Yeager didn’t exist, Hollywood would have had to invent him” - right on, Ward!
Those older Air-Force guys were tough. I heard Robin Olds had more kills than is officially stated. He hid kills so he could stay in Vietnam...
Later while at the Air-Force-Academy he would run the obstacle course with the cadets. That is so awesome. That generation was amazing.
Yeah I love Robin olds I tried for years to get his mustache That's a real fighter pilot mustache
I agree older generations were true men, we have been so feminized its shameful to even think we are anything like how men use to be! Its really odd how the system is making masculinity a thing to be ashamed of. People like Chuck would be arrested or made fun of these days in the military especially lol
Robin olds is the only glider pilot to shoot down a Bf-109. Ran his P-38 out of gas due to improper fuel tank selector position on his gun run on the Bf-109, shot the -109 down, restarted the P-38, and sallied forth! That’s a pilot!
@@bobbyguns100 Don't worry. Hard times make good men, good men make good times, good times make weak men, weak men make hard times. A few decades from now and we'll be back at "hard times make good men"
I think the best thing about Yeager is, he made all of those accomplishments not to show off, or for the money, but because he absolutely LOVED flying, and he flew airplanes until he couldn't climb into an airplane anymore. He even taught his second wife, Victoria, to fly.
And, he was damn good at it, too.
I mean, how many pilots have you known that were passed up for becoming an astronaut because of a lack of a diploma, yet ended up helping to teach astronauts how to fly their spacecraft!?
That right there says it all.
General Yeager used to enjoy fishing on the Kalama river, very close to where I grew up. In the late 1990s I managed the Pearson Air Museum on historic Pearson Field, Vancouver Washington.l He was a frequent visitor and would fly into Pearson where he would meet up with his fishing buddy and fishing rod designer Bob Reader. From my perch at the museum, I saw him waiting for his ride down at the gas pumps. He had been waiting a bit longer than usual, so I took advantage of the situation and walked down to talk with him. With the opportunity presenting itself, I invited General Yeager to a personalized tour of the facility. When his ride finally arrived, we parted ways, and I thanked him for his visit. I told him that it was a great pleasure to meet him, and he said the pleasure was all his, and, "Don't spin-in". Chuck Yeager...The Chuck Yeager... told me not to spin-in! So, do you think I am ever going to spin-in??? Not on your sweet little bippy!
In his autobiography which I read years ago, he talks about fishing for his favorite fish to eat. I believe it was a Golden Trout that can only be found in one of the western states… Utah perhaps? Made me hungry! 😉
I was an Army Brat living in Tokyo in 1948 when my Dad told me that Chuck Yeager had "broken the sound barrier". He was very proud that Yeager was, as we all were, a "West Virginia boy". In the '70s I found the nose of a B-29 carrying nose art inscribed "The Dutchess" in a local Tucson salvage yard. Rumor had it that it was one of the A-bomb planes so I set about trying to find about its history. Chuck Yeager was then president of a jet leasing company so I simply called him on the phone. He was on the phone for 45 minutes, very helpful and friendly but he could not recall "The Dutchess". He gave me the phone number of Chuck Sweeney and I also talked to him but without success in identifying that airplane. The opinion of these two men was that it may have been a research B-29 out of Los Alamos.
RIP General Yeager, an accomplished pilot and a good man.
Amazing. I've met Chuck, I was 5 years old but dad was a Squadron Leader in the RNZAF and we were at an airshow at Whenuapai Air force base. You could spot this guy a mile away and he just bowled straight up to dad and I and introduced himself. Now my dad doesn't get phased by too much but I still remember the look of total astonishment on his face, and to this day I still remember vividly meeting him. He just exuded charisma, looking back it was a massive honour.
Chuck Yeager was my 2nd cousin, once removed. Pretty cool. This knowledge came in handy once in Tech School at the Medina Annex in San Antonio. On a Friday afternoon assembly our shirt asked a trivia question, and if we answered correctly the entire student population was allowed to go back to the dorms early. "Who was the first person to break the sound barrier?" My arm shot up and I was called on. I said " Chuck Yeager, have a good weekend!" Fun stuff. Miss those days.
Interestingly enough Chuck Yeager was the first to be officially recorded breaking it in level flight. But is unlikely to have been the first person to ever do it. There are plausible claims as far back as 1942 of pilots having broken the sound barrier in dives, and even some (less plausible) claims from German and British Jets that broke it in level flight.
That's a great story haha!
Fascinating story Ward. My father went to flight school with Gen. Yeager, class of 43C. They did not know each other because my dad went to the P-38 program instead of single-engine fighters. My dad ended up with 6 confirmed victories in the Lightning. About 10 years ago I had an e-mail exchange with Gen. Yeager. I told him that I had a set of orders with both his name and my dad’s name appointing them as pilots. He, Yeager, enthusiastically asked me for a copy of the orders which I did email to him! Yeager was appointed a Flight Officer, roughly the equivalent to today’s Warrant Officer. My father received a commission as a 2Lt.. The class of 1943 was one of the first “Flying Sergeants” classes in the Air Corps. As resources became scarce, the Flying Sergeant program went away and everyone received either a commission or an appointment as a Flight Officer. You are doing great work here. BZ to ya’!
Beautifully spoken Ward, you have a gift for bringing a story to life.
I had the honor of meeting Chuck Yeager back in 85. He was the guest speaker at our graduation ceremony in Sheppard. Prior to the event we (our class) had a private meeting with him at the O'club. Sitting around in a circle, hearing him talk about his flying experiences, answering all the questions we young pilots had and all the time he did not behave like he was something special. He was a really down to earth guy, easy going, relaxed, he lived and breathed flying and that was fine with us, since it was the only thing we, as young pilots, could talk about anyway. Of course we all got our copies of his book signed with a personal message and that evening at the auditorium there was not a single seat available, the place was packed, people were even standing in the back of the theater. Think the whole training wing was present, everyone wanted to hear him speak about his flying experience and everyone wanted to meet him. I realized 'wow, this guy has done so much during his flying career, there is no way I will even be able to get close to a tenth of what he has done'. Absolutely amazing encounter. One more thing has stuck with me my whole life. One of our instructors had the honor of picking him up from his hometown in a T-38. Of course he let Yeager fly the whole trip (on the way to Sheppard and back out again) and all he said was: 'I have never seen such aircraft handling as Yeager has'. At that time Yeager was already in pension, not current on the T-38 (it was actually about 10 years after his official retirement), but he flew the plane with such precision and ease that even a seasoned instructor pilot had to say: 'he is still a better pilot than I am today'. Remarkable performance, a born aviator and a great honor to have been able to meet him.
Blue skies.
Ward,
I had the honor and privilege along with my son to meet him at the grand opening of the Cabalas in Wheeling, WV.
He was gracious and friendly considering all the people lined up to meet him, more so when he found out I was retired Navy. My son still cherishes the autographed Cabalas catalogue he received along with the numerous photos he took with us......R.I.P. General Yeager, they don't make 'em like that anymore.
Yeager's autobiography is one of the best books I've read. Incredible story.
My aunt (a Navy pilot's wife) told us kids about Chuck Yeager one evening
while we were watching the Bridges at Toko Ri. That was the first time I'd heard of him.
Many years later when the Right Stuff was published the book really resonated with me.
Thanks to the movie Yeager got the recognition he deserved. Finally got to see him fly
at Edwards in '97. Good times...
Being a West Virginian, I've always been proud of the fact that I've had the opportunity to meet Mr Chuck Yeager twice during my life, and to also consider him a true American hero. Very personable, down to earth, easy to talk to, and who seemed to always come up with a few minutes to speak with his fellow West Virginians. RIP
Let's go Mountaineers! I was born in Logan in '85
Being a West Virginian as well we always learned about Yeager and the Rocket Boys, unfortunately never had the chance to meet him before he died
In the mid 80's my dad was sick with cancer. My at the time girlfriend decided to look up Mrs. Yeager through 411, as a cancer survivor, and call her to see if she could send my copy of Yeager to her to have the General autograph it for me. They wound up speaking for an hour and became pen pals, something that doesn't exist anymore. Mrs. Yeager did have the General autograph my book and it is one of my most treasured possessions.
As impressive as his life story is, I'm somehow most impressed that he was somehow able to get an audience with Eisenhower while serving as an enlisted man. Can you imagine what 5 minutes of Eisenhower's time must have been worth at that point in history? That says so much about his character, you don't just muscle your way into that meeting, he must have been a hell of a guy.
Indeed
Chuck Yeager was not enlisted when he met with Eisenhower. He was trained under the flying seargents program. Once these seargents get their wings they were promoted to Second Luitenent. Carol is wrong about this part.
@@williampeek7943, actually, you're mostly right. Not all enlisted pilots were commissioned on earning their wings. Those who were underage or had no schooling after high school often stayed enlisted and flew combat as enlisted. A second cousin once removed of mine enlisted right out of high school, was sent to flight training in the sergeants program, graduated with high marks and was sent to a bomber squadron, where he did a tour in North Africa and Italy, finishing up as an aircraft commander Sergeant with a 1st Lieutenant copilot and two Captains as navigator and bombardier. When they finished their tour they were given a plane to ferry back stateside with a couple Generals as passengers, one of whom was so impressed that he wanted that crew for his own personal plane. So Elton got his commission, arranged by the General and the crew flew him around the country selling war bonds, usually with one or more MOH winners, aces, or other heroes in tow to show to the crowds. The General was big on education, and for the rest of his career, kept sending Elton books to read and correspondence courses to take.
When I was in the Navy in the early 70s I met an E9 Master Chief Naval Air Pilot who had been flying enlisted since early in WWII.
So well done, as I've come to expect from you. I agree, Chuck Yeager and my dad (102 last month) will always epitomise our greatest generation for me, when great people did the right thing because they were called by their abilities and circumstances to do it well.
"... well done ...", I've known and worked with many naval and Marine aviators in ny 34 year career, one would expect no less, based on my personal experience. This is the sort of UA-cam content that keeps me up when I should be going to (well, in) bed.
I remember asking for and receiving his autobiography for my 14th birthday. The man was a legend!
A true American hero. I had the great privilege of meeting General Yeager when he was the keynote speaker at the Women in Aviation Conference held in San Diego a number of years ago. He remained with us for the duration of the conference. He enthusiastically mingled with us at the closing night banquet held at the San Diego Air and Space Museum, sharing his vast knowledge of many of the planes on display. Rest in Peace General.
"Square-jawed, ... no nonsense look..." a steely-eyed fighter pilot and one of America's great men! And you are absolutely right, there is no one like Chuck Yeager. Thanks for this.
Thank You. I was NPQ from flight school (Marine). I later became an instrument rated private pilot with my own plane. Yeager was a living inspiration for me.
"I've been shot at, shot up, and shot down, but I still use AC Delco parts in my Corvette." I remember that commercial from long ago... I got the chance to meet General Yeager at the Dallas Safari Expo one year, get a picture with him, had it developed and blown up to an 8x10", and had him sign it the next day. What a great man with a great story. Thanks for sharing, Ward!
I’m a professional aviator. I’ve read Yeager several times as well as The Right Stuff. Gen. Yeager was an amazing man. His accomplishments could never be duplicated today.
Although this is a US focused channel could you have a look at Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown. A UK test pilot who flew 487 types.
I’ve seen a couple of interviews with Eric Brown. Always humble, he described that someone had been through his flight history in detail & identified a handful of occasions where Brown could easily have died. Brown was able to recall in vivid detail what & how each had happened. An amazing gentleman, he was short of stature, and described how a taller peer had died of a broken neck, when an experimental type went violently out of control. Brown clearly had exceptional talents, but he claimed the most important attribute which allowed him to survive was preparation. He’d envisaged every circumstance he could & what he’d do about each.
It’s all but impossible that anyone will beat Eric “Winkle” Brown’s tally of different types flown.
Another aviation legend
Eric Brown and Hanna Reitsch 2 best test pilots in my opinion (greater than Yager without a doubt)
Best obituary I have ever been privileged to hear and be continually in awe of.
Thank You:
Chuck Yeager
1923 - 2020
R I P
I met Gen Chuck Yeager in Germany 1988 while in AFJROTC during a commencement ceremony for his grand children who attended my high school. He was a real laid back guy who was full of jokes and very easy to talk to.
I got into avation industry because of his book and the movie. I got to spend 33 years of my life working at Edwards, i have seen all the sites there where this testing took place. I got my pilot's ticket there at the aero club. Flying from the runway he used. He was a great American. I was inspired by him,and got to meet him shortly after his wife died when he toured our site on south base on the B-2 program. Herd him speak at a engineering awards dinner.
This was a great recap on Chuck Yeager's life and legacy, thanks for the video!
I agree for sure. I only wish Ward would have put some photos and short clips during his 22 minutes about General Yeager. There are plenty of incredible photos of Mr. Yeager.
The Right Stuff and Yeager's own biography are two of the best books Ive have ever read.
Anyway, Ive just discovered this channel and am enjoying the videos. Keep them coming.
Welcome aboard, Chris!
As a young helicopter pilot I read the book and about a month later I met him and his wife in the heliport in Sydney Australia. He was very generous with his time. I still have a photo of myself standing with him at the heliport. Great memory great man
One of a kind.
We need to rediscover the right stuff in this country.
Chuck Yeager ... Great human being ... Immense courage ... Absolute flying skill ... an inspiration to pilots, long after we are gone.
You and I are the same age Mr. Carroll. You and I both know what "Make America Great Again" really means. You are blessed Mr. Carroll to have a diversity of Americans who love aviation, and love your episodes. I read Chuck Yeager's book. I loved it. I love all your episodes. Chuck Yeager visited McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis in the mid 1980s when I was an avionics engineer working there. He was a great American whose courage and intelligence advanced aviation for this country. He was another Jimmy Doolittle but better. I also knew some "Tuskegee Airmen" who knew Chuck Yeager. They all had this in common, they and Chuck Yeager would have never worn a "Make America Great Again" hat. He knew about the injustice and racial hatred and bigotry in this country. He flew in a segregated Army Air Corps. Chuck Yeager admitted to enduring prejudice against him because of his West Virginia accent and his "working poor" family background and his lack of a college education. He also admitted there were three reasons for his opportunities in America: he worked extremely hard to get good, he outworked everybody, and he was a "white man" in America. There was a "golden aviation age" era in America, which is what I hope you meant by "when America was great" with men like Chuck Yeager during that "golden aviation age" era. But there was never a time in America that was great for African Americans. Truth is Mr. Carroll, no white American who lives by "Love One Another" would ever agree with "Make America Great Again" or yearn to return to 1947 or the 1950s or any time in American history. Many young people of color are beginning to watch your episodes and are becoming inspired to serve their country as military aviators. But you know what "these young people" "will have to overcome" in addition to the incredible hard work required to become American military aviators. Chuck Yeager was one of those Americans who was truthful about this.
As someone who has read “The Right Stuff” a few times, and enjoyed it every time, thank you, Commander, for your interpretation, née slant, re: the great General Chuck Yeager. Our great Nation will forever miss this Hero.
I got the pleasure of meeting him at DEN when he was flying somewhere commercially after riding in the F15 for his birthday. The CRJ200 crew I was talking with recognized him and like little schoolgirls we together worked up the courage to ask him for a picture, and of course he was happy to do so.
You framed this so well -- what great looks like. Yeager embodied many qualities that may seem in short supply, today. Encouraging the right stuff is an opportunity that we can all share.
You ask us to ponder a different era. And oddly, my pondering wasn’t around aircraft but artillery. I grew up in Fort sill Oklahoma the child of the post Sergeant Major. My dad would take me with him to work to “fire the cannons” and I don’t mean just pull the lanyard, but actually pack the shells with powder, fit the live warheads, and compute and set the trajectories. Then fire at a target on a hill a few miles away. He also taught me a trick of shooting one round at a high geometry and another “timed” one at a low geometry and they hit the target and explode in unison.
I was perhaps around 12 at that time, and I never thought anything of it until this video. I realized that would never happen today. Just imagine the headline, “Sergeant lets child play with canon” 😱
As Ward said. That could never happen today.
But the experience shaped me, as I became fascinated with the mathematics of how artillery worked. My future career would be based on this fascination as I applied it to predictive problems of life.
I got my private pilots license while on Active Duty with the Army due to some things I'd read and seen about Chuck Yeager. He was an inspiration to many of us and as I age and can no longer fly, I still look at what he has done and I so enjoy your videos because they remind me of the love I have for aviation
Ward, I think that was one of the best off the cuff descriptions of Gen Yeager!! I really like your content! Keep up the great work.
Thank you for your kind and heartfelt words regarding Chuck Yeager. It's important to learn the amazing circumstances surrounding his life.
I met Chuck Yeager hiking up in the sierras back in the 90s, while working out in China Lake. I was hiking up one the trails (~10K ft), with my two yellow labs (see my profile pic) and there was some family coming down the trail in the opposite direction and the dad is looking all kinds of giddy, and starts saying "hey, Chuck Yeager is back there." I'm like (saying under my breath), dude you've been altitude too long, and I continued up the trail. The dogs and I get to a clearing where people are taking a water break and my dogs quickly raced up to these two old codgers standing against a large boulder, and one of my dogs jams his muzzle right into the guys crotch and of course I am embarrassed and ran over to pull his nose out and instantly realized it was indeed Chuck Yeager (he has such a distinctive look, it was obviously him). I'm totally embarrassed...here I am in front of Chuck Yeager with a million questions to ask him but I had to grab my dogs and pretend I didn't know the guy!
Thank you very much, Ward, for this wonderful tribute to a truly humble and brave American Hero! I've read "The Right Stuff", watched and own the movie and read General Yeager's autobiography. I totally agree with you that 1947 was the greatest year in American history all due to the courage and devotion of The Greatest Generation. I am grateful to you and all of America's Military Aviators for serving in the tradition of such a great man as Chuck Yeager! My favorite quote from General Yeager's book is this: "There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots. But there's no old, bold pilots!". Keep up your great work! 🇺🇲
I can remember back in the 80's getting a copy of Chuck Yeager Flight Simulator and it was the hottest game in Australia at the time. It was on an Apple 2E computer. Personally this is the best channel on YT I have ever watched.
It was one of the best flight sims for me when I was growing up. (Aust Too)
As a child I had no idea who Mr. Yeager was.... all I knew was he was the guy from my video game who popped up to give you tips on how to fly and defeat the enemy! Only years later would I realize that the man from that game was real and most likely one of if not the best fighter pilots to ever live! Great Story and job Mr.Caroll. 👏 👍 👌
I read Yeager many years ago. Your honoring him was excellent and on the mark. Thanks.
The book "Yeager" is a wonderful read. When I think of Yeager I think of the guts it took to climb into the X-1 rocket, get dropped from the belly of a B-29, and purposely fly past the speed of sound. Many scientists said was nothing but a "brick wall in the sky" that would make his rocket disintegrate and he knew that, but he did it anyway. - It's one thing to say, "He was brave" but I really try to put myself in that position. Scientists telling you that you WILL die upon reaching the speed of sound, and doing it anyway. Amazing man.
Very good, Ward. Spot on. I have seen it all since 1950. We were great in the 50's 60's 70's 80's 90's 2000's 2010's.....................!!!!! Not so good now.
Chuck Yeager made America Great. Thanks!
A beautiful tribute to the man who inspired me to chase my dream of being a fighter pilot in the USAF.
A DAMNED FINE AMERICAN IF EVER THERE WAS ONE. The man who broke the sound barrier and a legend of flight.
I read his book "Yeager" and he said he went to Muroc from Wright Pat as he was familiar with high pressure systems from working with his Dad who was a Gas Driller. His book also told of his friendship with Bob Hoover! And in his early days in the AAF rat racing in his P-39 around and around in the Meteor Crater! One time he bent the P-39's wing being so low he clipped a telephone pole. Yes he was a Natural Born Stick & Rudder man!
A couple of corrections. He was promoted to flight officer (equivalent to warrant officer) after graduating from pilot training at Luke Field. He subsequently was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and ended the war as a captain. There were other flying sergeants during the war, and most of them became either flight officers or received a commission. Also, even though he never graduated from the AF test pilot school (because it didn't exist at the time), later in his career he was the commanding officer of that school.
Usually, and unfortunately we rarely realize the value of a person until they are gone. Chuck was such a legend everyone with a working brain knew there would never be another one... ever. I had already seen the video of him taking a ride at 89 before seeing this video, and I still remember one part like I watched it 10 minutes ago. Like you said, in a way that's "uniquely Yeager", he's talking to someone after climbing in the back. He points to the instruments and says to paraphrase, "That thang tells ya what your Angle of Attack is. What a stupid instrument. If you don't know what your AoA is you don't need to be flying.". What a boss.
Awesome tribute, Chuck was and is an American hero.
The Yeager autobiography is a good read too. Yeager talks about lots of his flights, including rides in the X-1 and it's issues with the bleeding edge technology, like the times where the X-1 refused to drop. It culminated in a sergeant wearing a oxygen mask and a parachute jumping on top of the X-1 and banging on the shackle with a tool trying to get it to drop, ready to drop with the X-1 if it did work. I gave my son a personalized and autographed copy that he still treasures.
Great presentation Ward... He was an amazing man.... The more we study his background and spirit, the more he fits the image of an American Hero.
Being stationed at Edwards AFB CA in 1979 I was a avionics communication specialist on assigned aircraft. I worked on all the F-4’s, A-37’s, T-38, B-52, and later on the F-16 and F-22 Raptor. After having debriefed an aircrew in the 1990’s I had a near miss with General Yeager when he was exiting the pilots restroom and I was walking down the hallway. Retired now I feel privileged to have made small contributions to America’s airpower and to the bold men and women that risked life and limb to conquer the demon.
Ed Victory - USAF Veteran.
I do remember the story "The Right Stuff," and the A/C Delco commercials. Hearing the stories growing up in the eighties, I knew Chuck Yeager to truly be the stuff of legend indeed. I started my military career in the Navy, but really wanted to be in the Air Force in the worst way. My last year in high school (1989-1990), I was told by Air Force recruiters that they did not need people at that time. The Air Force was two hundred percent over manned at that time. People love the Air Force because of the glamour and legend of heroes like Chuck Yeager. I eventually got in the Air Force, as well as the opportunity to fly, and get a college degree. Talk about motivation, people like Chuck Yeager are truly inspiring. Another great Air Force legend I would consider to be actor Jimmy Stewart, who met Yeager in person.
Chuck Yeager was always a hero of mine. Just a "wouldn't quit" kinda guy. As a side note, Edwards air force base is named after a Canadian, born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada RIP Chuck your kind will be sorely missed by all Dane
Very lucky to have been given a signed copy of his autobiography. Blue skies and tailwinds Chuck!
Dad said the same about going 'through' the sound barrier in the 106. Smooth as silk.
December 7 1941 a day every American should learn and never forget.....An Chuck Yeager passed away December 7...America heart is ice cold and let it never melt before our enemy's....Thanks Ward....!
He was also an ace in Korea war, commanded an air squadron in Viet Nam. And went on to test pilot just about every modern aircraft into the 90's. He was an amazing individual.
West Virginia is certainly proud of him!
First book I read as around a 14 year old was Right Stuff. My daddy served 20 years as a surface warfare officer. My childhood dream was to attend USNA and become an aviator. But alas I never completed my academy application and didn’t have uncorrected 20/20 vision. Thoroughly enjoy your stories. Wish we were neighbors
You are a fantastic storyteller!! I ran across you’re channel about a month ago. Cant wait to hear more stories!
I flew with Chuck Yeager. The year was 1988 my friends. I was flying from Tampa to Newark. He was in first class and I was walking back to coach. He was doing AC Delco battery commercials then and was very recognizable. I saw him, we locked eyes, and he gave me a “Yeah, I’m Chuck F@#$ing Yeager” look. I was amazed and sat down in my seat. Across the aisle from me was Bob Graham, the governor of Florida.
I have read Yeager’s book and I agree with all you have said. However, I still consider Bob Hoover to be the better pilot. Chuck may have had more bravado, but when it comes to pure stick and rudder flying, few can match Hoover. I was fortunate to see him fly a few times and it was just magic. His control of the airplane and ability to use the entire envelope without going outside the envelope is a skill I strive for continually.
I was an F-15 pilot but also flew and taught in warbirds for the Confederate Air Force, now "commemorative" in a nod to political correctness. I wrote articles at the time for several magazines and aviation newsletters.
Bob invited me to ride along while he flew his famous Shrike aerobatic routine. Just before we took off he handed me a solo cup full of coke, with no lid. He said "let's see if I'm on my game today."
He then flew his entire routine in that big twin, and kept it between 0.5 and 3.5 G's. Never spilled a drop of my soda. Yeager was a great stick, excellent 3 dimensional thinker, incredible SA, and brave as hell. But even he admitted that Hoover was the best stick and rudder man he had ever met.
It sucks losing your heroes. I can't believe Bob and Chuck are both gone.
They are missed.
"The first time I saw a jet I shot it down" Chuck Yeager
You are the man Ward Carroll! My wife's Father walked to school in Hamlin West Virginia with Chuck. His P-51 used to be parked at Kanawha Airport in Charleston, West Virginia. I did a det on USS Nimitz 81-82 I'll never forget. Long live the US Navy!
I know you know where NKT is. Backseat driver.
F-14's rule!!!!
Another great episode Ward. You tell a great story, and I mean that in the best sense.
Like some other commenters here I too had the privilege of meeting General Yeager. He was the keynote speaker at the Women in Aviation Conference held in San Diego a number of years ago that I attended. He made himself available for photos and conversation after his speech. I treasure my photo with him. And in fact he remained around for the rest of the four-day conference. I think that shows his support for the next generation of aerospace professionals. He was seated at the table next to mine at the closing night banquet at the San Diego Air and Space Museum and enjoyed the aviation exhibits there afterward.
Thank you sir for this video. Uncle general Chuck Yeager was my great uncle. And I am so proud to say that and loved the movie The Right Stuff
With that last paragraph, you defined a great American. Making America great again would mean getting Americans, once more to have the kind of attitude Chuck had about life . I noticed as you were telling the story that, he usually had his major moments around September/October of the year. I was born to the end (29th) of August 1947. I got here just before Chuck broke the speed of sound. Ridley, according to the movie and the biography, was an engineer. He referred to Ridley as the slide rule man. He was the one who thought of using a piece of a broom stick to help Chuck close the hatch on the X-1 .
According to the biography, he could see the enemy coming toward his squadron a full minute before any of them did ; this would give them the head start on the Germans and allow them to get up over them and take them by surprise from above .
Of course, later as he got old, he lost the sharp eyes he had before (i read this statement from Glennis, his wife) .
It must have been a thrill, at ninety something, to go up in a state of the art jet, even as a passenger. What a kick !
My favorite part of the movie is the first half, which is all about Chuck . I could skip the second part. There is a great part, when he sneaks a new jet that had just been made, the F-104 and takes it out without clearance for a test and ends up crashing it ! I don't know if this actually happened, but it's in the movie and it's awesome to watch that little silver "rocket" go zooming around till he tries to see how high he can take it and wrecks it . RIP, Chuck Yeager, thanks for everything .
Fantastic episode Ward, about a Fantastic human being! Thank you so much for what you do! General Yeager was definitely a one of a kind. He really did have The Right Stuff!
I didn't know about General Yeagers passing last December 7th (ironic!) until this video. He was a personal hero of mine, it's even more raw because my wife passed just a week earlier on the 1st of last December.
His life was such an inspiration as was he!
Chuck Yeager. The ultimate Icon of American Aviation no matter how you cut it. You are correct Ward. He pioneered the way through the problems, the questions and the answers to assist in what is in the air today. He's the kinda guy you WANT to go have a beer with after work. And learn.........But, then maybe God needed a pilot?
This is first I heard about the passing of this monumental American hero, and I can’t express in words how utterly disappointed I am with that fact. America can be made great if we afford men like Yeager the opportunity to prove themselves for us all, and honour them in accordance with their achievements. Had I been president there would have been an address and a parade in his honour which would serve as homage and inspiration alike
Thank you for the tribute to this great man who is a huge contributor to where America is today in the aerospace world.
I was present at that Mach 2 F-15E overflight and about 150' from the aircraft as he rolled up to show center, bounded down the ladder, and strode to the lectern. He was introduced by the base commander who read a letter from Pres. and Barbara Bush. When he spoke, I've never heard the flight line at Edwards/Armstrong so hushed.
Definitely a true American Hero, 👍 and I agree with the statement that the let's make America great again would be like it was back in 1948 when people like Yeager were great patriots and Heros.
BZ Mr. Carroll on a job well done paying tribute to such a great American! Chuck Yeager was one of my idols as a kid and one who's footsteps I followed in to go from Navy enlisted man to US Naval Flight Officer!
As an electrical engineer my favorite year is also 1947, when transistor got invented...
In 1993 I travelled from Australia to the US to attend the Oshkosh '93 Air show. I worked there as a volumeter and an airside pass came as a benefit. Well on the day the show opened, the Mustangs began to arrive. There it was, Glamorous Glenn (only the Bell X1 was Glamorous Glennis) landing and taxing to line up with the other P-51's like Old Crow. Yeager is flying it of course. He climbed out and did the mustang wing slide, jumping to the ground like a 20 year old with a grin from ear to ear. He was 70 at that time.
Great man no doubt!
Also Shoutout to Eric "Winkle" Brown about the X-1 and the sound barrier
I was in the Air Force 1966 to 1970. In 1969 I was stationed at Kunsan AB S. Korea. I had just missed Chuck Yeager by 3 months. He was the Wing Commander at Kunsan. Wish I could have met him.
Ward, really enjoy your show. My Dad was a test pilot and we knew the Yeagers since around 59. He’s older boys were my age so we were class mates and team mates at Edwards. Still get together with the older Yeager too this day. Living at Edwards during those days was the greatest. Glennis was a fantastic lady. You’re segment on Robin Olds, who I also knew, was excellent too.
Great Video and much appreciated as well. 2020 was a sad year to begin with, and then hearing Chuck passed away, that was like another big part of our country was lost in the same year. The only good news is the man didn't have to see the extensive damage done to his country the following year and now in 2022. Same thing with my own father who passed away, and was also a flight test pilot at Edwards AFB back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Grew up around it and knew as a young boy how much these guys loved our country.
An airline captain friend of mine met Gen. Yeager about 20 years ago, and got an autographed picture. I got to see it shortly thereafter. It's the only autographed photo I've ever seen that actually brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for this episode, Mooch! Sorry I'm late to the party.
Ward this is a beautiful tribute!! I only recently watched The Right Stuff ( now starting to read) and at the same time I found a gently used copy of Gen. Yeager's autobiography. I've been reading it in small, savory bites, digesting his experience, his very living narratives, his wisdom. In fact some of his approaches to life, I have borrowed in the midst of chaos this year, and that attitude has helped push me over the top to success in a couple of situations! Gen. Yeager's legacy and wisdom and courage continue to inspire us, and always will. He was consistently just so cool, and calm, and witty,not to mention a Maverick. I often wonder if Tom Cruise's Maverick is not to some degree modeled on him! I loved his story about how he took the X1 up even with broken ribs !
Very nice ! Splendid tribute to a pillar of aviation. Thank you!
Great Tribute to Chuck Yeager…thanks for posting this!
Another great Yeager story (that I got from reading his biography) is that, while in Europe, he befriended a French farmer. They became good friends and this farmer allowed him to "hunt" deer on his land. Chuck goes there with two other pilots. Chuck sends the 2 other pilots to fly their P51s over the trees to flush the deer out into a clearing where Chuck is waiting and strafes the deer, which they then share the meat with the farmer. That farmer also asks Chuck if he can help trim some branches off of some trees, so Chuck flies his P-51 and starts clipping branches off the tree. After returning to base, the maintenance guys have no clue how he got so many wood chunks embedded into his wing tips.
The bit with the trees:
That was at the Stone Cabin Ranch, near Tonopah, Nevada, when Yeager was still in fighter training, and was flying P-39's or P-63's.
He and the rancher became lifelong friends, and while he was in training at Tonopah, they got into this system of inviting Yeager to dinner, by way of hanging white sheets out for him to see, as he flew over/near the ranch.
I believe the rancher himself passed away years ago, but Yeager and his wife would still visit the family (they still own that ranch).
I didn't watch top gun and say I want to be maverick. I saw the right stuff and said I want to be chuck Yeager. He's why I became a pilot!
Growing up in a military family and my father being a private pilot, Chuck Yeager was, like others, a boyhood hero of mine. The book/movie, The Right Stuff and his own book just sealed the deal. (fun facts: parts of the movie was filmed at Hamilton A.F.B. Where we lived at the time. The base was closed but housing was open for mostly Navy, some Army and Coast Guard) met him a few times, what great aviation accomplishments!
Hero takes a fall.
While taking a tour at Edwards A.F.B. I had a strong feeling he wasn’t held in the same regards. It was brought up that he wasn’t the first to break the sound barrier but the first to survive. Then the story came out of how Chuck Yeager's deliberately derailed the career of America's first black astronaut, Capt. Edward Dwight.
Read the book after seeing "The Right Stuff". You are correct sir. Met him once in the early 2000s and he told me that they were in the process of making a movie of his life. I sure think that they should. I had him sign two sheets of Glamours Glennis of stamps. One for me and one for my nephew. He told me to forget about my nephew and sell the second sheet. I did not.
Chuck Yeager- My greatest example of a true American Hero.
Thanks Sir
I feel Proud for the way you convey Aviators Mystic and Devotion .
First Lieutenant (Ret. )
Fighter Pilot / Airline Commander.
Air Force of Chile.
My god, thank you for all these videos!! I stumbled across you searching for other videos on you tube and I’m hooked!! Thank you for your service, thank you for the stories and please keep doing what you’re doing!! 👍🏻
WARD,YOUR DEMEANOR AND CLASS IN STORY TELLING IS INCREDIBLE , TO YOUR CREDIT YOU CAME FROM
THE RIGHT STUFF A USMC FATHER,YOU WENT IN TO HARMS WAY AND YOU MAKE US PROUD OF
THE US NAVAL AVIATION AND OUR TIMES IN PAST SERVICE TO AMERICA. LIKE CHUCK YEAGER NEVER QUIT
AND THE NATION AND FREEDOM PREVAILS.FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.(SEMPER- FI)
Lovely tribute 🇺🇸
As an aviation buff I already knew everything you said. But I listened to your every word. I don't think anyone could have said it better.