Capt. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager became the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound in level flight on Oct. 14, 1947. Captain Yeager flew to Mach 1.06 aboard a Bell X-1 nicknamed "Glamorous Glennis" after his wife. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Capt. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager became the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound in level flight on Oct. 14, 1947. Captain Yeager flew to Mach 1.06 aboard a Bell X-1 nicknamed "Glamorous Glennis" after his wife. (U.S. Air Force photo)
When I was in the service, Gen. Chuck Yeager was one of two individuals I would have loved to have reenlist me. The other was Adm. Arleigh Burke.
Quick facts about the General, most of you may know them already:
1) He named every plane he flew after his wife.
2)He was shot down over France and escaped. He had to beg all the way to Eisenhower to get to fly combat again.
3) He fell off a horse the night before he broke the sound barrier. His buddy helped him rig the door so he could close it with cracked ribs.