My mothers uncle was a luftwaffe fighter pilot during ww2 . He was mia/kia over the skies of Italy . He flew an Focke Wolfe 190- Fw 190. This was around late 1944 from what my uncle ( my mothers uncle ) and told me .
I took a commercial flight from Dallas to San Francisco back in 1999. Then I flew to Sacramento where my next job was. I sat down in a seat on the left side in row 7. I sat down next to an older gentleman and adjusted my seat belt and while waiting for take-off I read a Flying Magazine I had purchased at the San Francisco airport. The gentleman next to me asked me if I was into flying. I told him yes I was a pilot and had a regular civil license with instrument rating and twin-engine rating at the time. He told he too was a pilot. I then looked at him for really the first time and almost jumped out of my seat! It was Chuck Yeager! I said, General Yeager. I had no idea I was talking to you. He stuck out his hand and said call me Chuck. Wow, what a flight. I asked him if he would tell me stories about his time in planes. We only had about 35 minutes because this flight was a short 26-minute flight but he told me about his WWII experience. I never knew this part of his history. But sitting and talking to this great man was both an honor and very humbling!
That is a great story. So I’ve heard that Chuck was a little headstrong and competitive with his peers, but no one can take away from his accomplishments, he was a great pilot because he understood the mechanics of aircraft, he had excellent vision, and he just had great hand eye coordination. He was a great American. The fact that he shot down a bunch of Nazi bastards is icing on the cake. He even shut down an ME 262 jet fighter.
That story gave me a BIG case of goosebumps..what a great memory. The man truly was legendary. I have a signed copy of Bud Anderson's book and the General's signature is in it too...I have Bob Hoover's autograph from Reno days along w/ Lyle Shelton & Steve Hinton's on my ball cap.
I got to meet General Yeager when I was stationed at Beale AFB Ca. in 1987. What a thrill that was for me, a young airman. I had just read his book and the movie 'The Right Stuff' had came out just a few years before. And he was doing those AC Delco battery commercials too. It was so cool meeting him. He was very nice and open to just talk for a couple minutes. I met my hero.
I believe that the title of Gen. Yeager's book was simply, "Yeager", the book "The Right Stuff" is a 1979 book of the written by Tom Wolfe. How ever you have a great story, I am envious and turning green! By the way he is my hero as well.
You're a lucky guy. It's not easy to meet your hero. I do wish I shared your experience- these videos an interviews are all that are left. You should consider publishing yours, so people like me could know.
I also picked up Chuck Yeagers Autobiography at a fleamarket. I immediately opened the book and landed on chapter 13, "operation golden trout." and read it right there. I couldn't put the book down. I took the book home and read it from start to finish in a weekend. I reread it five times after that. It is one of my favorite books.
I was lucky enough to have known him my whole life, and in 1985 I was stationed at Fort Know and got a signed autobiography from him...i still have it and it is one of the best stories I have ever read.
I found it odd that you didn't mention Bud Anderson, who flew with chuck in training, ww2, and the cold War. He was said to have the same good eye for enemy fighters, as they would call them out at the same time. Bud was also a 3 times ace and a test pilot.
Chuck Yeager was a great combat pilot and the first man to break the sound barrier flying the Bell X-1A. However, my favorite story about him was when he was flying 'chase plane' in an F-86 for another test pilot who was flying the X-1A during the initial testing phase of the aircraft. The oxygen system in the X-1A malfunctioned and the pilot began suffering from oxygen deprivation, which Yeager recognized by the X1-A's pilot slurring his words. Knowing the effects of oxygen deprivation would make a pilot uncooperative and belligerent, much as someone who is drunk, Yeager radioed to him, "I'm in trouble. Follow me down." The X1-A pilot ignored him. Yeager, who had a well deserved reputation for staying icy calm under the worst situations, literally screamed into the microphone, "God damn it, I said I'm in trouble! Now follow me down!" The X1-A pilot later said that was what got through to him. The great Chuck Yeager not only needed HIS help but the situation was so desperate that Yeager had lost his cool! The X1-A pilot followed Yeager down and Yeager talked him through a safe landing. After he was on the ground and his head cleared, it dawned on him, "If Yeager was in trouble, why did he have me land first?" He said that was when he realized what had actually happened. He also said it was at that point he heard the scream of a jet engine and looked up to see Yeager doing low level victory rolls across the field in his F-86. That is Chuck Yeager in a nutshell!
I highly recommend his book "Yeager". He was not the person you see in TV commercials for Delco batteries. In the air, he was calculating and cold blooded.
I met Chuck Yeager in the early 80s. He test flew the F20 and made a Delco Battery commercial in the same hanger at Edwards AFB. He gave me a signed autograph picture of him in his younger days standing in front of the Bell X-1.
On a talk show once Chuck told of being at a stop light and not moving fast enough for some young kids when the light turned green. They honked their horn and yelled, " Come on grandpa, a little speed won't hurt you ! "
I was fortunate to have as a patient the USAAF Major who trained Yeager as his wingman. Yeager was shot down, made it to Spain, and rejoined his outfit.
I would highly recommend Yeager's autobiography as a good read. There's a lot in it of his growing up and his time serving over Europe including a long section about his trek to get back to Britain. He dispels some myths about test pilots too.
I use to live in his hometown of Lincoln County WV. Theres a Memorial built for him at the exit and a big Statue built on a rock at the HS that memorializes him as well. Its very beautiful country. RIP Chuck 🙏
To be perfectly honest - those Jerries were most likely rookies who didn't really know how to defend themselves, so said Yeager himself. Still, his deed was spectacular and his name will always remain written with golden fonts in the history of aviation.
Your probably correct but that happened on a mass scale with the Germans against the Soviets in 41/42 and with Japan against the US in 41/42. Ill trained pilots died quick in those days. By early 1944 the US finally had (at immense cost) a superbly trained airforce while the Germans were moving precipitously the opposite direction. The results were predictable.
@@nickrockz97 Hans-Joachim Marseille was a greater pilot in my book. In his short career he shot down 158 allied planes, nearly all over North Africa. He was an artist of a killer, with magnificent aim and flying skills. He died because of Luftwaffe inefficiency, when engine failure forced him out of a smoke filled cockpit, to be struck by his own plane's tail. Hartmann's record is simply staggering, but he relied on continual luck because he flew so close to his victims he was forced to crash land 16 times due to debris hitting his plane.
Chuck was a WV boy from Boone County. He really came along at the perfect time in history before pilots were required to have a college degree. The technology grew around him, and he was the king. He was the first to shoot down a jet fighter (that was actually landing). He broke the sound barrier. He went on to be an accomplished test pilot. He even flew a jet under a bridge in Charleston, WV. His career was mythical. He lived a good life. The wife and I saw him at an air show not long before his death. Not sure he knew where he was. He was in a wheelchair and didn’t speak. It really turned into a political thing for Senator Manchin. However, we did get close to Mr. Yeager before he was loaded into the vehicle and whisked away. For the rest of the day, my wife spoke of those beautiful blue eyes. It almost made me jealous. It was an honor to see him.
@@jimmorrison306 I'm from Kanawha County WV I was there when he flew under the bridge at least that's what my parents told me I was too young to remember
No, he's not. There are different reports. One was his plane was shot down (he was at least damaged by Yeager's flight leader, Obie O'Brian), he bailed out, and his parachute did not open.
Some men are cut from a different cloth. Thinking about Buzz Aldrin’s heart rate not rising above 80 during his launch to the moon... The new generations will find themselves. I just hope it doesn’t ruin humanity in the process.
@@timealchemist7508 Agree 100% but regarding Apollo 11, you have to give Armstrong a little slack considering his hand was on the abort handle the whole way up.
Some 30 years ago, I read Gen. Yeagers biography - and of course I saw the old movie from the 80s ("The Right Stuff"). I don't know many US aces (Gabreski, Bong, Boyington of course), since in Germany we only called somebody an ace with 50+ kills, but Mr Yeager stood out. I liked his humble style of telling the story of a man "larger than life". He never called the enemy "Nazi" and he never expressed any hate towards his opponent (a thing many heros of WW2 from all sides have in common). I can feel how proud you must be to actually have met the gentleman. A close friend of mine once met Otto Carius and he felt the same. Let's have a Bier on General Yeager, cheers !
I always wanted to meet the man. Never got that honour. Still, I got to meet a navigator who flew in the Blackbird. Definitely one of the highlights of my life.
Jack Ridley had said that Chuck Yeager was the most natural pilot he'd ever seen. And that was after he got airsick the first 3 (5?) times he was up in a plane (according to his autobiography). He also got separated and lost from his group once and came upon two 262s, one on approach and one taking off, and downed those while "feeling" his way back home. One of my favorite History Channel shows (later carried on AHC) was "Dogfight" where they did a blow by blow of famous dogfights. Maybe you can make a series of these. This was fantastic.
You have to keep in mind that when he came across a talented German fighter early in his P-51 career, Yeager was shot down. By the time he returned, the Luftwaffe was a shell of it's former self. He was fighting 'wet behind the ears' kids.
@@carbidegrd1 In his autobiography, he talked about falling in behind a ME-109 that was flying in a perpetual crab. He stated that he almost didn't fire on a kid who couldn't even trim his plane but decided that he would get better if he didn't. So yeah, mostly rookies but you still had your Galands and the like up there. Not exactly fish in a barrel.
According to Yeager who at the time was flying in the tail end charlie position, "We were flying to Bordeaux to bomb the port there but turned away because the weather was stinkin’ so we turned inland for targets of opportunity. Just as we turned, I saw three Me-109s heading straight for us from behind. I called Bandits 6 o’clock” and turned into them. I got some hits but they got my radiator. I didn’t have to jump out; my airplane was falling apart all around me." When Yeager rejoined his unit after his escape with the help of the French underground, he was told that the pilot that had shot him down appeared to be making a second pass to kill him as he was drifting down in his parachute. And was shot down as a result by the flight lead. They also told him that the pilot's parachute failed to open after he bailed out. Yeager later learned in 2010 that the pilot who shot him down was Unteroffizier Irmfried Klotz.
Great video, but according to Yeager himself, that fifth victory was an FW-190A. The kill is celebrated in a famous painting by Aviation Artist, Roy Grinull. I have a print of that same painting hanging on the wall behind me. I met him at a dinner in Sydney and spoke only briefly with him and shook his hand. He signed his book and the print for me and was firm, but courteous. I consider that occasion to have been a singular honour. I doubt that we will again see the likes of men like Yeager, Bud Anderson and so many others of that time.
The me262 was by no means fully developed, it caught fire if you operated the jets too quickly. Most of them were not defeated in air combat, but rather on landing and take-off or on the ground where they could not defend themselves, or exploded in flight accidents.
@@user-yj3kn4fe7h Yes of course. me 262 would have needed more development and production time, just like the v2 rocket or the atomic bomb, thank god it didn't happen that way.
@@warjunkie1326 still, it’s impressive, especially sense it must have been hard to kill one on its best day, so assuming the one he was fighting was functional, it’s super impressive.
You're getting really good at this stuff. Before I remarked on your content and level of homework you had to do. Now I have to say your narration skills are getting great. You have a great voice and it carries both an unseen smile and authority of knowing what you are talking about. You have a pleasant manly voice and it's distinctive. Hell, you might make a career of it. You the Man!!!
I had the pleasure of meeting Gen. Yeager one evening in the officer's club at Nellis AFB Nevada in 1981. I walked over and introduced myself and said "sir I apologize for interrupting you but I just wanted to introduce myself and shake your hand." He smiled and asked where I was from? I replied South Carolina, and we made small talk for a few moments and then I excused myself and returned to my table of friends. There's just something about certain people that you meet that you know you're in the presence of greatness. If I had never heard of Chuck Yeager before that night, I would have still had that feeling after meeting him. Great pilot, great guy.
I am so glad you covered this!!! I read Chuck Yeagers autobiography and it was amazing!!! I was layed up with a broken leg and my sister gave me his book so I read it and it was so exciting!!! He was the best pilot that ever lived!!!!! His adventures behind enemy lines when he got shot down to his test pilot days were absolutely amazing!!!! He was the best stick and rudder man that ever lived!! He is one of my heroes!!! Read his book if you like this kind of stuff, absolutely amazing!!!! He was one of the only pilots who could check out any aircraft he wanted and flew it masterly. He even flew the sr71 blackbird!! Thank you again!!!
Plenty of "ace-in-one-day" on the Eastern Front. Four Luftwaffe pilots even became triple ace in one day. Emil Lang had 18 kills in one day, and Marseille had 17 in one day in Africa.
@@ytubepuppy per Wikipedia, “ Marseille claimed all but seven of his 158 victories against the British Commonwealth's Desert Air Force over North Africa, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter for his entire combat career.”
Did you know that the Germans do not need evidence or witnesses to declare a kill in air battles? That this was allow as a form of propaganda so that they can said that their aces has over a 100 kills. I know that they had good pilots and many aces, but not at that level, if you want evidence you can look at their combat protocols in the WWI, you will see that they need not only a witness, but also point on the map where the plane that they just kill crashed, and a officer on the ground has to confirm that there is an enemy plane crashed there, for those strict protocols is that many still believe that the red baron, Manfred Albrecht von Richthofen, is still one of the best. The allies on the other hand need evidence to clain an kill in ait battle, either from a witness or the records of their cameras.
@@ESPER_Power Actually the Luftwaffe victory claims were the hardest to confirm from all air forces involved in WWII. Plus, the pilots were not awarded points for aircraft destroyed on ground, for collective victories etc, and the rule was 1 victory= 1 point, unlike other countries where the pilots got a larger number of points for a bomber than a fighter. "In theory the German approval process for the confirmation of aerial victories was very stringent and required a witness. The final destruction or explosion of an enemy aircraft in the air, or bail-out of the pilot from the aircraft, had to be observed on gun-camera film or by at least one other human witness." Wikipedia. Everybody, on all sides, overclaimed - often wildly. The Germans were no worse than the others.
He never shot bombers, being an escort fighter, none were to be found. He never claimed kills on the ground. When he shot down a 262, it was in its landing pattern and a sitting duck. He said (paraphrasing here), "We'd wait until they got into their approach and were completely vulnerable because the jets couldn't spin up enough to try and escape and they would stall... Not very sporting (with a sheepish grin), but that's war..." Nice video BTW!
One helluva realistic dogfight, watching the 109s and the P-51s up there in a furball really brought up some memories. Thanks for sharing this, it was great.
Great story, I met General Yeager a few times, the first time was at Frank West School in Bakersfield, I was 7 years old and this is when he was forced to go in tour and was mad about, the story is in his book. As a Marine I know when you have to kill you kill, thinking about it does you no good at the time. I have his books and all are autographed and he is a great American hero. I have read some of the gutless comments by people who have been in harm's way and should just go away. Great video 👍👍👍👍👍❤🇺🇸
Yeager owned a Koren War era fighter (disarmed of course) in the late 80s. He'd fly it for fun out of the airport in Charleston WV and "strafe" the golf course next to the airport. I played there then and was one of his "casualties" on more than one occasion. Amazing the aeronautics he could do at his age then.
Yeager was a man to be respected, but he had his faults. I never appreciated his remarks implying Robert Johnson, the second-ranking (27 victories) USAAF pilot in the ETO, was lying about an incident that is very well-known. A famous German ace shot Johnson's P-47 to pieces when Johnson was unable to fight back due to either damage or lack of ammunition. But no matter what the German did, he couldn't bring him down. The German finally ran out of ammunition, so he shook his head, saluted Johnson, and broke off combat. Yeager openly made remarks that he didn't believe it really happened, although Johnson insisted it did. It was unworthy of Yeager, and I wonder what his motivations were.
AlhamduLlah, our hero "little dragon" MM ALAM became ace fighter in one minute, he shot down 5 Indian planes in less than one minute, by that he set a world record and still it is, this is the story of MM ALAM who fought with bravery in 1995 Pakistan India war. His fighter jet was F86 Sabre.
@Jeffro Neemo Actually the ME 262 was coming in for a landing and had just dropped its landing gear and was lining up on the runway when Yeager shot it down. That was November, 1944 and the first kill of an ME 262 by a P51. P47's had already shot down seven ME 262's starting in August 1944. By war's end, P47's had shot down 25 ME 262's and the P51 B/C/D's had shot down 121-141 ME 262's. On March 24th, 1945, during an ME 262 attack on a bomber formation at 25,000 ft, the 332nd FG (Tuskegee Airman) shot down 3 ME 262's and the 31st FG shot down 5 more of the jets. Eight Jets downed with no loss of bombers or fighters. It was a myth the P51 could only ambush the ME 262 at take off and landing; around 70% of the P51's kills of ME 262's were in high speed, high altitude combat, just like the March 24, 1945 attack. The P51 proved quite deadly to the ME 262. "Nevertheless, bearing in mind the relatively small number of operationally ready Me 262s at any one time (100 or so across all units at the most), VIII Fighter Command groups accumulated some impressive scores against the Messerschmitt jet fighter." [from "ME 262 Versus P 51 Mustang" 2019, author Robert Forsyth].
This was an awesome video! I'm going to share it with my kid. I got to meet Chuck Yeager once. It was at the EAA chapter 1. He presented me with a certificate and it still hangs on my wall 20 years later with his signature. I also got to see the X1 in the Smithsonian. Yeager was the coolest test-pilot out of all of them.
Some guy with the TH-cam handle "tiger tank" just reply to my message then deleted it. Talking crap on Chuck Yeager saying that he became an ace by shooting down German trainee pilots and that I should share that with my kid instead. But you know what coward you didn't leave your message up did you? And it doesn't matter who they were because they were Nazi pieces of garbage. You can't even leave your reply up. Who's the coward bud?
I recall reading an article about Yeager in the 1990's at a bookstore, where he stated he shot up (killed) a German pilot on the ground who he had caused to crash land because, according to him, he was good & Yeager didn't want him fighting "against our boys" again. I don't begrudge him, war is hell.
I can't believe no one has made a movie on Yeager's life. He actually worked with the French underground while he was with them and escaped down a logging chute into a river as the Germans were firing at him; critically wounded his companion.
@@280StJohnsPl I read both books when they came out and still have them in my library. He really enjoyed the outdoor life; especially the two weeks of living off golden trout in the Sierras every year.
He had an autobiography published too. One of the first books I got from cover to cover on. "Press on" was the title. He was quite the outdoorsman too. Bless his memory. I had hoped to meet him some day. Perhaps I will still.
With all due respect. Becoming an Ace by shooting down 5 Planes in one day is no small feat. But there where enough German Figtherpilots which shot down 3-10 airplanes in one day. and while we are talking about aces, what about those Pilots which shot down more than 100 enemy Airplanes? What about Erich "Bubbi" Hartmann 352 Planes downed ?
I just finished a book about Walter Nowotny , he shot down over 252 Airplanes bofore getting killed in Action in 1944. On Some days he succeded to shoot down more than 10 russian fighters in one day. Talk about Aces!!!
As a test pilot, he had to eject from an aircraft.The rocket on the seat burned him badly and the firemen couldn't get the helmet ring to give way.Chuck pulls out an emergency saw,the little one with e ring on both ends and cut it off himself!
Sure, they were lousy pilots, but we have to consider how many other guys Chuck was flying with, his own comrades, and none of them came back with five kills. Chuck was determined and aggressive, and that’s why he came out with so many victories, no doubt those were not great pilots such as what they had a year Prior when great fighter pilots like Robert S Johnson were Battling it out over the continent with the best of the Luftwaffe and winning with their Superior tactics and tough P 47 thunderbolt destruction machines.
@@rickcimino5483 Hans Joachim Marseille - 17 in one day! Total of 158 kills, most in North Africa against British and Commonwealth aircraft/pilots. He was called the Star of Afrika. There are books written about him.
I read a lot about Chuck Yeager growing up. I never got to be a pilot but I at least was able to work aircraft maintenance when I was in the Air Force. Pilots like Yeager were heroes to a young man like myself growing up. He is a great pilot!!!!
I met chuck yeager when I was a kid, he had a great sense of humor and was really happy to take time to tell me a couple stories and give me an autograph.
It's a common misconception that Chuck Yeager was the first person to break the sound barrier. The sound barrier was broken before by propeller driven planes in a dive (P-47 and P-38). Chuck Yeager was the first person to break the sound barrier IN LEVEL FLIGHT. That was the goal of the Bell X-1. When he did break the sound barrier the shock wave was heard and they thought the plane had blown apart until his voice was heard over the radio speaker.
Yaeger had 10:20 vision (or 20:10 I can't recall which way it goes). Essentially his vision was twice as clear as someone with perfect eyesight (20:20). He could always spot enemy fighter planes long before anyone else in the squadron.
@@Fargoguy54 yes mate, i know. had he not been in that new and quite likely sabotaged F4, he probably (most likely if you ask me) would have become luftwaffe's top scorer. only guy who was as good as him hitting his target at any angle and distance was günther rall according to men who flew with both of em
I used to work at the AGE shop right next to the Test Pilots school at Edward's AFB for about 5 years and watched him come and go to his aircraft occasionally.
Wow!! That's a helluva of a story to tell. I remember the time I took General Chuck Yeager supersonic, The man that 1st went supersonic..... Helluva of a story.
It’s the man not the machine! Quote credited to Chuck Yeager. You better pick up his autobiography book, if you want to know the story as it really happened. Including the famous supersonic broomstick he used to close the door of the X1, with a busted rib.
Shared a floor with his son, MSgt Mike Yeager at USAFE Hq in the late 80's. I didn't realize the general was Mike's father until one morning he brings him into my office and introduces us. I was totally tongue tied; the only thing I said was it was an honor to meet him. Made quite an impression on me...
Yeager was around a long time to soak up the "glory". Richard Bong was USA's deadliest fighter pilot but he died testing planes a short time after his tour with little time to be glorified. So many US pilots did the same with P40's(how many?) it's deflating to read Yeager's kills from late war. He was great and had a long successful career.
He coined the famous phrase that he used on his Delco spark plug commercial “There are Old Pilots and Bold Pilots but there are NO Old Bold Pilots !” I stole it from him and use it all of the Time ! It still makes so much sense !
George ‘’Ratsy’ Preddy performed the same feat whilst hung over! He’d had a few too many the night before, having been told he was not scheduled for missions the next day, only to be woken at an ungodly hour to be informed that the brass had changed their minds! He was the highest scoring P51 ace in the ETO and never touched by an enemy bullet, but tragically taken by ‘friendly fire’ on Christmas Day 1944.
@@PhilBurnell1982 I say this often, what I could do at the controls of a simulator, my stomach could not handle in the real world. A little turbulence, & I start turning green.
I think this is quote from General Yeager, he said there are old Pilots and Bould Pilots but ain't no Old Bould Pilots. He was a Living Legend, I wish I could have had the Honor and Privilege to have met Him.
If I may? I love the editing and pace. Great work. I love the long takes of the animated combat sequences. You neither rushed through the sequences nor felt the need to have narration accompany every frame. It was a pleasure to watch. I am your newest follower. 👍👏👏 from a fellow film maker. Well done.
Thank You for your honest review of history in the making in WW 2. As you said, it was an objective film of History in the making. If only our 90’s generation could Study and appreciate History, as you have, we would have a greater bond of States and Country, so that the USA, will always be the leader in Freedoms!!! Earned, not given ! !
The X-1 was the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight. There are some pilots who claim to have broken the sound barrier in a dive in P-47's in WW2.
I met Bud Anderson at an Air Warrior convention in Indy where he was the guest speaker. He told us a great deal about him and Chuck as wingmen. It was an honor to meet the guy.
This guy is literally the real life version of Maverick. He was a test pilot that pushed the envelope (Starfighter crash, broke sound barrier with broken arms and ribs), as well as an ace.
Thanks for watching guys! Please click subscribe and check out the links in the description to support my content!
Subscription is your right ... perfect vission...but must have documentreý audio...not two three lines...looks you just avoiding to talk about.
Love the video btw can you do a video about Bud Anderson 4 Mustangs vs 4 bf 109s & videos about the Tuskegee Airmen
I picked up two felonies in 95 and no one wants my story!
Might want to go a bit easier on the background music. Nice documentary. Interesting
My mothers uncle was a luftwaffe fighter pilot during ww2 . He was mia/kia over the skies of Italy . He flew an Focke Wolfe 190- Fw 190. This was around late 1944 from what my uncle ( my mothers uncle ) and told me .
I took a commercial flight from Dallas to San Francisco back in 1999. Then I flew to Sacramento where my next job was. I sat down in a seat on the left side in row 7. I sat down next to an older gentleman and adjusted my seat belt and while waiting for take-off I read a Flying Magazine I had purchased at the San Francisco airport. The gentleman next to me asked me if I was into flying. I told him yes I was a pilot and had a regular civil license with instrument rating and twin-engine rating at the time. He told he too was a pilot. I then looked at him for really the first time and almost jumped out of my seat! It was Chuck Yeager! I said, General Yeager. I had no idea I was talking to you. He stuck out his hand and said call me Chuck. Wow, what a flight. I asked him if he would tell me stories about his time in planes. We only had about 35 minutes because this flight was a short 26-minute flight but he told me about his WWII experience. I never knew this part of his history. But sitting and talking to this great man was both an honor and very humbling!
Wow how cool that day was for you!
Wow that was your lucky day my son and I both started flying because of his book
That is a great story. So I’ve heard that Chuck was a little headstrong and competitive with his peers, but no one can take away from his accomplishments, he was a great pilot because he understood the mechanics of aircraft, he had excellent vision, and he just had great hand eye coordination. He was a great American. The fact that he shot down a bunch of Nazi bastards is icing on the cake. He even shut down an ME 262 jet fighter.
Please tell us that you got him to autograph your Flight Magazine and that you still have it?
That story gave me a BIG case of goosebumps..what a great memory. The man truly was legendary. I have a signed copy of Bud Anderson's book and the General's signature is in it too...I have Bob Hoover's autograph from Reno days along w/ Lyle Shelton & Steve Hinton's on my ball cap.
I got to meet General Yeager when I was stationed at Beale AFB Ca. in 1987. What a thrill that was for me, a young airman. I had just read his book and the movie 'The Right Stuff' had came out just a few years before. And he was doing those AC Delco battery commercials too. It was so cool meeting him. He was very nice and open to just talk for a couple minutes. I met my hero.
I believe that the title of Gen. Yeager's book was simply, "Yeager", the book "The Right Stuff" is a 1979 book of the written by Tom Wolfe. How ever you have a great story, I am envious and turning green! By the way he is my hero as well.
That is so neat. I remember those commercials. "I've been shot at, shot-up, and shot down."
Dudes from Cannon said he was a monster when he flew there. Supposedly the wing king threatened to ground him if he didn't knock it off.
You're a lucky guy. It's not easy to meet your hero. I do wish I shared your experience- these videos an interviews are all that are left. You should consider publishing yours, so people like me could know.
“I bullied Ike into letting me rejoin my unit”
-The only man that I believe could have done it.
He was a legend in his own time and never acted any different than the plain talking West Virginian that he was.
I picked up Yeager’s biography at a flea market twenty-five years ago. Incredible read. I still have it.
Yes Sir! Got mine in a book store. When I first layed eyes on it. Snatched it up right quick I did. Back in 1989. Know the feeling.
I also picked up Chuck Yeagers Autobiography at a fleamarket.
I immediately opened the book and landed on chapter 13, "operation golden trout." and read it right there. I couldn't put the book down. I took the book home and read it from start to finish in a weekend. I reread it five times after that.
It is one of my favorite books.
I was lucky enough to have known him my whole life, and in 1985 I was stationed at Fort Know and got a signed autobiography from him...i still have it and it is one of the best stories I have ever read.
Ft Knox
I too read it. And was not impressed.
As a fellow West Virginian, we will always be proud to call him our own. RIP Chuck...you are sorely missed. Props to the vid creator as well.
Thank you for the video. General Chuck Yeager was my great uncle. And I love watching anything about his exploits in the air.
I found it odd that you didn't mention Bud Anderson, who flew with chuck in training, ww2, and the cold War. He was said to have the same good eye for enemy fighters, as they would call them out at the same time. Bud was also a 3 times ace and a test pilot.
Chuck Yeager was a great combat pilot and the first man to break the sound barrier flying the Bell X-1A. However, my favorite story about him was when he was flying 'chase plane' in an F-86 for another test pilot who was flying the X-1A during the initial testing phase of the aircraft. The oxygen system in the X-1A malfunctioned and the pilot began suffering from oxygen deprivation, which Yeager recognized by the X1-A's pilot slurring his words. Knowing the effects of oxygen deprivation would make a pilot uncooperative and belligerent, much as someone who is drunk, Yeager radioed to him, "I'm in trouble. Follow me down." The X1-A pilot ignored him. Yeager, who had a well deserved reputation for staying icy calm under the worst situations, literally screamed into the microphone, "God damn it, I said I'm in trouble! Now follow me down!" The X1-A pilot later said that was what got through to him. The great Chuck Yeager not only needed HIS help but the situation was so desperate that Yeager had lost his cool! The X1-A pilot followed Yeager down and Yeager talked him through a safe landing. After he was on the ground and his head cleared, it dawned on him, "If Yeager was in trouble, why did he have me land first?" He said that was when he realized what had actually happened. He also said it was at that point he heard the scream of a jet engine and looked up to see Yeager doing low level victory rolls across the field in his F-86. That is Chuck Yeager in a nutshell!
That's an amazing story!
I highly recommend his book "Yeager". He was not the person you see in TV commercials for Delco batteries. In the air, he was calculating and cold blooded.
So what, necessities of the trade
I have had the Honor of meeting Gen Yeager twice, stat struck and speechless both times.
I shared an floor with his son, MSgt Mike Yeprivilege
I met Chuck Yeager in the early 80s. He test flew the F20 and made a Delco Battery commercial in the same hanger at Edwards AFB. He gave me a signed autograph picture of him in his younger days standing in front of the Bell X-1.
Q
First pilot to ever break the sound barrier was German but never credited.
On a talk show once Chuck told of being at a stop light and not moving fast enough for some young kids when the light turned green. They honked their horn and yelled,
" Come on grandpa, a little speed won't hurt you ! "
He was just letting them go past so he could get on their 6.
@@samsignorelli 👍 😀
I was fortunate to have as a patient the USAAF Major who trained Yeager as his wingman. Yeager was shot down, made it to Spain, and rejoined his outfit.
I would highly recommend Yeager's autobiography as a good read. There's a lot in it of his growing up and his time serving over Europe including a long section about his trek to get back to Britain. He dispels some myths about test pilots too.
Amazing book !
In Oroville, California the main Street into the local airport is named Yeager Way. The airport was a WWII training base where he flew P-39s.
I grew up hunting with Chuck in Browns Valley CA, back in the 80's. He would drop 3 quail each shot.....just incredible eye sight.
Nice
I use to live in his hometown of Lincoln County WV. Theres a Memorial built for him at the exit and a big Statue built on a rock at the HS that memorializes him as well. Its very beautiful country.
RIP Chuck 🙏
To be perfectly honest - those Jerries were most likely rookies who didn't really know how to defend themselves, so said Yeager himself. Still, his deed was spectacular and his name will always remain written with golden fonts in the history of aviation.
Your probably correct but that happened on a mass scale with the Germans against the Soviets in 41/42 and with Japan against the US in 41/42. Ill trained pilots died quick in those days. By early 1944 the US finally had (at immense cost) a superbly trained airforce while the Germans were moving precipitously the opposite direction. The results were predictable.
Erich Hartman’s name should also be written with golden fonts in the history of aviation, the best pilot in history
@@nickrockz97 Indeed.
Erich Hartman is one of the biggest aces in history with a confirmed 352 kills.
@@nickrockz97 Hans-Joachim Marseille was a greater pilot in my book. In his short career he shot down 158 allied planes, nearly all over North Africa. He was an artist of a killer, with magnificent aim and flying skills. He died because of Luftwaffe inefficiency, when engine failure forced him out of a smoke filled cockpit, to be struck by his own plane's tail. Hartmann's record is simply staggering, but he relied on continual luck because he flew so close to his victims he was forced to crash land 16 times due to debris hitting his plane.
You would need pretty good vision for a 300 yard deflection shot.
Dec.8th 2020 was a very sad day. rip, Legend.
Using the P39 as his trainer. Outstanding! Read his autobiography. It’s awesome!
Chuck was a WV boy from Boone County. He really came along at the perfect time in history before pilots were required to have a college degree. The technology grew around him, and he was the king. He was the first to shoot down a jet fighter (that was actually landing). He broke the sound barrier. He went on to be an accomplished test pilot. He even flew a jet under a bridge in Charleston, WV. His career was mythical. He lived a good life. The wife and I saw him at an air show not long before his death. Not sure he knew where he was. He was in a wheelchair and didn’t speak. It really turned into a political thing for Senator Manchin. However, we did get close to Mr. Yeager before he was loaded into the vehicle and whisked away. For the rest of the day, my wife spoke of those beautiful blue eyes. It almost made me jealous. It was an honor to see him.
Check your facts he was from Lincoln County WV right next door to Boone County and the bridge he few under is still in service and named after him
@@insulman100 - yes - you are absolutely right about the county, and I bet I was misinformed about the bridge. Do you fly, or are you from WV?
@@jimmorrison306 I'm from Kanawha County WV I was there when he flew under the bridge at least that's what my parents told me I was too young to remember
It would be interesting to find out if the German pilot who shot down Yeager was still around
No, he's not. There are different reports. One was his plane was shot down (he was at least damaged by Yeager's flight leader, Obie O'Brian), he bailed out, and his parachute did not open.
@@chuckyeager2007 survive the dog fight bail out and your parachute not open dang what away to go
I'm so proud to have seen the oil leaking from the USS Arizona and shaking General Yagers hand. God bless him, RIP Sir.
Some men are cut from a different cloth. Thinking about Buzz Aldrin’s heart rate not rising above 80 during his launch to the moon... The new generations will find themselves. I just hope it doesn’t ruin humanity in the process.
@@timealchemist7508 Agree 100% but regarding Apollo 11, you have to give Armstrong a little slack considering his hand was on the abort handle the whole way up.
Some 30 years ago, I read Gen. Yeagers biography - and of course I saw the old movie from the 80s ("The Right Stuff"). I don't know many US aces (Gabreski, Bong, Boyington of course), since in Germany we only called somebody an ace with 50+ kills, but Mr Yeager stood out. I liked his humble style of telling the story of a man "larger than life". He never called the enemy "Nazi" and he never expressed any hate towards his opponent (a thing many heros of WW2 from all sides have in common).
I can feel how proud you must be to actually have met the gentleman. A close friend of mine once met Otto Carius and he felt the same.
Let's have a Bier on General Yeager, cheers !
I always wanted to meet the man. Never got that honour. Still, I got to meet a navigator who flew in the Blackbird. Definitely one of the highlights of my life.
Luck of the draw being in the right place at right time to pick of a plane- no diffrent than 3 torpedo hits on three different ships in one day
This is probably the most impressive CGI simulations/reenactments of WWII air combat I've ever seen. Your narration is spot on too TJ3!
Thank you!
Its actually a game called IL2 Sturmovik and I believe its on sale on steam right now. Check it out if you are a WW2 aviation buff
@@trippyptat8479 Sweet!
He was one of my heroes.
Just knowing he spanned all aircraft from WW2-the F15 !
Jack Ridley had said that Chuck Yeager was the most natural pilot he'd ever seen. And that was after he got airsick the first 3 (5?) times he was up in a plane (according to his autobiography). He also got separated and lost from his group once and came upon two 262s, one on approach and one taking off, and downed those while "feeling" his way back home.
One of my favorite History Channel shows (later carried on AHC) was "Dogfight" where they did a blow by blow of famous dogfights. Maybe you can make a series of these. This was fantastic.
You have to keep in mind that when he came across a talented German fighter early in his P-51 career, Yeager was shot down. By the time he returned, the Luftwaffe was a shell of it's former self. He was fighting 'wet behind the ears' kids.
@@carbidegrd1 In his autobiography, he talked about falling in behind a ME-109 that was flying in a perpetual crab. He stated that he almost didn't fire on a kid who couldn't even trim his plane but decided that he would get better if he didn't. So yeah, mostly rookies but you still had your Galands and the like up there. Not exactly fish in a barrel.
According to Yeager who at the time was flying in the tail end charlie position, "We were flying to Bordeaux to bomb the port there but turned away because the weather was stinkin’ so we turned inland for targets of opportunity. Just as we turned, I saw three Me-109s heading straight for us from behind. I called Bandits 6 o’clock” and turned into them. I got some hits but they got my radiator. I didn’t have to jump out; my airplane was falling apart all around me."
When Yeager rejoined his unit after his escape with the help of the French underground, he was told that the pilot that had shot him down appeared to be making a second pass to kill him as he was drifting down in his parachute. And was shot down as a result by the flight lead. They also told him that the pilot's parachute failed to open after he bailed out. Yeager later learned in 2010 that the pilot who shot him down was Unteroffizier Irmfried Klotz.
@@KyleCowden He never came up against the likes of Galand. If he did, Yeager would have been smoked.
@@carbidegrd1 That's assuming something not in evidence, a complete non sequitor. Maybe, and maybe not.
Great video, but according to Yeager himself, that fifth victory was an FW-190A. The kill is celebrated in a famous painting by Aviation Artist, Roy Grinull. I have a print of that same painting hanging on the wall behind me. I met him at a dinner in Sydney and spoke only briefly with him and shook his hand. He signed his book and the print for me and was firm, but courteous.
I consider that occasion to have been a singular honour. I doubt that we will again see the likes of men like Yeager, Bud Anderson and so many others of that time.
Chuck Yeager becomes an ace in a single day.
Erich Hartmann: Hold my beers...
There is no record of Hartmann strafing unarmed civilians, can't say that about the subject matter.
General Yager besides having great eye sight he also he had monster size balls. You have to read his book he is awesome.
At least one of his following kills was an ME-262
The me262 was by no means fully developed, it caught fire if you operated the jets too quickly. Most of them were not defeated in air combat, but rather on landing and take-off or on the ground where they could not defend themselves, or exploded in flight accidents.
@@warjunkie1326 Most but not all.
@@user-yj3kn4fe7h Yes of course. me 262 would have needed more development and production time, just like the v2 rocket or the atomic bomb, thank god it didn't happen that way.
@@warjunkie1326 Read Pierre Closterman's The Big Show. He was a Tempest pilot and he fought them.
@@warjunkie1326 still, it’s impressive, especially sense it must have been hard to kill one on its best day, so assuming the one he was fighting was functional, it’s super impressive.
You're getting really good at this stuff. Before I remarked on your content and level of homework you had to do. Now I have to say your narration skills are getting great. You have a great voice and it carries both an unseen smile and authority of knowing what you are talking about. You have a pleasant manly voice and it's distinctive. Hell, you might make a career of it. You the Man!!!
I had the pleasure of meeting Gen. Yeager one evening in the officer's club at Nellis AFB Nevada in 1981. I walked over and introduced myself and said "sir I apologize for interrupting you but I just wanted to introduce myself and shake your hand." He smiled and asked where I was from? I replied South Carolina, and we made small talk for a few moments and then I excused myself and returned to my table of friends. There's just something about certain people that you meet that you know you're in the presence of greatness. If I had never heard of Chuck Yeager before that night, I would have still had that feeling after meeting him. Great pilot, great guy.
I am so glad you covered this!!! I read Chuck Yeagers autobiography and it was amazing!!! I was layed up with a broken leg and my sister gave me his book so I read it and it was so exciting!!! He was the best pilot that ever lived!!!!! His adventures behind enemy lines when he got shot down to his test pilot days were absolutely amazing!!!! He was the best stick and rudder man that ever lived!! He is one of my heroes!!! Read his book if you like this kind of stuff, absolutely amazing!!!! He was one of the only pilots who could check out any aircraft he wanted and flew it masterly. He even flew the sr71 blackbird!! Thank you again!!!
Plenty of "ace-in-one-day" on the Eastern Front. Four Luftwaffe pilots even became triple ace in one day. Emil Lang had 18 kills in one day, and Marseille had 17 in one day in Africa.
Against which airforce?
@@ytubepuppy per Wikipedia, “ Marseille claimed all but seven of his 158 victories against the British Commonwealth's Desert Air Force over North Africa, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter for his entire combat career.”
Tell the whole story 🤔
Did you know that the Germans do not need evidence or witnesses to declare a kill in air battles? That this was allow as a form of propaganda so that they can said that their aces has over a 100 kills. I know that they had good pilots and many aces, but not at that level, if you want evidence you can look at their combat protocols in the WWI, you will see that they need not only a witness, but also point on the map where the plane that they just kill crashed, and a officer on the ground has to confirm that there is an enemy plane crashed there, for those strict protocols is that many still believe that the red baron, Manfred Albrecht von Richthofen, is still one of the best.
The allies on the other hand need evidence to clain an kill in ait battle, either from a witness or the records of their cameras.
@@ESPER_Power Actually the Luftwaffe victory claims were the hardest to confirm from all air forces involved in WWII. Plus, the pilots were not awarded points for aircraft destroyed on ground, for collective victories etc, and the rule was 1 victory= 1 point, unlike other countries where the pilots got a larger number of points for a bomber than a fighter.
"In theory the German approval process for the confirmation of aerial victories was very stringent and required a witness. The final destruction or explosion of an enemy aircraft in the air, or bail-out of the pilot from the aircraft, had to be observed on gun-camera film or by at least one other human witness." Wikipedia.
Everybody, on all sides, overclaimed - often wildly. The Germans were no worse than the others.
Got to meet buz and Yeager at a airshow 16 years ago. So sad Yeager passed. He was a really cool guy.
He never shot bombers, being an escort fighter, none were to be found.
He never claimed kills on the ground.
When he shot down a 262, it was in its landing pattern and a sitting duck. He said (paraphrasing here), "We'd wait until they got into their approach and were completely vulnerable because the jets couldn't spin up enough to try and escape and they would stall... Not very sporting (with a sheepish grin), but that's war..."
Nice video BTW!
One helluva realistic dogfight, watching the 109s and the P-51s up there in a furball really brought up some memories. Thanks for sharing this, it was great.
Memories of...fighting in WW2?
Great story, I met General Yeager a few times, the first time was at Frank West School in Bakersfield, I was 7 years old and this is when he was forced to go in tour and was mad about, the story is in his book. As a Marine I know when you have to kill you kill, thinking about it does you no good at the time. I have his books and all are autographed and he is a great American hero. I have read some of the gutless comments by people who have been in harm's way and should just go away. Great video 👍👍👍👍👍❤🇺🇸
Yeager owned a Koren War era fighter (disarmed of course) in the late 80s. He'd fly it for fun out of the airport in Charleston WV and "strafe" the golf course next to the airport. I played there then and was one of his "casualties" on more than one occasion. Amazing the aeronautics he could do at his age then.
Yeager was a man to be respected, but he had his faults. I never appreciated his remarks implying Robert Johnson, the second-ranking (27 victories) USAAF pilot in the ETO, was lying about an incident that is very well-known. A famous German ace shot Johnson's P-47 to pieces when Johnson was unable to fight back due to either damage or lack of ammunition. But no matter what the German did, he couldn't bring him down. The German finally ran out of ammunition, so he shook his head, saluted Johnson, and broke off combat. Yeager openly made remarks that he didn't believe it really happened, although Johnson insisted it did. It was unworthy of Yeager, and I wonder what his motivations were.
You just keep delivering great history one after another. I’m a fan!!!
AMAZING MAN LOVE THIS HERO NOT ENOUGH SAID ABOUT THESE HEROES AMEN 🙏
AlhamduLlah, our hero "little dragon" MM ALAM became ace fighter in one minute, he shot down 5 Indian planes in less than one minute, by that he set a world record and still it is, this is the story of MM ALAM who fought with bravery in 1995 Pakistan India war. His fighter jet was F86 Sabre.
"The first time I ever saw a jet I shot it down. "
Maybe instead of "Shot It Down", you should say, : "Shot It Up".
@Jeffro Neemo Actually the ME 262 was coming in for a landing and had just dropped its landing gear and was lining up on the runway when Yeager shot it down. That was November, 1944 and the first kill of an ME 262 by a P51. P47's had already shot down seven ME 262's starting in August 1944. By war's end, P47's had shot down 25 ME 262's and the P51 B/C/D's had shot down 121-141 ME 262's. On March 24th, 1945, during an ME 262 attack on a bomber formation at 25,000 ft, the 332nd FG (Tuskegee Airman) shot down 3 ME 262's and the 31st FG shot down 5 more of the jets. Eight Jets downed with no loss of bombers or fighters. It was a myth the P51 could only ambush the ME 262 at take off and landing; around 70% of the P51's kills of ME 262's were in high speed, high altitude combat, just like the March 24, 1945 attack. The P51 proved quite deadly to the ME 262. "Nevertheless, bearing in mind the relatively small number of operationally ready Me 262s at any one time (100 or so across all units at the most), VIII Fighter Command groups accumulated some impressive scores against the Messerschmitt jet fighter." [from "ME 262 Versus P 51 Mustang" 2019, author Robert Forsyth].
Do a story on Robin Olds. Ace in 2 separate wars. WWII, Europe and Vietnam.
Superb graphics & re-enactment. The very best I have seen. Thank-you.
He was a great man!
This style of video always makes me think of the show Dog Fights, Always liked that series so I was happy to start watching these videos.
This was an awesome video! I'm going to share it with my kid. I got to meet Chuck Yeager once. It was at the EAA chapter 1. He presented me with a certificate and it still hangs on my wall 20 years later with his signature. I also got to see the X1 in the Smithsonian. Yeager was the coolest test-pilot out of all of them.
Some guy with the TH-cam handle "tiger tank" just reply to my message then deleted it. Talking crap on Chuck Yeager saying that he became an ace by shooting down German trainee pilots and that I should share that with my kid instead. But you know what coward you didn't leave your message up did you? And it doesn't matter who they were because they were Nazi pieces of garbage. You can't even leave your reply up. Who's the coward bud?
Once more, smashed right out of the park! I am a fan of your gaming vids, but these mini docs you do are truly great.
Thanks man!
A real honest to God hero. God bless you brother
I'm surprised he was able to claim the 2 aircraft that collided as kills.
He scared them damn near to death - Counts
Technical knock out - counts.
I agree. Since, ground kilks didnt count.
The military is always looking for a way to build up it's service members. "Ace in a day" sounds pretty amazing?
I believe Yeager also got an ME262 as it was landing.
I recall reading an article about Yeager in the 1990's at a bookstore, where he stated he shot up (killed) a German pilot on the ground who he had caused to crash land because, according to him, he was good & Yeager didn't want him fighting "against our boys" again. I don't begrudge him, war is hell.
Thanks very much. Loved the video! Great job!
I can't believe no one has made a movie on Yeager's life. He actually worked with the French underground while he was with them and escaped down a logging chute into a river as the Germans were firing at him; critically wounded his companion.
Read his book "Press On"....the man needed a third hand to pat himself on the back
@@280StJohnsPl I read both books when they came out and still have them in my library. He really enjoyed the outdoor life; especially the two weeks of living off golden trout in the Sierras every year.
He had an autobiography published too.
One of the first books I got from cover to cover on.
"Press on" was the title.
He was quite the outdoorsman too.
Bless his memory.
I had hoped to meet him some day.
Perhaps I will still.
With all due respect. Becoming an Ace by shooting down 5 Planes in one day is no small feat. But there where enough German Figtherpilots which shot down 3-10 airplanes in one day. and while we are talking about aces, what about those Pilots which shot down more than 100 enemy Airplanes? What about Erich "Bubbi" Hartmann 352 Planes downed ?
I just finished a book about Walter Nowotny , he shot down over 252 Airplanes bofore getting killed in Action in 1944. On Some days he succeded to shoot down more than 10 russian fighters in one day. Talk about Aces!!!
As a test pilot, he had to eject from an aircraft.The rocket on the seat burned him badly and the firemen couldn't get the helmet ring to give way.Chuck pulls out an emergency saw,the little one with e ring on both ends and cut it off himself!
That One was great also; keep' em commin' Brother. Ooh Rah!
Chuck was very lucky that didn't see Hartmann !!
TBF, experienced Luftwaffe pilots were few and far between in late 1944.
Sure, they were lousy pilots, but we have to consider how many other guys Chuck was flying with, his own comrades, and none of them came back with five kills. Chuck was determined and aggressive, and that’s why he came out with so many victories, no doubt those were not great pilots such as what they had a year Prior when great fighter pilots like Robert S Johnson were Battling it out over the continent with the best of the Luftwaffe and winning with their Superior tactics and tough P 47 thunderbolt destruction machines.
What a great Pilot.
@@PhilBurnell1982 he didn't. Start the dam war.
Awesome subject an iconic figure of WW2, Gen.ChuckYeager!
There are over 100 pilots who became an ace-in-a-day, with five pilots who were triple ace-in-a-day.
really? Fifteen kills in one day? Who? I'd like to read about that pilot!
@@rickcimino5483 Hans Joachim Marseille - 17 in one day! Total of 158 kills, most in North Africa against British and Commonwealth aircraft/pilots. He was called the Star of Afrika. There are books written about him.
@@chriswoodside5385 thanks for the info....I'll look him up
I read a lot about Chuck Yeager growing up. I never got to be a pilot but I at least was able to work aircraft maintenance when I was in the Air Force. Pilots like Yeager were heroes to a young man like myself growing up. He is a great pilot!!!!
My boy slowly but surely rising to 100k! Proud of ya man! Keep up the great work bro
Thanks Bear!
I met chuck yeager when I was a kid, he had a great sense of humor and was really happy to take time to tell me a couple stories and give me an autograph.
Excellent video on an outstanding pilot and American. Thank you!
It's a common misconception that Chuck Yeager was the first person to break the sound barrier. The sound barrier was broken before by propeller driven planes in a dive (P-47 and P-38). Chuck Yeager was the first person to break the sound barrier IN LEVEL FLIGHT. That was the goal of the Bell X-1. When he did break the sound barrier the shock wave was heard and they thought the plane had blown apart until his voice was heard over the radio speaker.
Well thank you. I was going to write that myself but I knew if I looked someone else would’ve beaten me to it and here you are.
Yaeger had 10:20 vision (or 20:10 I can't recall which way it goes). Essentially his vision was twice as clear as someone with perfect eyesight (20:20). He could always spot enemy fighter planes long before anyone else in the squadron.
In Dec 1968 I had just arrived at Kunsan AB Korea. I had just missed meeting Yeager. He had rotated back to states before I got to the Kun.
Chuck and my dad got into trouble together in the 50s. Two country boys.
To put this in perspective, Germany's greatest ace, Erich Hartmann shot down 11 in one day.
Marseille shot down 17 planes in three sorties on one day with an average of 15 rounds per plane, that lad was a flying sniper, rip
@@Jim5988 Hans-Joachim Marseille who shot down more western ally aircraft than anyone and died in a flight accident in 1942. He was 22 years old.
@@Fargoguy54 yes mate, i know. had he not been in that new and quite likely sabotaged F4, he probably (most likely if you ask me) would have become luftwaffe's top scorer. only guy who was as good as him hitting his target at any angle and distance was günther rall according to men who flew with both of em
@@Jim5988 plus if gunther Rall hadn't spent a year in hospital he may well of beaten hartman
Hartmann has the highest kill number of any fighter pilot in history. He was THE ACE of Aces.
Great computer-generated images. The best I've seen!
He certainly was the Yeager Meister....
That joke is enough to make anyone chuck
I used to work at the AGE shop right next to the Test Pilots school at Edward's AFB for about 5 years and watched him come and go to his aircraft occasionally.
Wow!! That's a helluva of a story to tell. I remember the time I took General Chuck Yeager supersonic, The man that 1st went supersonic..... Helluva of a story.
It’s the man not the machine! Quote credited to Chuck Yeager. You better pick up his autobiography book, if you want to know the story as it really happened. Including the famous supersonic broomstick he used to close the door of the X1, with a busted rib.
Shared a floor with his son, MSgt Mike Yeager at USAFE Hq in the late 80's. I didn't realize the general was Mike's father until one morning he brings him into my office and introduces us. I was totally tongue tied; the only thing I said was it was an honor to meet him. Made quite an impression on me...
First two kills are kind of suspect. Who knows if the panicking pilot saw Yeager or some other pilot's plane.
4:28 I would love to have been there to witness the conversation between those two German pilots after they both were safely on the ground.
Lol im sure the one that slammed into the other from having his head up his ars, lol, got a few pot knots on his head.
Knowing the 39 was a low to medium level fighter, would have liked to see how the Germans would have faired against Chuck in the Cobra
Yeager was around a long time to soak up the "glory". Richard Bong was USA's deadliest fighter pilot but he died testing planes a short time after his tour with little time to be glorified. So many US pilots did the same with P40's(how many?) it's deflating to read Yeager's kills from late war. He was great and had a long successful career.
Dick Bong had 40 kills and could have had a lot more if he wasn't constantly being sent on leave for months at a time to do war bond drives.
Very well made! Great video
He coined the famous phrase that he used on his Delco spark plug commercial “There are Old Pilots and Bold Pilots but there are NO Old Bold Pilots !”
I stole it from him and use it all of the Time ! It still makes so much sense !
George ‘’Ratsy’ Preddy performed the same feat whilst hung over! He’d had a few too many the night before, having been told he was not scheduled for missions the next day, only to be woken at an ungodly hour to be informed that the brass had changed their minds! He was the highest scoring P51 ace in the ETO and never touched by an enemy bullet, but tragically taken by ‘friendly fire’ on Christmas Day 1944.
The P-51 is a great plane! I flew that one in Microsoft’s WWII fighters, along with others, were I became a “simulated”, double ace.
@@PhilBurnell1982 I say this often, what I could do at the controls of a simulator, my stomach could not handle in the real world. A little turbulence, & I start turning green.
EASY FOR P51 MUSTANG TO FINISH 11 OPPONENT LOL. 👌😜
I think this is quote from General Yeager, he said there are old Pilots and Bould Pilots but ain't no Old Bould Pilots. He was a Living Legend, I wish I could have had the Honor and Privilege to have met Him.
If I may? I love the editing and pace. Great work. I love the long takes of the animated combat sequences. You neither rushed through the sequences nor felt the need to have narration accompany every frame. It was a pleasure to watch. I am your newest follower. 👍👏👏 from a fellow film maker. Well done.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank You for your honest review of history in the making in WW 2. As you said, it was an objective film of History in the making. If only our 90’s generation could Study and appreciate History, as you have, we would have a greater bond of States and Country, so that the USA, will always be the leader in Freedoms!!! Earned, not given ! !
@@deeannelebrun9944 it’s videos like this one that will make history interesting to people of all ages.
Actually, an F-86, in a dive, broke the sound barrier before Yeager. But history is written for heroes, and, yes, Yeager was one of them.
The X-1 was the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight. There are some pilots who claim to have broken the sound barrier in a dive in P-47's in WW2.
I met Bud Anderson at an Air Warrior convention in Indy where he was the guest speaker. He told us a great deal about him and Chuck as wingmen. It was an honor to meet the guy.
True hero!! thanks for sharing!
As a young man I studied C.Yeager's.
Historical past .
Now A Days I realize.
He probably had a outstanding Bar Tab
@ The O. Club .
All Do Respect Sir.
I got to meet two of my three heroes.
Met Doolittle in DC when it was a kid, and Hoover at Oshkosh. Really wished I could have met Yeager.
Hoover was the Farsi of the day. Didn't think there was organize crime existed. he liked the ponies and young men
@@peggylavelle581
Haters gonna hate.
Did you know the man?
How well do you fly?
This guy is literally the real life version of Maverick. He was a test pilot that pushed the envelope (Starfighter crash, broke sound barrier with broken arms and ribs), as well as an ace.
Love these history videos!
Excellent stuff bro
He lived a good life nice video man love your respect for him!
After my favorite ww2 ace died in a jet crash (T-33 shooting star) Chuck talked bad about him
As big a hero as anyone could ever be. He was always the best.