World War II Honoree

Chuck Yeager

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

West Virginia

Honored By

Missouri DAV Chapter 67

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS AT AGE 18 IN 1941. IN 1943 HE WAS COMMISSIONED A RESERVE FLIGHT OFFICER BEFORE BECOMING A PILOT IN THE FIGHTER COMMAND OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE STATIONED IN ENGLAND. OVER THE COURSE OF WWII, HE FLEW 64 COMBAT MISSIONS AND SHOT DOWN 13 GERMAN PLANES, HE WAS SHOT DOWN OVER FRANCE IN MARCH 1944 ON HIS EIGTH (8) COMBAT MISSION BUT WAS ABLE TO EVADE CAPTURE WITH THE HELP OF THE FRENCH UNDERGROUND. HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. IN 1945. ON OCTOBER 14, 1947 HE BECAME THE FIRST MAN TO TRAVEL FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SOUND REACHING MACH 1.06 OR 700 MPH FLYING THE BELL X-1.