Charles Elwood Yeager

Military
First Lieutenant Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager of the 357th Fighter Group, with his P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Glamorous Glenn", 17 October 1944. Photo ref. no. 366010. Passed for publication 17 Oct 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Became Ace In One Day. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Stepping into his P-51 Mustang is 1st Lt. Charles E. Yeager, Hamlin, West Virginia, who recently destroyed five German planes in one dog-fight over Hanover... and brought his total to seven destroyed. He shot down the 400th plane media-400920.jpg FRE 3128 First Lieutenant Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager of the 357th Fighter Group, with his P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Glamorous Glenn", 17 October 1944. Photo ref. no. 366010. Passed for publication 17 Oct 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Became Ace In One Day. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Stepping into his P-51 Mustang is 1st Lt. Charles E. Yeager, Hamlin, West Virginia, who recently destroyed five German planes in one dog-fight over Hanover... and brought his total to seven destroyed. He shot down the 400th plane for 357th Fighter Group, which holds record for most planes destroyed for its age of any unit in the ETO. GLE 272568. 171044.JP.' On reverse: Associated Press, No Air Objection and SHAEF Field Press Censor [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman photo

Object Number - FRE 3128 - First Lieutenant Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager of the 357th Fighter Group, with his P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Glamorous Glenn", 17 October 1944. Photo ref....

Chuck Yeager was born on 13 February 1923, in Myra, West Virginia. 

Attacked by fighters on a bomber support mission to Bordeaux, FR and crashed SE of Marmande, France on 5 Mar 44 in P-51B #43-6763 'Glamorous Glen'. Evaded (EVD). 

On October 12, 1944, he became the first pilot in his group to make "ace in a day," downing five enemy aircraft in a single mission. Two of these kills were scored without firing a single shot: when he flew into firing position against a Messerschmitt Bf 109, the pilot of the aircraft panicked, breaking to starboard and colliding with his wingman. Yeager said both pilots bailed out. He finished the war with 11.5 official victories, including one of the first air-to-air victories over a jet fighter, a German Messerschmitt Me 262 that he shot down as it was on final approach for landing. 

After the war, he was the first man to break the sound barrier.

He died on 7 December 2020, aged 93.

Connections

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Units served with

People

A crew chief of the 357th Fighter Group with a P-51 nicknamed "Cathy Mae II" flown by Dale E. Karger. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew Chief of Karger's plane.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-822187
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Glamorus Glen
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
Major Charles "Chuck" Yeager of the 357th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Glamorous Glenn II" at Raydon. Image stamped on reverse with SHAEF Field press censor, 17 Oct 1944 Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Chuck Yeager.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Daddy Rabbit Glamorous Glenn II
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (B6-Y) nicknamed "Glamorous Glen III" of the 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, flown by Chuck Yeager. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Glamorous Glen III, B6-Y, 357th/363rd. Chuck Yeager.' On reverse: "B & C" Associates and Kenneth W. Clendenin [Stamps].
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Glamorous Glen III Melody's Answer
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

13 February 1923

Enlisted

Evaded (EVD)

12 September 1941 - 5 March 1944 Yeager enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) on September 12, 1941, and became an aircraft mechanic at George Air Force Base, Victorville, California.

Died

7 December 2020

Other

Evaded (EVD)

5 March 1944 Returned to England via Spain.

Buried

Revisions

Date
ContributorHattie
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Contributorjmoore43
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Added an association to the 8th AF Mission #674FE on 12 Oct 1944 per info in the "Summary biography".

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Contributorjmoore43
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Updated the location of the Died event per his obituary on the internet.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/chuck-yeager-dead/2020/…

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added info from Wikipedia to the "Summary biography".

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added an Enlisted event per Wikipedia.com.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Yeager#World_War_II

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a Evaded event per info in the "Summary biography".

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a Died event per info on CBS news on 12/7/2020.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Updated Middle Name and rank per info on Wikipedia.com.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Yeager

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Contributordecwriter
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NARA files verified Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with 6 oak leaf clusters and Purple Heart decorations for service in World War II. He earned another DFC in 1948 and 1950 respectively. All other decorations or oak leaf clusters were earned after World War II and his official Air Force biography photo shows the EAME with silver star and bronze star denoting six campaigns.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Updated the Born event per info on Wikipedia. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Yeager

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Contributorjmoore43
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Updated events per info in the book "Masters of the Air" by "Donald L. Miller" on pages 267-271.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

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ContributorWD-C Mustang
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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2788 / MACR 2788, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Charles Elwood Yeager: Gallery (2 items)