Chuck Yeager: the name has a connotation enhanced in later interviews a bit arrogant; he is the mythic test pilot. Can it be that there are other aspects of his character and record have become distorted over time? Can it be that this cartoonish image actually hides an intellect and a person of greater depth? This essay is to rethink the myth and points to more compelling parts of his story. Yeager in uniform was good ol boy who wrapped an active curious driven mind good character in a deceptively plain wrapper.

Jackie Cochrane and Pancho Barnes: history records that well the two had no great love for each other. In fact, a great degree of animosity existed between these two women. Yeager thread the ground between the two. History also records and is full of stories of the profound friendship that the older Pancho Barnes developed with Chuck Yeager. Chuck Yeager navigated the animosity between those two women. The controversy surrounding who was first across the sound barrier (my opinion is that Oct 1 and the XP-86) Pancho Barnes displays a loyalty to the man 23 years her Jr. Yeager was assigned to deal with Jackie. Yeager threaded this needle and he did it with skill. This is hardly the blow hard or the wild cowboy! Pancho died a friend of Yeager after he helped Cochrane put her name in the record books. This left to sink is certainly, beyond what Wolfe wrote about in the right stuff.

Yeager’s autobiography, “I flew back in a chopper.” What did the flight mean? The pilot at the time was a nobody. 22 years would elapse before the Army Helicopter pilot would put an ironic footnote in Aviation history. When pushed his career which ended in 07 the pilot would point to other peers who he sincerely feel are worthy of far more acclaim. The pilot wound up as an ironic footnote in history. The pilot who flew Yeager was described by a commander of the time period, “First person I want with me war last man I want under me in peace”. His later career private comments reveal both a cutting sarcasm still present and an intense anger at preventable death. The young WO1 was very similar to the fictional Billy Roark and had little tolerance to pretense, arrogance etc. Other people who witnessed him speak of pranks, love and loyalty. Personal assessment of flying skills is humble others show mentor and one who inspires personal loyalty in both directions.

Yeager left a deep impression on the pilot. The impression was favorable. What would impress him? Well sincerity, curiosity, warmth and a lack of pretense would be impressive. Col Yeager had the eagles Col Yeager had the fame….it is obvious he was anything but a prima donna jerk. The loyalty to Yeager indicates that while being old enough to be the man’s father, and had more flight time that moral authority, and rank was not shoved in the Warrants face. The conversations where he is remarked Yeager “He was from the hero era.” It is quite obviously an off camera moment. Yeager was larger then life in the stories but not condescending. He also was sincerely curious in the stories and excited grateful for the opportunity. Like Olds who was in many ways a contemporary loyalty was a two way street. We have a man trusting grateful for a new experience and someone who sought to reward the teacher. The picture presented is a man without pretense. Instead of being arrogant, the full bird asked, “How does thing work? “ “How do you fly it?” He then trusted his own ability to fly and warrants ability to instruct having earned the WO-1s trust to get his hands on the machine! The arrival after it was accomplished the young helicopter pilot have to see a victory roll and then only did he realize who he had flown. What followed was an offer generously given by Yeager.

First and foremost, Yeager was a warrior. At times this innate aggression did go too far. Other times it was very appropriate. In war a momentarily confused enemy is an enemy soon to be dead. Yeager as a warrior counted many coup. He helped defeat the Nazis in a very clear way primarily in the air but also on the ground as well.

As an aviator he no doubt had a formidable skill set. Chuck Yeager’s wild ride in the X-1A provided the first pieces of data on inertial coupling! Yeager got the thing down in 1 piece and the all-important measuring equipment recorded the data. Scott Crossfield's comments at the end of link is the expert opinion!

Col Boyd selected the Captain for the XS-1 for a reason….he was a team player. The loyalty Yeager inspired is known the company of men and women who embrace him as a friend is in many ways a who’s who of greatness. Chuck Yeager team player, Chuck Yeager leader when examined is an impressive man.

Yeager in terms of wing commander and leader in hindsight appears to be the equal to or near equal to Olds. Olds got the glory going north Yeager was stuck in a far less glamorous Vietnam assignment. Chuck Yeager would not think it remarkable: in Yeager’s world, you treat the people maintaining the airplanes with respect. They who bust their butt are owed gratitude, you treat pilot who is flying you in a helicopter as a peer a brother, (that was fun after all for you as full bird if you keep is edge sharp or sharpen it that comes with the territory). You get your subordinates confident and aggressive to rain hell on the bad guys. You do your duty help get Cochrane her record, you remain a loyal friend to Pancho who has earned respect. While duty maybe a simple word in execution it required thought and finesse. In Yeager’s world that comes with the job! Darn right, you study your enemy so you and your subordinates can put bombs up his butt blow him to smithereens and then live to tell about it. Yes if flying under a bridge with only 10 feet of clearance helps you put more bad guys in the morgue you do it!

For the aviation historian….are there greater test pilots then Chuck Yeager? Eddie Allen’s short run with horrible ending at Boeing, Tex Johnston are impressive figures. Tex Johnston probably deserves credit given Yeager. Yeager was more then likely NOT the first man across the sound barrier who lived to tell about it. This criteria though is the incorrect way to judge Chuck Yeager.

You cannot accurately view Yeager’s military career as Edwards AFB only. This is wild distortion of who he was and what he accomplished. Before Muroc Edwards era Chuck Yeager was already a hero having shot down 10 damaged Nazi airplanes, and aided in sabotage efforts in the French Underground. Yeager is first and foremost a combat pilot who earned a star who happened to do test flying. Yeager is a great leader loyal friend who happened to do some test flying of note which help changed the world. Chuck Yeager was a warrior tried and true. Yeager lead warriors in peace and war. This comprises the bulk of Yeager’s Air Force career. In Yeager’s view the leadership, curiosity, brain work aggressiveness comes with the job that is assigned. Dimmer bulbs, more arrogant characters, less curious men would have failed where Yeager succeeded. Character, common sense, curiosity, and courage are what you want in military leaders. Thankfully for the USA Yeager had an ample supply of those four c’s. In that I think, his legacy lies.