Legendary pilot Chuck Yeager has died at the age of 97.
Chuck’s wife Victoria announced his death late Monday night, and wrote in part on Twitter, “It is w/ profound sorrow, I must tell you that my life love General Chuck Yeager passed just before 9pm ET.”
Fr @VictoriaYeage11 It is w/ profound sorrow, I must tell you that my life love General Chuck Yeager passed just before 9pm ET. An incredible life well lived, America’s greatest Pilot, & a legacy of strength, adventure, & patriotism will be remembered forever.
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) December 8, 2020
What an absolute legend of a man. Yeager broke the sound record barrier, shot down 13 German planes in WWII, escaped after being shot down, fought in Vietnam, earned the rank of General and was an all-around badass.
Even in his 90s, Yeager was a social media star and famous among people born decades after his heroic actions.
Oct 14, 1947: B-2 dropped me in a stall.I ignited all 4 engines. I radioed: There’s something wrong w/ this MACHmeter, it’s gone off the scales. It only went to MACH 1:don’t think they had much confidence in us 🙂 They heard the boom on the ground. We had broken the soundbarrier
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) October 14, 2020
If there was ever an example of a life well-lived, I think there’s no question at all that Chuck Yeager is it.
The man is arguably one of the greatest pilots to ever live, a war hero and a shining example of American exceptionalism.
Having completed my tour of duty as a #Fighter #ace, I was assigned to #Perrin Field #Texas as an instructor #pilot.After this day, as an evadee, I was given my choice of bases. I chose #Wright Field, closest to my home town #WestVirginia & the rest is #History @ParisMatch #Japan https://t.co/AuRDsZX4c7
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) August 16, 2020
Rest easy, Chuck. It’s never easy to see a titan go, and that’s exactly what has happened here. Godspeed to the other side.