Retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager prepares to board an F-15D Eagle from the 65th Aggressor Squadron Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. In a jet piloted by Capt. David Vincent, 65th AGRS pilot, Yeager is commemorating the 65th anniversary of his historic breaking of the sound barrier flight Oct. 14, 1947, in the Bell X-1 rocket research plane named "Glamorous Glennis." Yeager was awarded the prestigious Collier Trophy in 1948 for this landmark aeronautical achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)
Retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager and Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, taxi to the active runway in an F-15D Eagle Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager and Vincent commemorated the 65th anniversary of breaking of the sound barrier by flying from Las Vegas to Edwards AFB in southern California. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lawrence Crespo)
Retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager and Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, taxi in under water fired from 99th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department trucks after the commemorative flight for the 65th anniversary of Yeager's breaking of the sound barrier Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager was the first pilot to travel faster than sound in the Bell X-1 rocket research plane named "Glamorous Glennis." (U.S. Air Force photo/Lawrence Crespo)
Retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager is assisted in the cockpit of an F-15D Eagle by by Senior Airman Anthony Ewing, 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief, Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager was commemorating the 65th anniversary of his breaking of the sound barrier by flying with the 65th Aggressor Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lawrence Crespo)
Retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager and Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, walk to an F-15D Eagle Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager and Vincent commemorated the 65th anniversary of breaking of the sound barrier by flying from Las Vegas to Edwards AFB in southern California. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lawrence Crespo)
Retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager poses for photographers after returning from his 65th anniversary of breaking the sound barrier flight aboard a 65th Aggressor Squadron F-15D Eagle piloted by Capt. David Vincent, 65th AGRS, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 14, 2012. Yeager became the first man to break the sound barrier Oct. 14, 1947, over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Lawrence Crespo)
Retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager prepares to board an F-15D Eagle from the 65th Aggressor Squadron Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. In a jet piloted by Capt. David Vincent, 65th AGRS pilot, Yeager is commemorating the 65th anniversary of his historic breaking of the sound barrier flight Oct. 14, 1947, in the Bell X-1 rocket research plane named "Glamorous Glennis." Yeager was awarded the prestigious Collier Trophy in 1948 for this landmark aeronautical achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)
by Senior Airman Jack Sanders
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
10/15/2012 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- Retired Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound, celebrated the 65th anniversary of his ground breaking event with a re-enactment here Oct. 14.
Yeager was serving as a test pilot and flying the experimental Bell X-1 named the, "Glamorous Glennis," Oct. 14, 1947, when he successfully broke the sound barrier.
"Up until that time we weren't able to do it," Yeager said. "Finally, in Oct. 14, 1947, we succeeded, and that opened up the doors of space to us."
Yeager's re-enactment flight began when he and the aircraft's pilot, Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, flew an F-15D Eagle to 45,000 feet over Edwards AFB, Calif., and at 10:24 a.m. broke the sound barrier again.
"It was the greatest moment of my life so far," Vincent said. "It's like being with Christopher Columbus when he discovered the new world or like being with Orville and Wilbur Wright on the first flight."
Vincent said Yeager hadn't lost a step and pointed out landmarks over Edwards AFB.
"It was a smooth flight today," the general said. "I'm very familiar with the area and got a good view."
Yeager finished his day with a meet and greet with Nellis Airmen followed by a question and answer segment.
"I want to thank you all at Nellis," Yeager said. "The F-15 is my favorite airplane, and that's why I came here to fly it."
Yeager enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army Air Forces Sept. 12, 1941. Later he was accepted to flight training in the flying sergeants program and, upon completion, was promoted to flight. Yeager demonstrated his flying skill during World War II when he became an, "ace in a day" after downing five enemy aircraft in one mission.
"What I am, I owe to the Air Force," Yeager said. "They took an 18-year-old kid from West Virginia and turned him into who I am today."
Comments
10/17/2012 2:16:39 PM ET I once broke the sound barrier. It never got up after that...
Chuck Norris, Behind you
10/17/2012 11:01:40 AM ET Sir you were my Dad's hero and one of the reasons he became a USAF Pilot. You are still my heroCongratulations again General
Mark J Kinchen, Wright-Patterson AFB
10/17/2012 9:08:38 AM ET AWESOME story about a History making American Airman Congratulations Brig Gen Yeager
Larry Kirkpatrick, Lackland AFB TX
10/17/2012 9:02:59 AM ET Awesome way to celebrate your anniversary BG Yeager And you even got a comment on here from Felix Baumgartner who just broke the speed of sound himself but not in an aircraft
BG Frye, Fort George G. Meade MD
10/17/2012 8:48:13 AM ET It is always nice to see Fellow Hillbillys doing great stuff
TSgt Hillbilly, SJAFB
10/17/2012 12:26:40 AM ET What an awesome way to keep our Air Force heritage alive I joined the AF when I was 19 and remember watching you Gen. Yeager when I was a kid flying the Bell test planes on TV... Your courage was and still is an inspiration to me so thats why I became a jet engine mechanic for the USAF You fly 'em we'll fix 'em Go Air Force and God Bless General Yeager
TSgt Edward T. Wisenbaker, 149th FW Lackland AFB TX
10/16/2012 4:48:00 PM ET I had the honor of meeting Gen.Chuck Yeager when I was young. His sister worked with my Dad Charles Hoschar@ Appalachian Power Co. in Huntington WV. Everyone I know from WV and all over is very proud of GEN. Chuck Yeager....
Carlos Hoschar, FE Warren AFB Cheyenne WY
10/16/2012 4:19:06 PM ET Cool Story, bro.
Felix Baumgartner , Stratosphere
10/16/2012 4:01:29 PM ET WHAT AN AMERICAN HERO
Cody Yeager, Beale AFB
10/16/2012 1:52:14 PM ET Such an awesome story. The state of West Virginia is so proud to have one of our own accomplish such a great feat in U.S. history. Thank you for all you have done, Chuck Yeager
SSgt David Pickens, Ravenswood WV
10/16/2012 1:19:58 PM ET Glad to see you still have no limits on your flight physical and you are in good health. I am sorry that I have to find out about it in the AF Portal.
Concerned Grandson, Beale AFB
10/16/2012 1:00:33 PM ET Congrats Sir.
Michelle, Beale AFB CA
10/16/2012 12:08:29 PM ET What a wonderful way to celebrate the anniversary of that historic event. Genaral, you are an inspiration to all of us old farts.
Larry Goudie LTC USAFRet, Edwards AFB CA
10/16/2012 11:14:41 AM ET Congrats to General Chuck Yeager from a fellow West-by-God-Virginian. I gratuated from WVIT and enjoyed my stint under your famous patch of sky at Edwards AFB during F-22 flight testing
David Baird, Robins AFB
10/16/2012 11:08:40 AM ET Congrats sir! When I was at Beale AFB Chuck Yeager was pulled over on base by SF for speeding and received a ticket. The SF Airman was later chewed out because nobody gives Chuck Yeager a ticket. That is all.
Sgt Nice and slow, Not at Beale no more
10/16/2012 11:06:12 AM ET Congratulations General I remember you well from Toul AB France, the mud hole. Keep flying high
C.H Carwile Msgt ret, Waverly Va
10/16/2012 10:45:11 AM ET Way to go Sir you were the first and still are the best.
MSgt Philip Call, 911 AW Pittsburgh PA
10/15/2012 7:17:55 PM ET Semper Fi Sir....i will always salute you..you were my favorite read as a kid and i still read everything about you
Donald Roberts, Alabama
10/15/2012 12:42:00 PM ET Capt. Vincent's comments reveal the kind of character he has. Congratulations on such an honor sir.
MSgt Bill Brockman ret, Atlanta GA
10/15/2012 11:35:37 AM ET Way to go General Keep flying high
Paul Ward, Lackland
10/15/2012 11:13:09 AM ET A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors the men it remembers --President John F. Kennedy. Congratulations General Yeager
