Mr.Supersonic

How fast can a man be? If one's thinking about someone fast would not be anybody either than Usain Bolt, A top tier legendary runner with a wild wind speed. Indeed, Usain is extremely fast as a runner. But considering a fastest by mankind would be nobody but a Mr. Supersonic, Chuck Yeager.

Charles Elwood “Chuck” Yeager was born February 13, 1923. He was raised and grew in Myra, West Virginia with his family in near Hamlin (White). Thinking about that time he was born to, there is no other option besides joining the army in World War II to fulfilled his duty as an American citizen.

Chuck enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1941 as an age of eighteen-year-old. He was trained under the military program to be served as a fighter pilot in the upcoming war. As he did splendidly during in his training, he got his wing in two years after finish the program (Young). As he was selected to join an Air Force pilot, he was sent to Tonopah, Nevada to join the 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group. The squad was newly formed with and with he is the only junior on the squad doesn't falter him because of his flying hours are more than most of the member (White).

After that, he and his crew squadron were moved from Tonopah to Santo Rosa, California in June 1943. Then another training at Oroville, California (White2). This place is where he met his wife, Glennis Dickhouse. During his arrival in Oroville, Chuck and his friend were assigned to be arranging some entertainment. He decided to make a dance party and ask Glen that was working in the local USO office if she could organize this event for his crew. As well as he invited her to the party as she is an outstanding beauty (White2).

During World War II he was assigned to Eight Air Force in England. In this place, the units were given a newly fighter plane with North American's P-51 Mustang, later on, this fighter plane became the best of all around type. Chuck himself was equipped with P-51B, with the name of Glamorous Glen from his fiancée, Glenn Faye Dickhouse (Young2).

Unfortunately, on 5 March 1944, during Chuck's eight combat mission, he got shot down in Bordeaux, France. Chuck was desperate if he was to be found by Germany's patrol since his chance is high to get capture. He hid in the heavy brush all night to evaded capture from Germany and got help by French underground men. He and some of other air pilot managed to go back to England and reunited with his squad once more (Young 2).

From this incident, he could have gone home and take a rest in America after he managed to survive throughout Europe. However, he didn't do it. Chuck sent an appeal to his Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower to return back to his squad and continue fighting. The appeal was approved and he got a return to his unit again(Young). Not too long that he succeeds the expectation by downed over five Me 109 of Germany's plane (Five Victory ME-109 Report), then another four FW 190s both in a single day (Four Victory FW-190 Report).

After World War II ends, Chuck's achievement was fairly high. He got promoted to captain during his tour to the European theater. He completed over 64 aerial combat mission for 270 hours during the war. Then he returned to stateside and marry his fiancée that was named to all of his mustang fighter planes, Glenn Faye Dickhouse in February 1945(Young2).

Chuck went back to Flight Performance School as his passion for his airplane and his wife. He was selected to be a test pilot for Bell X-1 rocket in 1947. Yet again, he named it after his wife. Many trials were performed and Chuck did it throughout him and his team ability to surpass the speed of Mach 1.06 (700 mph) on October 14 (Young 3).

As a first human being that breaks through a speed of sound, his achievement was finally declassified in June 1948. He was recorded as "The Fastest Man Alive" and was awarded the most prestigious honors in aviation. “This is an epochal achievement in the history of world aviation–the greatest since the first successful flight of the original Wright Brothers’ airplane, forty-five years ago,” Collier Trophy said by observing the magnitude Chuck's flight(Young3).

Chuck Yeager was dispatched to Europe in 1954 to serve as commander of the 417th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and works under the Air Force until he retired in 1975. Lastly, he got featured in Tom Wolfe's 1979 book The Right Stuff, and he appeared in the 1983 film adaptation. In 1985, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (Chuck Yeager Biography).

Thus, the legendary pilot is now live in Penn Valley, California, with his second wife Victoria Scott D'Angelo and four of his children happily after his huge achievements he does to his country (Chuck Yeager Biography).

Works Cited

"Chuck Yeager Biography" Biography.

http://www.biography.com/people/chuck-yeager-9538831 Accessed 24 October 2016.

Five Victory ME-109 Report

Four Victory FW-190 Report

White, Shannon. "Humble Beginnings." ChuckYeager.

http://www.chuckyeager.com/1923-1941-growing-up Accessed 24 October 2016.

White Shannon. "Yeager Joins the Air Corps and Trains for War." ChuckYeager.

http://www.chuckyeager.com/1941-1943-training-for-war Accessed 24 October 2016.

Young James. “Training for War.” Air Force Flight Test Center History Office.

http://www.chuckyeager.com/1941-1943-training-for-war Accessed 24 October 2016.

Young James. “The War Years.” Air Force Flight Test Center History Office.