I remember the first time General Yeager showed me a P-51. We were at Edwards Air Force Base a couple days before the air show.
He had me climb into the pilot’s seat. If you’ve never climbed into a P-51 – it takes some serious effort – well the first time does. Especially if you’re being careful not to touch the wrong thing – hate to hit the gear controls and have the gear collapse.
Seriously, that’s how little I knew.
He pointed out the controls, gauges, gear. It was fascinating. Then I had to climb out. Now that was a challenge!
As I finally stood up in the seat and was struggling to climb out onto the wing where Gen Yeager was standing looking about as cool as any fighter pilot could, I said:
Man, how do you get out of this thing in time to parachute down when your plane’s been shot?
First Gen Y was startled by my unusual questions.
Me continuing: You wouldn’t have enough time (clearly it was taking me forever to get out and I’m pretty agile) or you’d be hit by the tail or wing.
When Gen Y observed what I mean, with his quick wit, he answered: You don’t have to – it’s falling apart all around you.
And that’s what happened to him. The day after he shot down his first German enemy aircraft over Germany, to show he wasn’t so Sierra Hotel, he was shot down – March 5, 1944.
Three ME-190’s and he did a head on pass. He gave ‘em hell, but they got his engine and him frankly – shrapnel in his legs and groin. They missed the family jewels fortunately.
Gen Yeager and his airplane departed company. He waited to open it so as not to draw attention. One of the Me-190’s was coming again to finish him off, when Obie O’Brien turned to cut the German pilot off. Obie shot the Me-190 down saving his pal Chuck Yeager.
You can imagine when 3 months later, his pal Chuck Yeager walked into the barracks they shared in England. Obie was thrilled!
In fact, Obie never forgot. It was because Chuck Yeager, tail end Charlie, had checked six and called: Break, that the rest of the flight of four was saved.
Chuck Yeager then was in the lead fighting 3 at once at first. Hence he got shot down – but the three behind him gave the German enemy aircraft “what-for”.
I met Obie only once. GREAT guy. He was unfortunately on the downhill slope of life. His mind was going a little. But when his pal Charlie showed up. Wow. He came back. Obie and Chuck sat on the couch. It was just after we had “won the war” in Iraq in 10-11 days with a loss of 103 US military people.
Obie sat back and said: We wouldn’t have lost anyone. Right, Charlie?
I thought he was probably right – given he risked his neck to save his pal Charlie Yeager. And Charlie Yeager did likewise for his pal Obie.
Sue, Obie’s wife, also wonderful gal, said that Obie brightened up whenever Chuck called or visited. Beautiful.
Where was I? 
Oh yeah. The P-51. I got to fly with General Yeager in the P-51 the first time not long after. Soooo lucky!
We took off on a guy’s wing with permission. That guy was fairly scared though –kept looking at us instead of ahead.
Up in the sky – here I was sitting behind Chuck Yeager in a P-51. How cool is that?
He did one roll. I watched his head framed by the sky, the scattered clouds amidst the blue sky, the ground and the blue sky with puffy clouds. WOW!
We flew some more, explored some more. Dodged clouds. I imagined we were flying escort to Germany. And then he did another roll. Quadruple wow! Oh boy! I fantasized we were dodging Germans in a dogfight.
Along the way, Gen Y gave me a lesson re clouds and turbulence.
We came in for a landing. I still cannot believe it. Over too quick. It was so exciting!
I don’t think I slept for a week. While visions of P-51s danced in my head 😉
c. GCYI
www.chuckyeager.com