General Yeager told this story at the National Memorial Day Parade in 2012:
“Don’t tell anybody but:
After General Eisenhower died, Mamie Eisenhower asked if I could plan, lead and execute a fly-by during his funeral procession.
“I responded: Yes, ma’am!
“I called the Pentagon and Andrews to set it up. A two star said: “You aren’t allowed to fly down Pennsylvania Avenue so you will not be doing so.”
“Me: Okay.
“Just in case, though, I led a flight of 8 F-4s from Seymour Johnson to Andrews AFB ready to do the fly by down Pennsylvania Avenue for General Eisenhower.
“However on the day of the funeral, March 31, 1969, probably reflecting how we all felt about General Eisenhower’s passing, the weather was stinkin’ – foggy. The 2 star general made it clear: we were not allowed to fly down Pennsylvania Avenue.
“I got a call there: Yeager, this is General McConnell.
“Me: Yes, sir.
“Gen McC: Do you think you can fly down Pennsylvania Avenue today?
“Me: Sir, can you see the Capitol Dome?
“Gen McC: Just barely.
“Me: Then yes, sir, I think I can.
“Gen McC: Good. Then do it.
“Me: Sir, there’s a two star general here that tells me we can’t do the flight.
“Gen McC: Yeager, do you know who I am
“Me: Yes, sir. General McConnell.
“Gen McC: Right. And do you know what I do?
“Me: Yes, sir. Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
“Gen McC: Then fly down Pennsylvania Avenue.
“Me: Yes, sir.
“The two star was very very unhappy. to say the least.
“I’ll never forget as we were flying down, I was leading two flights of four. The second flight was stacked down. The leader called in: Col, we’re awfully close to the tops of these trees.”
“Me (Gen Yeager): It ain’t the trees you need to worry about, it’s the Capitol Dome that will wipe you out!
“He laughed.
“That’s how Mamie Eisenhower got a formation fly by to honor her deserving, well-respected husband: General Eisenhower.”
c. GCYI