Charles Yeager: A Short Story

Chapters 12–17 describe the days that Louie spent adrift, trying to survive in the vast Pacific Ocean. When his B-24 bomber crashed into the sea on May 27, 1943, only three men survived: Louie, his pilot Russell Allen “Phil” Phillips, and tail gunner Francis “Mac” McNamara. Over the next 46 days, they struggled to survive in two small, inflatable rafts while drifting across miles and miles of water.

With his new found fame, Lindbergh spent much of his time in promoting the aviation field while going around the United States with his iconic plane the Spirit of St. Louis. While visiting various cities in the US, he would participate in countless parades as well as give speeches. His fame grew to such height that he was soon regarded as an international celebrity who was nicknamed “Lucky Lindy” and “The Lone Eagle”. By 1927 he released a book entitled “We”, about his historic flight which quickly became a bestseller. Throughout all his rising fame and influence, Lindbergh had always stuck to helping the aviation industry as well as other causes which he felt important.

Zamperini and his crew were told to fly the Green Hornet in the hunt for Clarence Corpenings’s crew, who left the day before for Canton and had never landed. Before they were asked to do that, Zamperini had gone up in the Green Hornet for a short hop. He came away referring to it as “the craziest plane,” and hoped he would never have to fly in it again (Hillenbrand 113). Now Zamperini and his

Two things were unusual about this American fighter pilot. First, he had passed up a sure kill. Second, he was Black. He flew with the only U.S. Fighter squad involved in World War Two that could claim to have never lost a bomber they were escorting. The Group was the 332nd Fighter Group, "The Redtails," the famed all African American outfit that fought both American racism and Nazi militarism. Under the leadership and discipline of Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, the Redtails had learned that their mission in life was to protect the bombers(Respect and Honor 1).

The real turning point for Davis and his black combat airmen came when the 332nd was assigned escort duty for strategic bombers. The Red Tails never lost a bomber to enemy fighters and shot down three of the first jet fighters employed by the Germans. Their truly unique achievement was sinking an enemy destroyer. During the war Davis flew 60 missions and was awarded the Sliver Star, the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross for mission leadership.

Many have heard of the Tuskegee Airmen and their accomplishments. They were a group of African American fighter pilots. They proved to be quite vital to the success of World War II. What many people may not know is the Tuskegee Airmen had several squadrons which fought throughout Europe during the war. The most famous squadron was the 332nd fighter squadron, they were commonly known as the Red Tails. Charles McGee was among those men apart of the Red Tail squadron. Charles McGee is one of most notable men in the Red Tails due to his accomplishments throughout the war. I will be explaining his life and all of his accomplishments throughout this paper on famous individuals in aviation.

As aircraft evolved during the First World War, some of the best “Aces” were emerging in the sky. Captain Edward Rickenbacker and Lt Frank Luke Jr, both recipients of the Medal of Honor, made significant contributions to the American war effort. Although Lt Luke, the “Arizona Balloon Buster,” is commended for his valiant sacrifice, I believe Captain Rickenbacker made the more valuable contribution during World War 1, by exemplifying better leadership, professionalism, and intellectual power as an American air warrior. Lt Luke was an outstanding young ace pilot, but his arrogance and disobedient actions may have affected him malignantly during World War 1.

Louis had been assigned to the Army Air Corps in 1941, becoming a bombardier for a B-24 Liberator. “Flat-faced, rectangular, and brooding, the B-24 had looks only a myopic mother could love” (Hillenbrand, 63). Surprisingly, Louie was very good at his position in the military, often being able to hit his mark with accuracy. Although he seemed to enjoy his time in the air, it was only a matter of time before he realized the very real danger he faced. Whether it be from threats of enemy bombs or running the risk of casualties in training.

This story should be the story of a hero. The story of Whip Whitaker, an excellent pilot, who with a malfunctioning airline jet in a uncontrollable dive to earth and with eminent death quickly approaching, remained calm and managed to control his own anxiety and direct others to execute an intuitive and intelligent plan that allowed him to fly and crash land the jet in a controlled manner as to minimize the loss of life. Out of 102 souls on the flight only 6

Lindbergh’s achievement has spread around the world and changed the aviation history. The media and the public nicknamed “Lucky Lindy,” or “The Lone Eagle” and he became famous everywhere. He received many prestigious honors, including Distinguished Flying Cross medal from President Calvin Coolidge. He traveled around the country to give speeches and participate in parades, which honored his courageous achievement. Later, he made several more flights internationally and reflected his legendary flight in the book, We in 1927, and later in his life, Of Flight and Life (1948) and The Spirit of St.Louis

Born on December 7, 1919 in Cleveland, Ohio, Charles McGee changed aviation in more ways than one. McGee graduated from Chicago’s Dusable High School in 1938 and pursued a higher education by attending the University of Illinois in 1939. It was there that he joined ROTC. When war was declared on Pearl Harbor, McGee applied for a pilot’s slot in an experimental squadron and passed the exams. According to the National Aviation Hall of Fame, on October 19, 1942, he received his orders and made his way to Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama to begin training with his fellow African Americans. One memory he claims to remember very well was his trip down to the south to get to Tuskegee. He said when he crossed into the state he had to get up on the

John C. Robinson, enrolled at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and got his degree in Mechanics at only eighteen years old (Brownlee, R.A 2012). When he returned a war hero from being the commander of the Ethiopian Air Force, he dreamed of having an aeronautical school at Tuskegee (Brownlee). However, out of pure luck Tuskegee was chosen to be a part of the Civilian Pilot Training Program, even though Robinson didn’t have a hand in this and he was teaching at Keesler and Chanute Air Fields during World War II (Brownlee). He laid the foundation and standards for who African American pilots were during World War II: well respected, and had excellent piloting and combat skills. Through his determination and

The resulting explosion and impact result in all souls on board departing this mortal plane to meet their respective makers and the judgments they have earned. Meanwhile, our almost forgotten and mostly overlooked sole survivor is informed of his unit’s misfortune and their ultimate demise. Over the next days and weeks our protagonist begins displaying the signs and symptoms of what experts like to call “Survivor Syndrome”. He becomes wracked with guilt that he did not perish with his brothers in arms. Unable to rid himself of his personal demons he may attempt to join them in Valhalla the only way his feeble, angst ridden mind can conjure up. As his trembling hands arrange for his otherworldly reunion, his mind focuses on what could have been had he only double checked the backup battery in his alarm clock. According to chaos theory a change as trivial as one extra person on an airplane could change the entire course of events leading up to this macabre finale. Perhaps by being on time and being on that plane his additional body weight and that of his bags could have been sufficient to alter the physics of that fateful landing just enough that passengers instead merely experience a near miss with that American supplied relic of the Russian-Afghan war. Even if that CIA trained insurgents missile had not missed and his aim remained true in spite of the powerful influence of chaos, perhaps that same soldier could have at least died

|the cockpit, had failed. Lancaster, the captain, was pulled out of his seat by the air and forced head first out of the cockpit. This |

Daddy, dear may I go downtown instead of in to play and walk the streets of Charlestown in freedom July day? No honey no you may not go for the animals are mean and wild and the crimes, jail, and guns that's not good for a little child But daddy I won't go alone other kids will be with me