Vice President Pence: The late test pilot Chuck Yeager, first to break sound barrier, makes his last flight

Last Dec. 7, the greatest aviator in American history ascended into the heavens. On Friday, joined by my family on Air Force Two, it will be my honor to accompany the widow and earthly remains of retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, America’s pilot, on his last flight.

No one could have known then that the new enlistee would become a titan of American aviation. He threw up all over his airplane on his first few flights. But he completed his training, and in 1943 was deployed to fight the Nazis in Europe, where he flew 64 combat missions and shot down 13 German fighters. In March 1944, the ace was shot down over German-occupied France, but made it to friendly territory and was sent back to England, where he was ordered back home. But the dutiful Yeager appealed the decision all the way up to the Supreme Commander, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.