The first pilot to break the sound barrier, born in Myra, West Virginia. He trained as a fighter pilot, flying over 60 missions in Europe. On March 5, 1944, Yeager was shot down over France, fought with the Maquis, escaped over the Pyrenees carrying a wounded airman. On 14 October 1947, Yeager flew the Bell X-1 rocket research aircraft past Mach 1, "thus breaking the sound barrier". This was the first step into space. In 1953, in the Bell X-1A, he flew at more then 2.5 times the speed of the sound. He later commanded the USAF. AeroSpace Research Pilot School, and the 4th TAC Fighter Bomber Wing. The subject of the book and film "The Right Stuff", General Yeager did all the flying in the movie The Right Stuff as well as played the bartender.