Col Chuck Yeager almost left the USAF. General Ben Davis, Jr., 1st Black USAF General, convinced him not to do so.

This letter was read at the First Flight Society banquet December 17, 2022 at Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 where the Wright Brothers first powered flight occurred 119 years before.

It illustrates how two men, from vastly different backgrounds, were breaking barriers against prejudice (of various types) over 50 years ago.

Dear First Flight Society,

I am so thrilled you are honoring General Ben Davis, Jr. into the Paul E Garber Shrine this year. My late husband, General Chuck Yeager, who was inducted in 1968, thought the world of General Davis and often spoke very highly of him with great admiration.

From 1966 - February 1968, Colonel Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager commanded the 405th Tactical Fighter Wing at?Clark Air Force Base in the Republic of the Philippines and completed 127 combat missions in Vietnam. General Benjamin “Bennie” Davis, Jr assumed command of the Thirteenth Air Force at Clark AFB in August 1967.

General Yeager appreciated General Davis’ superb leadership skills and practical common sense.

One example General Yeager gave is as follows:

A fight over Col Yeager’s next assignment broke out between two generals, General Ryan, and General Momyer. General Momyer said, "I am not going to take him," and Ryan said, "You will." That's the way it went.

General Yeager’s words: “I was ready to throw in the towel. I went up to General Davis and said, "I am a colonel in the Air Force. I have spent my life in it. I hate to be treated like a damn piece of paper."

General Davis said, "Well, you know, Chuck, these things happen all the time between senior officers and conflict of interest and the like. Just wait and let's see what it is."

and

“Chuck, I know exactly how you feel. I thought about quitting once or twice myself. Being the highest-ranking black man in the United States Air Force hasn’t been the easiest climb. But you’ve got to expect to get sandbagged every once in a while. I agree, you would have been perfect for the job but Momyer will never take you now. No way. Why? Because Ryan wants him to. The fight isn’t about you but about whose will is strongest. Those battles go on all the time. Among generals, it’s like a workout in the gym. So, stay cool and patient. I’m certain the Air Force won’t let you go to waste. They’ll make it up to you.”

Col Yeager took General Davis’ advice and so did the United States Air Force. The USAF did not waste Col Yeager’s talents and did make it up to Col Yeager. He was put on the General’s list and became a General the next year. He also took command of the 4th TAC Fighter Wing out of Seymour Johnson and immediately went to South Korea to standby regarding the Pueblo Crisis.

This is but one personal example of the exceptionalism of General Ben Davis, Jr., a great leader in the United States Air Force.

Sincerely:

?Victoria Yeager