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Air Force General Chuck Yeager, known as “America’s greatest pilot,” and the first man to exceed the speed of sound in flight, has passed away at age 97, as announced by his wife Victoria.

“It is with profound sorrow, I must tell you that my life love General Chuck Yeager passed just before 9pm ET,” Yeager’s wife said in a tweet on the famed brigadier general’s Twitter page on Monday night. 

An incredible life well lived, America’s greatest pilot, & a legacy of strength, adventure, & patriotism will be remembered forever.

Fr @VictoriaYeage11 It is w/ profound sorrow, I must tell you that my life love General Chuck Yeager passed just before 9pm ET. An incredible life well lived, America’s greatest Pilot, & a legacy of strength, adventure, & patriotism will be remembered forever.

A career combat ace through World War II, Yeager began his time in the service as a humble mechanic, worked his way up to enlisted pilot training and was eventually promoted to flight officer. As a P-15 Mustang fighter pilot, he shot down more than 11 enemy craft over the Western Front.

A behind the scenes pic from one my favorite movies – the late Sam Shepard as Chuck Yeager and the man himself, who of course had a cameo role as well.He was the first to break the sound barrier, through which they said no man could ever pass. He did, and then lived to 97. pic.twitter.com/p1r9YxqNGE

After VE Day, Yeager went on to test pilot a variety of new craft at the Muroc Army Air Field (now known as Edwards Air Base) in California, becoming the first person to fly at supersonic speeds during a trial of the Bell X-1 – then an experimental rocket-powered aircraft – in October 1947. For that feat, he was awarded the air force’s Mackay Trophy for “most meritorious flight of the year,” as well as the Robert J. Collier Trophy, given to those who make major strides in the field of aeronautics.

#OTD 14 October 1947 Chuck Yeager @GenChuckYeager broke the sound barrier by flying faster than the speed of sound in a Bell X-1 rocket plane. pic.twitter.com/wtNwZ23J1L

Becoming a full colonel by 1962, Yeager was appointed as the first commandant of the air force’s Aerospace Research Pilot School, which churned out astronaut candidates for NASA, but before long was back to battle. He took command of the 405th Tactical Fighter Wing at an airbase in the Philippines during the US conflict in Vietnam, racking up hundreds of hours of combat time and some 127 missions.

General Chuck Yeager (1923-2020)America’s Greatest Pilot #RIPWWII fighter ace, legendary test pilot that broke the sound barrier in 1947 and flew all the aerobatics in Howard Hughes’ feature film JET PILOT (1957).#myhero#respectpic.twitter.com/OGxjiqV02Y

Following 33 years of active duty, Yeager retired in March 1975 at the rank of brigadier general, though he continued to serve as a consultant for the air force and NASA well after his military career formally ended. He was among the most highly decorated pilots in US history, garnering countless awards, trophies, and commendations during his decades in the service.

Happy 4th of July. I flew past this in military #Jet on #activeduty duty. Quite a sight. #MtRushmore#MtRushmoreFireworks#aviation#F15#MountRushmore#SouthDakota#July4th2020pic.twitter.com/ppcQV9UvsU

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