Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, (sculpture).

Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, (sculpture).

Lykins, Jim, sculptor.

Laran Bronze, Inc., founder.

Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, (sculpture).

1987. Dedicated Oct. 14, 1987.

Digital Reference:

Figure: bronze with warm brown and green patina; Base: Dakota mahogany granite base and concrete.

Figure: approx. 5 1/2 ft. x 3 ft. 2 in. x 3 ft. 2 in.; Base: approx. 6 ft. 2 in. x 4 ft. 1 in. x 4 ft. 1 in.; Concrete pad: approx. 1 ft. 2 in. x 8 ft. x 8 ft. (Figure: 850 lbs.).

Jim Lykins Laran Bronze Foundry, Chester, PA (On front of base:) BRIGADIER GENERAL/CHARLES E. CHUCK YEAGER/BORN MYRA, LINCOLN CO.,/WEST VIRGINIA FEBRUARY 13, 1923/GRADUATED HAMLIN HIGH SCHOOL 1941/ENLISTED ARMY AIR CORPS SEPT. 1941/RECEIVED PILOT'S WINGS MARCH 1942/WWII 64 COMBAT MISSION/DESTROYED 13 ENEMY AIRCRAFT/MARRIED GLENNIS DICKHOUSE FEB. 26, 1945/FIRST MAN TO BREAK SOUND BARRIER/OCT. 14, 1947. (Side of base:) SERVICE/COMMANDER 417 FIGHTER SQUADRON/HAHN AIR BASE, GERMANY 1954-55/COMMANDER 1ST FIGHTER SQUADRON/413 FIGHTER WING/GEORGE AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA AND/MORAN AIR FORCE BASE, SPAIN/GRADUATED AIR WAR COLLEGE JUNE 1966/COMMANDANT AEROSPACE RESEARCH PILOT SCHOOL/1962-1966/ COMMANDER 17TH AIR FORCE/RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, GERMANY 1971/DIRECTOR AIR FORCE SAFETY CENTER/NORTON AIR

COMMANDER 405 FIGHTER WING/CLARK AIR BASE, PHILIPPINES/FLEW 127 MISSIONS IN SOUTH VIETNAM/VICE COMMANDER 17TH AIR FORCE/RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, GERMANY 1971/DIRECTOR AIR FORCE SAFETY CENTER/NORTON AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA 1973/RETIRED FROM AIR FORCE MARCH 1, 1975. (Rear base:) "ALWAYS LEAVE YOURSELF A WAY OUT"/BRIGADIER GENERAL/CHARLES E. YEAGER./TO THE YOUTH OF LINCOLN COUNTY WHO,/DESPITE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS,/MAY ASPIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER WORLD/DEDICATED OCT. 14, 1987/CHARLES E. YEAGER/STATUE COMMITTEE. (Side of base:) AWARDS/DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL/WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER/SILVER STAR WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER/LEGION OF MERIT WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER/DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS/WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS/

BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH V DEVICE/AIR MEDAL WITH TEN OAK LEAF CLUSTERS/AIR FORCE COMMENDATION MEDAL/PURPLE HEART/DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION EMBLEM/WITH ONE OAK LEAF CLUSTER/AIR FORCE OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARD RIBBON/MACKEY TROPHY/ONE OF TEN OUTSTANDING YOUNG MEN OF 1954/BY U.S. JAYCEES/HARMON INTERNATIONAL TROPHY 1954/ELECTED TO AVIATION HALL OF FAME/DAYTON, OHIO 1973/SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL SILVER MEDAL 1976/HONORARY DOCTOR OF SCIENCE 1948/WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY/HONORARY DOCTOR OF SCIENCE 1969/MARSHALL UNIVERSITY/HONORARY DOCTOR OF AERONAUTICAL SCIENCE 1975/SALEM COLLEGE. signed Founder's mark appears.

A depiction of Charles "Chuck" Yeager, as he looked just after breaking the sound barrier. He stands with his weight resting on his proper right leg, proper left leg relaxed. He holds a flight helmet in his proper left hand, resting the helmet against his proper left thigh. He holds a parachute pack by the strap in his proper right hand, over his proper right shoulder. He wears a short-waisted flight jacket with epaulets on the shoulders and large square pockets with flaps. On the upper proper left side of the jacket is a label with "C.E. YEAGER" on it. He wears a flight jump suit with zippers on the neck and legs. He wears a wedding band on his proper left hand.

The head and hands have a warm brown patina, while the remainder of the figure is a greenish patina. The sculpture stands on a smooth rectangular base atop a two-step concrete pad.

Portrait male -- Yeager, Chuck -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- General

Occupation -- Military -- Pilot

Outdoor Sculpture -- West Virginia -- Hamlin

Administered by Lincoln County, Lincoln County Board of Education, Hamlin, West Virginia 25523

Located Hamlin High School, Highway 3, Front grounds, Hamlin, West Virginia 25523

IAS files contain related articles from Lincoln Journal, Hamlin, West Virginia: (April 1, 1987, pg. 1, 10); (Sept. 9, 1987, pg. 1); (Oct. 7, 1987, pg. l); and (Oct. 14, 1987, pg. 1), (Oct. 21, 1987, pg. 1). IAS files also contain related article from Charleston Daily Mail (Charleston, WV), Oct. 7, 1987.

This statue commemorates the fortieth anniversary of General Charles "Chuck" Yeager breaking the sound barrier. Yeager was a resident of Lincoln County in his youth and graduated from Hamlin High School in 1941. The sculpture cost $70,000.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, West Virginia survey, 1992.

Lincoln Journal (Hamlin, WV), April 1, 1987, pg. 1, 10.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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