The first human to walk on the surface of the moon was studying aeronautical engineering at Purdue University on a U.S. Navy scholarship when in 1949 he began flight training to become a naval aviator. On September 3, 1951—five days after flying his first mission in the Korean War—the 21-year-old Armstrong ejected from his F9F Panther jet after it was struck by anti-aircraft fire on a low bombing run. In nearly one full year of service in Korea, the U.S. Navy pilot flew 78 combat missions and earned three air medals.
We honor you, Neil Armstrong.