Neil Armstrong’s flying career nearly ended soon after it started, when he was forced to eject from his F9F Panther over Korea.
At daybreak, pilots came onto the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Essex. Bundled like schoolchildren on a snow day, they waddled to their jet fighters. One of the first to climb aboard was a young ensign named Neil Armstrong.
His plane’s captain helped Neil into the cockpit—helped him connect his shoulder and lap straps, double-checked his parachute harness and rechecked his oxygen mask. Last, he made sure Neil’s life raft and radio were ready to go.
Suddenly, flight deck speakers blared, “Prepare to launch aircraft!”
The date was September 3, 1951.
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