John Glenn

:This article is about the astronaut. For the English film director, see John Glen.

Early history and military career

Glenn grew up in Cambridge, Ohio and earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Muskingum College. He enrolled in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1942 and was assigned to the Marines VMO-155 group in 1944. Glenn flew Corsairs over the Marshall Islands, specifically Maloelap, where he attacked anti-aircraft gunnery and dropped bombs. In 1945 Glenn was transferred to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, where he was promoted to captain by the war's end.

Related Topics:
Cambridge, Ohio - Bachelor of Science - Muskingum College - 1942 - Marines - 1944 - Corsairs - Marshall Islands - Maloelap - 1945 - Naval Air Station Patuxent River

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After the World War II, Glenn flew patrol missions in North China, based in Guam, and in 1948 he became an flight instructor at Corpus Christi, Texas, after which he took an amphibious warfare course and was given a staff assignment, all the while seeking transfer to combat in Korea. Once there, after flying combat missions for the Marines, Glenn flew with the Air Force on an interservice exchange. Flying an Air Force F-86 Sabre, he shot down three MiGs. He received several medals for his service.

Related Topics:
China - Guam - 1948 - Corpus Christi, Texas - Korea - Air Force - F-86 Sabre - MiG

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He returned to Patuxent River N.A.S., with an appointment to the Test Pilot School (class 12) after the Korean War. As a test pilot, he served as armament officer, flying planes to high altitudes and testing their cannon/machine guns. On July 16, 1957, Glenn completed the first supersonic transcontinental flight in a Vought F8U "Crusader." The California to New York flight took 3 hours, 23 minutes and 8 seconds. As Glenn passed over his hometown, a childhood neighbor reportedly ran to the Glenn house shouting "Johnny dropped a bomb! Johnny dropped a bomb!" as the supersonic boom shook the town.

Related Topics:
Korean War - July 16 - 1957 - Vought F8U - California - New York

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