Editing John Glenn (section)

== Military career ==
=== World War II ===
When the United States entered World War II, Glenn quit college to enlist in the [[United States Army Air Corps|U.S. Army Air Corps]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQty14PvMaM&t=1m23s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/jQty14PvMaM| archive-date=October 30, 2021|title=John Glenn Dead at 95 &#124; Remembering the First American To Orbit Earth|publisher=ABC News|date=December 8, 2016|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He was not called to duty by the army and enlisted as a [[U.S. Navy]] [[Aviation Cadet Training Program (USN)|aviation cadet]] in March 1942. Glenn attended the [[University of Iowa]] in [[Iowa City, Iowa|Iowa City]] for pre-flight training and made his first solo flight in a military aircraft at [[Naval Air Station Olathe]] in [[Kansas]], where he went for primary training. During advanced training at [[Naval Air Station Corpus Christi]] in [[Texas]], he accepted an offer to transfer to the [[U.S. Marine Corps]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.osu.edu/sites/archives/glenn/glennbio.php|title=John Glenn: Biographical Sketch|publisher=Ohio State University|year=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017011820/http://library.osu.edu/sites/archives/glenn/glennbio.php|archive-date=October 17, 2009}}</ref> Having completed his flight training in March 1943, Glenn was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]]. Glenn married Annie in a Presbyterian ceremony at College Drive Church in New Concord on April 6, 1943.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|p=50}} After advanced training at [[Camp Kearny]], California, he was assigned to Marine Squadron [[VMJ-353]], which flew [[R4D]] transport planes from there.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=51–55}}

The [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]] squadron [[VMO-155]] was also at Camp Kearny flying the [[Grumman F4F Wildcat]]. Glenn approached the squadron's commander, [[Major (United States)|Major]] J. P. Haines, who suggested that he could put in for a transfer. This was approved, and Glenn was posted to VMO-155 on July 2, 1943, two days before the squadron moved to [[Marine Corps Air Station El Centro]] in California.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=93–96}} The Wildcat was obsolete by this time, and VMO-155 re-equipped with the [[Vought F4U Corsair|F4U Corsair]] in September 1943.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=103–107}} He was promoted to [[First lieutenant#U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force|first lieutenant]] in October 1943, and shipped out to Hawaii in January 1944.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=51–55}} VMO-155 became part of the garrison on [[Midway Atoll]] on February 21,{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=111–117}} then moved to the [[Marshall Islands]] in June 1944 and flew 57 combat missions in the area.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=51–55}}{{sfn|Carpenter et al.|2010|p=31}} He received two Distinguished Flying Crosses and ten Air Medals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.osu.edu/johnglenn/the_man.html|title=The Man|publisher=Ohio State University|access-date=January 28, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202120725/https://www.osu.edu/johnglenn/the_man.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=34115 |title=Valor awards for John Herschel Glenn |work=Military Times |access-date=February 28, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220819052456/https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/34115 | archive-date = August 19, 2022 }}</ref>

At the end of his one-year tour of duty in February 1945, Glenn was assigned to [[Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point]] in [[North Carolina]], then to [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]] in Maryland. He was promoted to [[Captain (United States O-3)|captain]] in July 1945 and ordered back to Cherry Point. There, he joined VMF-913, another Corsair squadron, and learned that he had qualified for a regular commission.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=51–55}}{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=135–141}} In March 1946, he was assigned to [[Marine Corps Air Station El Toro]] in southern California. He volunteered for service with the occupation in North China, believing it would be a short tour. He joined [[VMF-218]] (another Corsair squadron), which was based at [[Beijing Nanyuan Airport|Nanyuan Field]] near Beijing, in December 1946,{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=147}} and flew patrol missions until VMF-218 was transferred to [[Guam]] in March 1947.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=51–55}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/33458/marine-corps-veteran-john-glenn/|title=#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran John Glenn|publisher=U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs|access-date=January 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202052107/http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/33458/marine-corps-veteran-john-glenn/|archive-date=February 2, 2017|date=December 8, 2016}}</ref>

In December 1948, Glenn was re-posted to NAS Corpus Christi as a student at the Naval School of All-Weather Flight before becoming a [[flight instructor]].{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=51–55}} In July 1951, he traveled to the [[Amphibious Warfare School]] at [[Marine Corps Base Quantico]] in northern [[Virginia]] for a six-month course.{{sfn|Tilton|2000|p=34}} He then joined the staff of the commandant of the Marine Corps Schools. He maintained his proficiency (and flight pay) by flying on weekends, although he was only allowed four hours of flying time per month.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=166}} He was promoted to major in July 1952.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=51–55}} Glenn received the [[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]], [[American Campaign Medal]], [[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] (with one [[service star|star]]), [[Navy Occupation Service Medal]] (with Asia clasp), and the [[China Service Medal]] for his efforts.<ref name="nasa" /><ref name="marines" />

=== Korean War ===
[[File:F-86 'MiG Mad Marine'.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Glenn's silver fighter plane on the tarmac, with a yellow stripe behind the cockpit and a checkered pattern on the tail|Glenn's USAF [[North American F-86 Sabre|F-86F]], dubbed "MiG Mad Marine", during the Korean War in 1953. The names of his wife and children are also written on the aircraft.]]
Glenn moved his family back to New Concord during a short period of leave, and after two and a half months of jet training at Cherry Point, was ordered to [[South Korea]] in October 1952, late in the Korean War.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=167–169}} Before he set out for Korea in February 1953, he applied to fly the [[North American F-86 Sabre|F-86 Sabre]] jet [[interceptor aircraft|fighter-interceptor]] through an inter-service exchange position with the [[U.S. Air Force]] (USAF). In preparation, he arranged with Colonel Leon W. Gray to check out the F-86 at [[Otis Air Force Base]] in [[Massachusetts]].{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=186–187}} Glenn reported to [[Pohang Airport|K-3]], an airbase in South Korea, on February 3, 1953, and was assigned to be the operations officer for [[VMF-311]], one of two Marine fighter squadrons there while he waited for the exchange assignment to go through.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=171}} VMF-311 was equipped with the [[F9F Panther]] jet [[fighter-bomber]]. Glenn's first mission was a reconnaissance flight on February 26.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=175}} He flew 63 combat missions in Korea with VMF-311{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=186}} and was nicknamed "Magnet Ass" because of the number of [[flak]] hits he took on low-level [[close air support]] missions;{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=180}} twice, he returned to base with over 250 holes in his plane.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=180}}{{sfn|Mersky|1983|p=183}} He flew for a time with Marine reservist [[Ted Williams]] (then in the midst of a [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] baseball career with the [[Boston Red Sox]]) as his [[wingman]].{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=180–184}} Williams later said about Glenn "Absolutely fearless. The best I ever saw. It was an honor to fly with him."<ref>{{Cite web|title=How Ted Williams described being John Glenn's wingman |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2016/12/08/ted-williams-john-glenn-photo|access-date=November 14, 2020|website=www.boston.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Glenn also flew with future major general [[Ralph H. Spanjer]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/02/12/ralph-h-spanjer-78-led-military-academy/|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago |title=Ralph H. Spanjer, 78|date=February 12, 1999|access-date=December 8, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410130756/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-02-12/news/9902120350_1_long-military-career-boarding-marine-corps|archive-date=April 10, 2016|last1=Breslin|first1=Meg McSherry}}</ref>

In June 1953, Glenn reported for duty with the USAF's [[25th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] and flew 27 combat missions in the F-86, a much faster aircraft than the F9F Panther, patrolling [[MiG Alley]].<ref>{{cite journal |hdl=1811/50348|title=John Glenn standing beside his F-86 Sabre|journal=John Glenn Archives, the Ohio State University. Original Photo, 4 X 5 Inches |series=John Glenn Archives|id=Original Photo, 4&nbsp;×&nbsp;5 Inches|publisher=Ohio State University|year=1953}}
</ref><ref name="nasa">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/content/profile-of-john-glenn|title=Profile of John Glenn|publisher=NASA|access-date=January 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220080323/https://www.nasa.gov/content/profile-of-john-glenn/|archive-date=December 20, 2016|date=December 5, 2016}}</ref> Combat with a [[MiG-15]], which was faster and better armed still,{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=187}} was regarded as a rite of passage for a fighter pilot. On the Air Force buses that ferried the pilots out to the airfields before dawn, pilots who had engaged a MiG could sit while those who had not had to stand.{{sfn|Wolfe|1979|pp=41–42}} Glenn later wrote, "Since the days of the [[Lafayette Escadrille]] during World War I, pilots have viewed air-to-air combat as the ultimate test not only of their machines but of their own personal determination and flying skills. I was no exception."{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=185}} He hoped to become the second Marine jet [[flying ace]] after [[John F. Bolt]]. Glenn's USAF squadron mates painted "MiG Mad Marine" on his aircraft when he complained about there not being any MiGs to shoot at.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=189}} He shot down his first MiG in a [[dogfight]] on July 12, 1953, downed a second one on July 19, and a third on July 22 when four Sabres shot down three MiGs. These were the final air victories of the war, which ended with an armistice five days later.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=192–196}} For his service in Korea, Glenn received two more Distinguished Flying Crosses and eight more Air Medals.<ref name=USAToday>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/12/08/john-glenn-astronaut-and-senator-dead-age-95/95155500/|title=John Glenn, astronaut and Senator, dead at age 95|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|location=MacLean, Virginia|date=December 8, 2016|access-date=March 27, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327050027/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/12/08/john-glenn-astronaut-and-senator-dead-age-95/95155500/|archive-date=March 27, 2017|last1=Faherty|first1=John}}</ref>{{sfn|Burgess|2015|pp=55–56}} Glenn also received the [[Korean Service Medal]] (with two campaign stars), [[United Nations Korea Medal]], [[Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal]], [[National Defense Service Medal]] (with one star), and the [[Korean War Service Medal]].<ref name="nasa" /><ref name="marines">{{cite web|url=http://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/Messages-Display/Article/1026297/death-of-john-h-glenn-jr-retired-marine-and-us-senator/|title=Death of John H. Glenn Jr., Retired Marine and U.S. Senator|date=December 9, 2016|access-date=April 10, 2017|publisher=Marine Corps |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411140440/http://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/Messages-Display/Article/1026297/death-of-john-h-glenn-jr-retired-marine-and-us-senator/|archive-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref>

=== Test pilot ===
[[File:John Glenn on Jet (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Photo of John Glenn leaning out of a cockpit looking into the distance|Glenn standing in the cockpit of a F-106B in 1961]]
With combat experience as a fighter pilot, Glenn applied for training as a [[flight test|test pilot]] while still in Korea. He reported to the [[U.S. Naval Test Pilot School]] at [[NAS Patuxent River]] in Maryland in January 1954 and graduated in July.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=204–206}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1998/06/07/pax-river-yields-a-constellation-of-astronaut-candidates/46422314-1408-4c29-852b-2786d40e82a5/|location=Washington, D.C.|title=Pax River Yields a Constellation of Astronaut Candidates|last=Vogel|first=Steve|date=June 7, 1998|newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 8, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220131205/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1998/06/07/pax-river-yields-a-constellation-of-astronaut-candidates/46422314-1408-4c29-852b-2786d40e82a5/|archive-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.download&key=E2F96F0A-8324-40BB-BF94-6D2E9D04FDAA |title=The History of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=December 10, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055015/http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.download&key=E2F96F0A-8324-40BB-BF94-6D2E9D04FDAA |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> At Patuxent River, future [[Medal of Honor]] recipient [[James Stockdale]] tutored him in physics and math.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/stockdale-james-bond/|title=Jim Stockdale, Glenn's tutor at Pax River|publisher=The National Aviation Hall of Fame|access-date=February 15, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216103822/http://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/stockdale-james-bond/|archive-date=February 16, 2017}}</ref> Glenn's first flight test assignment, testing the [[North American FJ-2/-3 Fury|FJ-3 Fury]], nearly killed him when its cockpit depressurized and its oxygen system failed.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=208–210}} He also tested the armament of aircraft such as the [[Vought F7U Cutlass]] and [[Vought F-8 Crusader|F8U Crusader]].{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=212–220}} From November 1956 to April 1959, he was assigned to the Fighter Design Branch of the Navy [[Bureau of Aeronautics]] in Washington, D.C., and attended the [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]].<ref name="nasajsc" />

On July 16, 1957, Glenn made the first [[supersonic]] transcontinental flight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-flight-news/silent-seven-john-glenn-last-mercury-astronaut-dies-at-95/|title=Silent Seven: John Glenn, last Mercury astronaut, dies at 95|publisher=SpaceFlight Insider|access-date=December 8, 2016|date=December 8, 2016|last1=Rhian|first1=Jason|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616031951/http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/obituary/silent-seven-john-glenn-last-mercury-astronaut-dies-at-95/|archive-date=June 16, 2017}}</ref> Disliking his Bureau of Aeronautics desk job, he devised the flight as both a way to keep flying and publicly demonstrate the F8U Crusader.{{r|shesol2021}} At that time, the transcontinental speed record, held by an Air Force [[Republic F-84 Thunderjet]], was 3 hours 45 minutes and Glenn calculated that the F8U Crusader could do it faster. Because its {{convert|586|mph|adj=on}} air speed was faster than that of a [[.45 ACP|.45 caliber bullet]], Glenn called the flight ''Project Bullet''.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=220–221}} He flew an F8U Crusader {{convert|2445|mi}} from [[Los Alamitos Army Airfield|Los Alamitos, California]], to [[Floyd Bennett Field]] in New York City in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 8.3 seconds,<ref name="nasajsc" /> averaging supersonic speed despite three [[Aerial refueling|in-flight refuelings]] when speeds dropped below {{convert|300|mph}}. His on-board camera took the first continuous, transcontinental [[Panoramic photography|panoramic photograph]] of the United States.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=222–227}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/edn-moments/4390414/-Project-Bullet--sets-transcontinental-speed-record-set--July-16--1957 |title='Project Bullet' sets transcontinental speed record, July 16, 1957 |publisher=EDN |access-date=December 10, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221015915/http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/edn-moments/4390414/-Project-Bullet--sets-transcontinental-speed-record-set--July-16--1957 |archive-date=December 21, 2016 |last1=Deffree|first1=Suzanne|date=July 16, 2012}}</ref> He received his fifth Distinguished Flying Cross for this mission,{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|p=228}} and was promoted to [[lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]] on April 1, 1959.{{sfn|Burgess|2015|p=68}} The cross-country flight made Glenn a minor celebrity. A profile appeared in ''The New York Times,'' and he appeared on the television show ''[[Name That Tune]]''.{{sfn|Glenn|Taylor|1999|pp=222–227}} Glenn now had nearly 9,000 hours of flying time, including about 3,000 hours in jets,<ref name="nasajsc" /> but knew that at the age of 36, he was now likely too old to continue to fly.{{r|shesol2021}}
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