Neil Armstrong

Neil A. Armstrong, in 1969, became the first man on earth to set foot on the Moon. He commanded the Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing craft.

Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, northwest of Columbus in Auglaize County, in 1930. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University and his Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California.

His combat experience includes 78 combat missions during the Korean War as a naval aviator. After the war and before the advent of NASA, Armstrong was a project pilot on many pioneering high speed aircraft, including the 4,000 mph X-15. He has flown over 200 different models of aircraft, including jets, rockets, helicopters and gliders.

See more Famous Ohioans.

Other upcoming events include: