08/09/2025
Today, August 9th, marks a significant but somber moment in naval aviation history.
🗓️ This Day in Naval Aviation History: August 9, 1949! 🇺🇸 On this day, U.S. Navy Lieutenant J. L. "Pappy" Fruin made history by becoming the first American naval aviator to use an ejection seat during an actual in-flight emergency. While flying an F2H Banshee over South Carolina, he experienced a critical mechanical failure. He successfully ejected from his aircraft at 30,000 feet, demonstrating the vital importance of this life-saving technology. This event paved the way for the widespread use of ejection seats, saving countless lives over the decades that followed.
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