Alan Shepard in the Navy

As part of our celebration of Apollo 14’s 50th Anniversary, we’re posting information on Alan Shepard, the Apollo Program, and NASA.

Image from the United States Navy

Before gaining recognition as one of the Mercury 7 and the first American in space, Alan Shepard already had a distinguished career in the United States Navy. Having been appointed to the US Naval Academy in 1941, he is officially part of the Class of 1945 but actually received his commission as Ensign in June 1944 because of World War II. He was posted to the USS Cogswell for duty in the Pacific through the end of the war.  

In late 1945 he was transferred to flight training in Texas and Florida and received his wings in 1947. Following this he spent several tours aboard aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean and also served as an instructor. He then received test pilot training at the Naval Air Test Center in Maryland and continued as a test pilot until mid-1957. During his time as a test pilot, he completed high altitude flights to provide information on light and air masses at different levels, landed on an angled carrier deck, tested a variety of aircraft, and served as an instructor, challenging experiences that made him a good candidate for a NASA mission. 

In 1957 he entered the Naval War College in Rhode Island and afterward became the Aircraft Readiness Officer for the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. In 1959 he was selected as one of seven military pilots for NASA’s Mercury Program. 

For more information on Alan Shepard’s time in the Navy, look here.