Fast, deadly, and built for carrier combat—the Grumman F9F Panther was the U.S. Navy’s first jet-powered fighter to see action. From dogfights over Korea to precision strikes, this warbird ...

On March 21, 1951, during the Korean War, Ensign Floryan "Frank" Sobieski found himself in a life-or-death situation when his F9F Panther was struck by anti-aircraft fire, blinding him in mid-flight.