[1] He joined the United States Air Force as an aviation cadet in November 1950 and graduated in December 1951.

In April 1951 he was assigned to the 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing, flying the F-86 in the Korean War.

In the 1958 movie adaptation the Pell character was played by Robert Wagner and this portrayal led to Low being interviewed and disparaging Salter as a poor fighter pilot.

While flying F-4D Phantom II 66-7631 he was shot down by a Vietnam People's Air Force MiG-21 on 16 December 1967, although no VPAF claim was made.

The North Vietnamese had read about the other two Korean War aces held by them, Robinson Risner and James H. Kasler in the American press, but they did not learn about Low's status until after he was released.