Pax Humana by Opsimath

Puzzle explanation

The misprints in down clues spelt out a phrase (italicised here) from the message left behind on the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander, “Here, men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. We came in Peace for All Mankind.” 17ac was entered as REST and 38ac as HARM, revealing the astronauts’ names (Buzz) ALDRIN and (Neil) ARMSTRONG, joining their companion (Michael) COLLINS in the perimeter of the grid. APOLLO ELEVEN was highlighted in the centre, forming an “11” shape.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Misprint Answer Explanation
Across
1   BESIEGED BES + IE + G + ED
7   AESC (h)A(v)E(r)S(a)C(k)
12   AUDIENT AUNT around DIE
13   LIMEY L(ike) I(taly) M(ore) E(very) Y(ear)
14   REMODEL (LED MORE) *
15   DVOŘÁK (OR + AK) after DV
17   WREST (bye-la)W REST(ored)
18   PHILIPPI PHI + LIPPI
20   IMAGO I + M + AGO
23   MERTON 2 meanings
24   NO-BALL NOB + ALL
25   VERTS 2 meanings
27   TROILITE (TOIL + TIRE) *
29   MILD ((spee)D LIM(it)) <
33   ANODAL A + DON < + A + L
35   UNDEALT (AUNT LED) *
36   QUINA QUI + NA
37   GENTOOS (SET GOON) *
38   HAREM HM around ARE
39   STRONGLY SLY around (TR + ON + G)
Down
1 char(M) BALD BAL(boa) + D
2 bit(E) SAMOSA SAMOS + A
3 leade(N) INERT I + NET around R
4 (F)orth GURKHALI H in (GUR + KALI)
5 pa(R)k EDEN EDENTATE − TATE
6 c(O)in DIME (impe)DIME(nt)
8 Co(M)e END UP (s)END-UP(s)
9 (T)his STEWPOT TWO-STEP *
10   COLLINS 2 meanings
11 (H)oofer JIVE I’VE after J
16 fu(E)l FIRE FIR + E(mber)
19 (P)arrot IMITATOR TIMARIOT *
20 (L)ines IN TOUCH TOU(r) in INCH
21 Indi(A)n MORINGA ROAMING *
22 Ear(N) GAIN BARGAINED − BREAD *
26 mar(E) RIDING RING around ID
28 (T)histle ORDER 2 meanings
29 Lam(E)nt MOURN MO + URN
30 pl(A)tter LANX LAN + X
31 G(R)asses OATS (b)OATS(wain)
32 pa(T)ch PLOT P + LOT
34 slot(H) LAZY LAZY SUSAN − SUSAN
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