Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 10-22-2015 12:03 PM
Perhaps you all can assist me in my quest. My father, CWO Charles O. Laine, worked for the 6511th Test Parachute group in El Centro California in the early 60s and did some work with the Gemini program's personnel recovery system (NASA).
Please see the attached photos. Can his space suit be located? I know it was custom made for him by (David Clark).
I have found CWO Mitchell B. Kanowski's and Marcum's. I would appreciate any assistance you could give.
My goal is to donate numerous photos to the facility that has this suit and to also share the story of the man in the suit. I have looked in all the obvious places and museums and have contacted many experts in this field but came up empty. If you know of a G2-C display somewhere please advise. Should read Laine on the right chest. Thanks for any assistance you can give. — William J. Laine
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 10-22-2015 12:24 PM
DG27 Member
Posts: 235 From: USA Registered: Nov 2010
posted 10-22-2015 09:55 PM
The name Laine on a spacesuit sounds familiar. Let me see what info I have on it.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 10-23-2015 04:08 PM
Thanks DG27! Anything you do would be greatly appreciated. Be well.
DG27 Member
Posts: 235 From: USA Registered: Nov 2010
posted 10-23-2015 08:59 PM
Okay, I found it.
The Gemini suit your father wore is serial #2 (G2C-2).
When I saw it, the suit was in storage at the Alabama Space and Rocket Center, which is now the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville, Alabama.
I photographed the suit during a photographic inventory I performed in 1989 and 1991 of suits in storage. The name Laine stuck in my mind since it was not an astronaut's name.
I presume the suit is still there, although during the Save America's Treasures project all Smithsonian owned suits were brought back to the Smithsonian for protection and preservation. I believe this suit is mostly likely owned by the USSRC, so it should be still be in Huntsville.
Management of the collections at the USSRC has changed and I am not sure if they have the inventory catalog I provided them at the time. So they may not know they have the suit. Now that you know the serial number they should be able to find it.
It's not the best quality photo but should help them locate the suit.
The NASA vector patch is missing and the name tag on the front of the suit is faded but still readable. After the jump program was over, it appears the suit was modified to test liquid cooling in the suit by the addition of the two aircraft AN fittings on the lower abdomen of the suit. I have seen this modification on another Gemini suit as well.
The brown areas on the suit are where the aluminum coating has degraded, exposing the brown plastic coating which was applied on the fabric in preparation for the aluminization.
I did not check the glove to see if was the correct serial number glove, and I do not know the location of the helmet. I will check and see if the helmet is in another archive.
In the material that you have, are the names of the other parachutists identified?
Hope this helps.
stsmithva Member
Posts: 2084 From: Fairfax, VA Registered: Feb 2007
posted 10-23-2015 09:49 PM
quote:Originally posted by DG27: Okay, I found it.
Incredible!
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 10-23-2015 11:34 PM
quote:Originally posted by DG27: Okay, I found it.
Outstanding! Thank you DG27! On behalf of the Laine family and our extended families, Thank you very much! Wow!
(I do have the names of the other men in the picture and will post soon. Thanks again!)
DG27 Member
Posts: 235 From: USA Registered: Nov 2010
posted 10-24-2015 01:16 AM
You are welcome. Glad to have helped.
When I saw the name Laine on the suit I assumed he was either a NASA or McDonnell engineer. The fact that he helped prove out the Gemini escape system by parachuting in the suit is very cool.
I am looking forward to hearing about your father and his work on our space program.
Also, thank you for reaching out. It is always exciting to learn something new.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4527 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 10-24-2015 06:02 AM
This whole exercise is a perfect illustration of the collectSpace community at it's best. Great going guys!
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 10-24-2015 12:55 PM
These are the names of the five men pictured in the previous photo as requested.
SprocketCur Member
Posts: 12 From: Huntsville, AL Registered: Mar 2011
posted 10-26-2015 12:05 PM
Good morning everyone! Thanks to all of you for helping Mr. Laine. Thanks to Robert reaching out to me on Twitter and a phone call with Bill, I will be checking our suit inventory to see if we still have it in our collection. I believe we do, but I always like to put eyes on it to make sure.
lspooz Member
Posts: 463 From: Greensboro, NC USA Registered: Aug 2012
posted 10-26-2015 01:24 PM
Wow, cS at it's best, and now another new member/museum contact....
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 10-26-2015 01:38 PM
Lou Chinal Member
Posts: 1387 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
posted 10-26-2015 07:17 PM
Do you have your father's log books? Could you copy them?
SprocketCur Member
Posts: 12 From: Huntsville, AL Registered: Mar 2011
posted 10-26-2015 08:02 PM
The suit has been located and verified. It's in our storage area.
The two pics below were taken today, by me.
Primary tag inside back of neck ring:
Leather name strip on chest:
(Contrast enhanced to show lettering.)
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 10-26-2015 10:13 PM
quote:Originally posted by Lou Chinal: Do you have your father's log books?
We are in possession of my Father's jump log but only during his time at Wright Patterson AFB. We are still trying to locate his log with the Gemini Program at El Centro, California (6511th Test Parachute). Is there anything specifically that you are interested in. Please advise. Thanks!
DG27 Member
Posts: 235 From: USA Registered: Nov 2010
posted 10-27-2015 03:11 AM
quote:Originally posted by SprocketCur: The suit has been located and verified. It's in our storage area.
Are you able to read the label in the glove?
Lou Chinal Member
Posts: 1387 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
posted 10-28-2015 12:20 PM
Just curious. I think we all live vicariously though the adventures of past pioneers. I started jumping in 1966. I finally hung it up in 2004. I accumulated about 6 hours of freefall time.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 10-28-2015 12:37 PM
Lou, that is incredible! Six hours of free fall! Wow! Now I am curious. I will make it a point to track down my father's information. More information to follow.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 11-01-2015 05:14 PM
I'm having trouble locating my father's left glove and helmet. The glove should read "Laine" G-2C-2 and the helmet should be a G-2C. Again, I have checked the usual places with no luck. This could be a difficult task.
I am hoping that someone has seen a display somewhere and can pass the information back to me. My goal is to get the suit back together if possible and then for the USSRC or another appropriate site to create a display that will honor the men and women behind the men and women that made it all possible. Please advise. Be well.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 11-28-2015 02:56 PM
I believe this is also a stabilization suit used in HALO jumps and made by the David Clark Company in the early 60's. I believe it was either a Model "A" or an experimental suit. Can someone give me more information if possible? Thanks again.
(I am still looking for my father's left glove and helmet for his Gemini G-2C-2 suit. No luck yet but I will continue to try. Keep the faith! Be well.)
Matt T Member
Posts: 1373 From: Chester, Cheshire, UK Registered: May 2001
posted 11-28-2015 04:28 PM
Useful thread - fills in the gaps for me as I'm sitting here holding the G2C suit liner with 'Powers' on the name-tag, manufactured barely a week after your father's suit.
I was sold it with anecdotal information that it had been used by Gary Powers during his time as a test pilot after the U2 incident; SSGT William E. Powers look like a far more likely fit. I'd located Kowalski and the parachute tests in relation to the G2C suit previously but this is the first time I've seen Powers — the missing puzzle piece.
Good luck finding the glove and helmet.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 11-28-2015 05:19 PM
That is outstanding! Can you post some pictures of the liner on this website. We have managed to locate all but Fulgham's suit. This is a great website and all have been very helpful. Thanks for sharing. Be well.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 03-31-2016 05:46 PM
This week my wife and I were finally able to visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center to see my father's Gemini G-2C-2 pressure suit. This was a very emotional but extremely educational experience for both of us. Words cannot describe how honored we were to finally see his suit in person.
This was all made possible by the collectSPACE community and on behalf of the Laine family we would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the outstanding work that you do. Special thanks to Dennis Gilliam of Orbital Outfitters and Ed Stewart, Curator of the USSRC for assisting us in our quest. It was a pleasure meeting these two gentlemen this week, both experts in their fields.
As stated before on the website, this is collectSPACE at it's finest! Thank you all for an outstanding experience. Be well. — William J. Laine
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 03-31-2016 05:47 PM
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 07-19-2016 02:52 PM
This is footage of the first live jump of the "Ballute" related to my father's spacesuit work and the Gemini escape system. I thought the community would be interested.
I am continuing my search for my father's helmet: GH-2C-Laine and gloves: G-2C-2. Any assistance the community could give would be greatly appreciated.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 08-22-2016 01:50 AM
Here is a short video of one of my father's colleagues, SSGT William E. Powers Jr., participating in one of several live test jumps the five Jumpers from the 6511th Test Parachute Facility performed in the early 60's out of El Centro, California.
Note: SSGT Powers is in his Gemini G-2C pressure suit and is testing one of several versions of the Ballute before the final version of the Personnel Recovery System was approved for the Gemini Space Program.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 12-06-2016 07:04 PM
I thought the collectSPACE community would like to see these videos:
High Altitude Gemini Personnel Parachute test: CWO Laine
Debrief on the ground after the jump with Deke Slayton and Gene Cernan
Philip Member
Posts: 6219 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 12-07-2016 08:15 AM
Superb, thanks for sharing!
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 02-23-2017 03:25 PM
I found this photo that I believe are Gemini GG-2C gloves. I was wondering if anyone here knows where this photo was taken?
I would love to research this further. Please advise. Thanks!
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 02-23-2017 04:26 PM
It was just shared with me that the photo was taken at the Exhibition COSMOS in Bratislava (October 2016). I am very interested in what the inside labels read. Will do more research and share with the community. Be well.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 03-07-2017 08:18 AM
Update: Both gloves are located at the Cosmos Discovery World Exhibition. Right glove is Gemini GG-2C-23. Left is Gemini GG-2C-30. I'm still looking for GG-2C-2. The search continues!
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 12-21-2017 03:36 PM
Two more photos of my father's work testing the Gemini escape system (Ballute).
Cover of Aviation Week (4/6/64) and one of several test jumps of the Ballute.
oly Member
Posts: 1455 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 07-15-2018 10:41 PM
There are some timeline details of the Gemini Ballute testing within this document.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 07-19-2018 03:58 PM
Thanks Oly. Very interesting material here.
oly Member
Posts: 1455 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 07-22-2018 10:11 PM
There is also some Gemini Ballute and ejection seat footage here.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 11-29-2018 05:13 PM
Interesting to see that CWO Mitch Kanowski’s Gemini G-2C-4 pressure suit just sold at the Sotheby’s auction for $162,500. He was one of the five test jumpers out of the 6511th test parachute group in El Centro, Ca that did the high altitude work testing the suit and the Ballute.
I was very young but remember him well. I have great memories and am very proud of the work these five men did for the Gemini program.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 01-10-2019 12:45 PM
Does anyone know where Kanowski’s Gemini G-2C pressure suit ended up after the auction? I would like to contact the new owner and share photos and information related to my research on Kanowski and the other (4) men related to the high altitude work they did out of the 6511th Test Parachute group in El Centro Ca. In the early 1960’s. Please advise. Thanks!
JohnPaul56 Member
Posts: 283 From: Montclair, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2010
posted 01-13-2019 10:13 AM
Just as an FYI, The video posted as a debrief after the jump says Deke Slaton and Gene Cernan are there. I don't see Deke or Gene in this video.
Wlaine Member
Posts: 50 From: San Diego, CA. USA Registered: Oct 2015
posted 01-13-2019 02:39 PM
I could be wrong. Can you identify these two men in the video speaking to my father and Mitch Kanowski?
posted 10-22-2015 12:03 PM
advertisement