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Author
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Topic: Apollo Television Recovery Team patches
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Besixdouze
Member Posts: 236
From: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 01-28-2013 03:21 PM
   
Anybody know anything of the history of these patches? (eBay item no: 221183189260) |
Besixdouze
Member Posts: 236
From: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 02-03-2013 07:04 AM
Okay, did a little searching of my own based on the images on the listing. Seems that James J. O'Connor was a broadcast engineer with WOR Radio, Mutual Broadcasting and the BBC. He handled radio communications during the Gemini VI, Apollo and Skylab programs. He served for 30 years with the Navy MARS system and was known on ham radio as ''W2KGO.' Could well be him featured in the photo. I'd hazard a guess that the patches were produced by and for the civilian TV and radio crews present at recovery time. RR Auctions sold an "Apollo 11 USS Hornet TV Recovery Team cap in September 2011, catalog 376 for $601.20. Blue wool cap by Harvard Sports Headwear is embroidered "U.S.S. Hornet, Apollo 11," with a recovery team patch affixed to one side and embroidered American flag on the back of the cap. In fine condition, with normal wear. Obviously then, a nice contemporary collection of Apollo 11 recovery memorabilia. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 526
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 07-13-2019 08:12 PM
I picked up Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 Television Recovery Team patches that I thought cS members might be interested in seeing. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1432
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 07-14-2019 12:53 AM
I have never seen - or heard - of those before.
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thisismills
Member Posts: 507
From: Michigan
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 07-14-2019 09:01 AM
The patch for Apollo 11 has been sold in the past, a few examples: one from Armstrong family and another attached to a USS Hornet recovery hatAlso, there is one on display in the USS Hornet Museum. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 526
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 05-20-2020 08:39 AM
Just a little back story on the above patches. I was very fortunate to acquire some items from the collection of ABC tv producer Ron Ogle who was on the USS Yorktown for the recovery of Apollo 8 and on the USS Hornet for the recovery of Apollo 11. A photo that I purchased (not from Ron collection), mostly for personnel wearing Apollo 11 recovery caps and Hornet Plus Three pin-back buttons, actually shows Ron (with ABC coat, center). Some neat items, I especially like the CBS News letter.  
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dtemple
Member Posts: 775
From: Longview, Texas, USA
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 05-23-2020 12:19 AM
I found one of the Apollo 11 TV recovery team patches on eBay roughly 15 years ago.  |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 803
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 05-23-2020 08:47 AM
A little ID information on the Apollo 11 photo that Tom (Kosmo) posted upthread: Hornet's CO, Capt. Carl Seiberlich, is near the center of the picture in his uniform, standing next to the man in the ABC coveralls. To the right of the picture, the smiling man wearing the necktie is Dallas Townsend of CBS News. Next to him is ABC correspondent Keith McBee (arms folded around folder of some sort), and next to him (also wearing necktie) is NBC correspondent (and future White House press secretary/"Saturday Night Live" guest host) Ron Nessen. These three provided the TV commentary from Hornet during the recovery broadcast. The CBS News letter in the Apollo 8 framed display is from Robert Wussler, who was executive producer (essentially "in charge of everything") for CBS News special events broadcasts through the Apollo era. The picture of Yorktown is signed by Capt. John Fifield, who was Yorktown's commanding officer during the Apollo 8 recovery. One last note: I love the charges that King Neptune levied against Ron Ogle in his summons letter. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 526
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 05-24-2020 12:30 PM
Thanks for putting some names to faces, it will be nice to add that info to the back of the photo. |
akinnaird
Member Posts: 35
From: Arlington, VA, US
Registered: Dec 2013
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posted 05-09-2023 05:25 PM
I recently won these at an auction and was wondering if anyone could tell me how scarce they are and if there is any significance to the difference in border color between the two patches. Editor's note: Threads merged. |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 803
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 11-08-2023 02:28 AM
An additional identification in the group photo, courtesy of an e-mail I received last night from one of his grandchildren: ABC Television sound engineer August "Gus" Hatula is fourth from right on the front row, in a plaid shirt. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 526
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 11-08-2023 09:21 AM
Could you show a photo of the backs of the patches. Do they have pin-backs for attachment? |
akinnaird
Member Posts: 35
From: Arlington, VA, US
Registered: Dec 2013
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posted 11-10-2023 04:06 PM
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kosmo
Member Posts: 526
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 11-10-2023 05:00 PM
It looks to me as if one was made to sew on a garment, the other to pin on. The one I have was made to pin on. What’s interesting to me is how varied these patches are. Look at the Apollo 8 writing in the capsule and how different it is with the three examples. The writing in general, differs from patch to patch. Also look at the red, blue and silver bars at the top of the patch, they’re not always in the same order. Mine doesn't have the company sticker on the back, so it's nice to see who produced them. Just the way they are made, would suggest to me that they are a very limited run. The three here are the only original ones I have ever seen, so I would think they are scarce. |
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