Apollo 11 frog men at work
OK, going up was all exciting, circling and landing on the moon was also exciting. Going back to Earth was exciting too. Then what? Interesting footage of the US navy frog men at work doing their best to secure the capsule and then make a safe pick up of the astronaut trio.
Airfix´classic box art from 1969 is a bit more dramatic with smoke and all, but what the heck. Modelling is all about getting the right feeling anyway, isn´t it?
Bit more to read on this can be found here http://www.navyhistory.org/2012/02/navy-photographer-apollo-11-recovery/
Very interesting, Stellan. The frogmen played a VERY vital part. It's great that you remembered them!
Airfix managed to make a helo scene look cool in the catalouges, right next to fire spitting Messerschmitts and bombing B-29s.
I've built a lot of the old Airfix kits back in the 60s. All of them in 1/72nd scale. Lots of equipment that wasn't available anywhere else! " ... fire spitting Messerschmitts and bombing B-29s" indeed!
That's exactly right. The astronauts got famous and the divers kept them from drowning, and recovered the capsule while they were at it. Stellan, are you going to build the helo?
George,I´m afraid I´ll pass on building the old Airfix kit. The box art is so cool but I´ll never be able to replicate the feeling.
That's got to be Roy Cross's amazing artwork, just looking at that picture sent me straight back to 1978.
N.
Dunno if it is Roy´s artwork on this one, it´s a classic though. The ability to capture not only the Sea King´s lines correctly but also the drama is amazing. If Airfix managed to get this model out same year as the actual mission took place they must have been on their toes. Remember this model from the catalouges in my youth.
Thanks for posting the video. I’m affiliated with John Wolfram and have heard him speak on different occasions, but didn’t know about this video. Very nice to see the detail of the recovery.
You are welcome, Gary. Wonder if Wolfram´s diving suit, adorned with big bright flowers, was official or something he came up with without his superiors knowing it? Can you ask him?
Hi Stellan,
It was unofficial. He was a Navy SEAL at the time and "took some liberty" with his diving suit. Next time I see him, I'll ask what his superiors said to him once they saw it.
Wow, must have taken some guts to do the decorations. At least one can spot him without too much of a difficulty.
It's amazing watching them do their task with swells tossing them about !
Yep, and this is in the middle of a jooooge ocean.
Stellan: pardon my ignorance, but what does "jooooge" mean? From the conversation, I could infer: huge (my 1st choice) or active or deep or dangerous or ... ?
There is a certain president in USA pronouncing huge as joooge. Your initial instinct is right thus. Just a bit of fun.
Hello Stellan,
Thanks for your contribution. I have seen some shots, but this video beats it all.
Old 66 (SH-3D) is clearly in the picture. Regards, Dirk / The Netherlands.
Thank you, Dirk. I think it is cool Airfix actually depicted a true moment in history rather than a generic one like an every day dog fight. After reading the photographer´s story, check the link in original posting, I understand there really was smoke at the scene but it should have been green as photographer mentioned, not orange. There ought to be some colour photos of it all though to prove either right.