Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Hardware & Flown Items
  Stolen Eisele Apollo 7 Speedmaster recovered

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Stolen Eisele Apollo 7 Speedmaster recovered
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-16-2017 05:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
collectSPACE
Apollo astronaut watch, stolen in Ecuador, recovered 30 years later

A NASA astronaut's wristwatch worn aboard the first Apollo mission in 1968 has been returned to the Smithsonian, nearly three decades after it was stolen from a museum in Ecuador.

The Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph, which astronaut Donn Eisele was issued to wear on board the Apollo 7 mission into Earth orbit, is now back in the custody of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The watch was recovered with the help of space history enthusiasts, who provided the authorities with information about the chronograph's status and location.

Jurg Bolli
Member

Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 11-16-2017 08:44 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jurg Bolli   Click Here to Email Jurg Bolli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Very nice to hear that it is back.

TLIGuy
Member

Posts: 205
From: Virginia
Registered: Jul 2013

posted 11-16-2017 12:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for TLIGuy   Click Here to Email TLIGuy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is a great story with a fantastic ending. Well done to all those involved in the return of the watch to its proper home.

Larry McGlynn
Member

Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 11-16-2017 02:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Larry McGlynn   Click Here to Email Larry McGlynn     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Robert, that is a really great job in recovery of the watch. It's been missing for almost 30 years. It proves a couple of points. Artifacts never stay hidden forever and everyday people can help in the recovery of stolen objects.

Very good article and great job gathering the disparate groups together to get that watch back. Semper V!

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-16-2017 03:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks Larry. It has been incredibly rewarding to play a small role in the return of Eisele's Speedmaster and to be able to share the story of its recovery.

bruce
Member

Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 11-16-2017 03:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for bruce   Click Here to Email bruce     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Good on you, Robert!

328KF
Member

Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008

posted 11-16-2017 04:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 328KF   Click Here to Email 328KF     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great story and article. A question on Eisele's other Speedmaster that was sold at auction. If it was a "personal" watch, why was it engraved with a NASA serial number (#38)?

Was it NASA property that was released to him?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-16-2017 05:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The history behind no. 38 is not clear. NASA does not have record of it flying or being issued to Eisele, and it was never among the chronographs transferred to the Smithsonian.

There are photos from the day of the Apollo 7 launch and post-recovery that show Eisele wearing two watches, so there is some reason to believe it flew on Apollo 7, but without Eisele around to fill in the details, its full provenance is likely to remain elusive.

Panther494
Member

Posts: 402
From: London UK
Registered: Jan 2013

posted 11-16-2017 06:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Panther494   Click Here to Email Panther494     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Fantastic news. Congratulations to all involved.

DMScott
Member

Posts: 354
From: Lexington, MA, USA
Registered: Dec 2005

posted 11-17-2017 02:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DMScott   Click Here to Email DMScott     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is a terrific story. Great work Robert.

Charlie16
Member

Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010

posted 11-17-2017 06:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Charlie16   Click Here to Email Charlie16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Very nice! Even Walt Cunningham will be happy to hear this! Thanks Robert for sharing the story.

Philip
Member

Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 11-17-2017 02:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
105.012-63 or 105.012-66?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-17-2017 02:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The details concerning the watch and its condition may be available once the Speedmaster can be inspected in the Smithsonian's conservation lab.

TLIGuy
Member

Posts: 205
From: Virginia
Registered: Jul 2013

posted 11-20-2017 04:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for TLIGuy   Click Here to Email TLIGuy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great to see Hodinkee picked up the story including a link to the cS article on their main page this afternoon.

Skythings
Member

Posts: 243
From:
Registered: Jun 2014

posted 11-21-2017 06:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Skythings   Click Here to Email Skythings     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Heard about it this morning on Coast To Coast with George Noory. Recovered with the help of Space Historians.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-21-2017 12:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
CBS News Radio's Peter King interviewed me and ran a brief clip about the news. You can listen to it here.

DG27
Member

Posts: 173
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010

posted 11-28-2017 05:09 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DG27   Click Here to Email DG27     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It is sad when history is lost, but it is tragic when history is stolen. Thank you for your efforts in helping to recover a piece of history. Congratulations Robert. Very cool!

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement