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  History behind Deke Slayton's Russian whistle

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Author Topic:   History behind Deke Slayton's Russian whistle
idrvball
Member

Posts: 150
From: Burke, VA USA
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 05-08-2013 08:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for idrvball   Click Here to Email idrvball     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I purchased this whistle in a recent auction and it came from Deke Slayton's estate. I'm wondering two things, if anyone knows anything about this whistle, or it's significance to Deke, and if anyone can interpret the Russian writing. It appears to be dated September 27, 1975, just after the ASTP Mission.

The second photo shows the writing as best as I can show it. The date, which can't be seen, is actually written 27 ix 1975, so I'm assuming the ix is for September.

kyra
Member

Posts: 583
From: Louisville CO US
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 05-09-2013 06:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for kyra   Click Here to Email kyra     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
"Donald Slayton
from General F.(Vxxx *name obscured by glare*)
city of Kiev
9/27/75"

idrvball
Member

Posts: 150
From: Burke, VA USA
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 05-09-2013 09:08 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for idrvball   Click Here to Email idrvball     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks Kyra for the information. Here is another photo of the whistle, can you can read that a little better and translate?

Sorry about the photos, it's a little difficult taking photos of this and not getting a reflection.

I really appreciate your response.

Lev M
Member

Posts: 139
From: Canada
Registered: Nov 2012

posted 05-09-2013 10:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lev M   Click Here to Email Lev M     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
... from general Zakharov V.F.

The rest is ok.

JasonB
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Posts: 1091
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 05-09-2013 11:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonB   Click Here to Email JasonB     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Nice item but it seems like an odd item to give Slayton. Maybe whistles have some sort of symbolic meaning in Russia.

But I guess if you really need to get someones attention you might as well do it in style! "Don't make me pull out the gold whistle!"

idrvball
Member

Posts: 150
From: Burke, VA USA
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 05-10-2013 12:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for idrvball   Click Here to Email idrvball     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks Lev for providing Zakharov's name.

Jason, I agree this seems to be an odd item to give to an astronaut after his ASTP Mission.

If anyone has information on Zakharov's connection to Deke or to the space program, that would be appreciated.

I can only find two Russian Generals on Google. Matvei, died in 1972, and Georgi retired in 1960, however he did live until 1996. Could there be another General Zakharov?

Lev M
Member

Posts: 139
From: Canada
Registered: Nov 2012

posted 05-10-2013 01:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lev M   Click Here to Email Lev M     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I believe this is him.

He was a general in the Soviet Police force and was working in Kiev in 1975.

By the way, similar whistles were used as gifts by the Soviet police officers. Another example is on the photo here (not related to any space event).

lspooz
Member

Posts: 384
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Aug 2012

posted 05-10-2013 04:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lspooz   Click Here to Email lspooz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
OK, now you've got to post an audio clip of that whistle's output!

JasonB
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Posts: 1091
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 05-10-2013 04:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonB   Click Here to Email JasonB     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If not for any other reason than to have proof that you blew Deke Slaytons whistle

idrvball
Member

Posts: 150
From: Burke, VA USA
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 05-13-2013 07:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for idrvball   Click Here to Email idrvball     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for all of the information. I appreciate the help.

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