Friendship 7 at 50: Your mission memorabilia

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Author	Topic: Friendship 7 at 50: Your mission memorabilia
SkyMan1958 Member Posts: 867 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011	posted 02-20-2012 11:15 AM Happy anniversary John Glenn! Let's see what's out there in collectSPACE land. Post a John Glenn and/or Friendship 7 related item. Here's mine, a piece of the Atlas booster that launched Glenn. It was found in eastern Africa and presented to Deke Slayton as a memento. He kept it as long as he lived.
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 02-20-2012 11:33 AM Here is a McDonnell Aircraft Corp. memento celebrating the flight of Friendship 7 with a 4¢ "Project Mercury" U.S. postage stamp. In addition to encasing it in acrylic, McDonnell had printed on the back of the stamp: Issued on Successful Completion of 3 World Orbits by Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr.
ejectr Member Posts: 1751 From: Killingly, CT Registered: Mar 2002	posted 02-20-2012 11:47 AM Sure wish I still had my Project Mercury stamps with the JH Glenn Jr autograph across each. Was I ever stupid to give them away.
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2912 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001	posted 02-20-2012 12:01 PM Mercury Atlas-6 with Glenn aboard Friendship 7 has always been a favorite mission of mine to collect and study about. The astronaut pioneer and former U.S. senator had always been so kind to me during our encounters and visits together. Most recently, on Feb. 17 and 18, when Glenn and Carpenter, his backup MA-6 pilot, visited the Cape area one more time in celebration of Glenn's 50th anniversary in becoming the first American to orbit the earth. What a thrill it was to have him and Carpenter, along with key MA-6/7 launch team members, re-visit the old Cape's Launch Pad 14 where he, Carpenter, Schirra and Cooper became the first Americans into orbit. It always gives me a thrill in walking the sacred grounds of the Complex 14 area that once was a beehive of activitiy throughout the late 1950/60s. While standing atop the blockhouse at Pad 14 the other day, I just can't help but think how exciting and wonderful it had to be in 1962 when Glenn and Carpenter rocketed off into space from this very same site! While I don't have too many artifacts and/or memorabilia items that actually flew or were a part of Friendship 7, one of my favorites is a flown U.S. 1957 (Year of Sputnik) $1 bill (#8/52) from Guenter Wendt with complete signed certification. Another would be, as "SkyMan1958" depicted above in starting this topic, is an actual fragment of Glenn's Atlas 109D launch vehicle that came from Glenn's residence in 1989.
413 is in Member Posts: 628 From: Alexandria, VA USA Registered: May 2006	posted 02-20-2012 02:17 PM A few items from my collection:
Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999	posted 02-20-2012 07:54 PM I'll join the party with my own piece of Atlas 109D booster along with: An MA-6 access badge marked "OBSERVER" from R.L. Horowitz, RCA. An acrylic containing a section of the umbilical cable that ran from the blockhouse to the booster A load of launch and recovery covers. Assorted photos and pinback buttons. I was almost 10 years old when MA-6 flew, man I'm getting old.
Fezman92 Member Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010	posted 02-20-2012 07:58 PM As I recall John Glenn is 90, which is a bit old.
SkyMan1958 Member Posts: 867 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011	posted 02-20-2012 08:50 PM Some cool looking stuff everyone!
SkyMan1958 Member Posts: 867 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011	posted 02-21-2012 12:14 AM Some cool looking stuff everyone!
garymilgrom Member Posts: 1966 From: Atlanta, GA Registered: Feb 2007	posted 02-21-2012 06:39 AM Joel I'd like to see photos of your items. Here's mine - a replica shingle signed by artist Cece Bibby.
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2912 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001	posted 02-21-2012 03:09 PM quote: Originally posted by Joel Katzowitz: I was almost 10 years old when MA-6 flew, man I'm getting old. I was only 6 years old when Glenn first flew into orbit, so talk about feeling older! I didn't mention in my earlier posting here that besides owning only a few flown artifacts from MA-6, I have acquired for nearly 45 years a large memorabilia collection pertaining to MA-6 and John Glenn's astronaut and post-NASA careers. Included are hundreds of different Glenn autograph pieces, about a dozen or so MA-6 badges, well-more than a hundred original NASA, Air Force, and contractor related photos, acrylics, umbilical launch cables, hoards of space covers, cards and stamps, many pinbacks, medallions, stickers, pins, press releases, books, magazines, manuals, programs, numerous launch pad artifacts of all sizes and types, and more. Perhaps one of my favorite non-flown MA-6 related items is a "Carried in Flight Simulator" postal cover postmarked at Patrick AFB, FL, on Jan. 18, 1962, written or notated in Glenn's hand and signed in full, "John H. Glenn, Jr." Happy 50th flight anniversary to a true one-of-a-kind American hero legend! On top of that, Sen. Glenn is one of the nicest and humblest astronauts I've had the pleasure to meet and get to know on several occasions.
FFrench Member Posts: 3161 From: San Diego Registered: Feb 2002	posted 02-22-2012 02:06 AM This thread reminded me of something on my shelf - from a breakfast many years ago with Dee O'Hara, Wally Schirra, Ed Buckbee - and Cece Bibby, who designed and painted the Friendship 7 artwork on the side of Glenn's spacecraft. We remarked that the ketchup bottles looked like a Mercury spacecraft, and Cece then carefully replicated her spacecraft artwork on the side of the bottles. I have two of them - one saying "Friendship 7," and the other the more personal "French Ship 7." Signed by my breakfast companions this morning. A fun morning!
garymilgrom Member Posts: 1966 From: Atlanta, GA Registered: Feb 2007	posted 02-22-2012 05:46 AM Beautiful Francis! Let's not forget it's the 50th anniversary of Cece's art as well as everyone who worked so hard on the flight.
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2912 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001	posted 02-22-2012 06:27 AM Francis--I love the Cece's designed Friendship 7 ketchup bottles! What a great idea and with her signature on them.
SkyMan1958 Member Posts: 867 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011	posted 02-22-2012 09:46 AM Cool ketchup bottles!
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 02-22-2012 11:14 AM Continuing on Francis' food theme, NASA's deputy associate administrator for communications Bob Jacobs shared this on Facebook:
Larry McGlynn Member Posts: 1255 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003	posted 02-22-2012 05:53 PM quote: Originally posted by FFrench: I have two of them - one saying "Friendship 7," and the other the more personal "French Ship 7." I have one of those small bottles from 2006. Cece drew "Ketchup 7" on the bottle for me.
FFrench Member Posts: 3161 From: San Diego Registered: Feb 2002	posted 02-22-2012 06:10 PM I remember it well - I think you may have the only other one done, unless I am not recalling something.
Larry McGlynn Member Posts: 1255 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003	posted 02-23-2012 01:25 AM I believe Cece handpainted those little bottles in San Antonio back in 2006. If so, they were the last items that she was able to paint before a stroke incapacitated her ability to draw and paint. Ketchup 7 was a joke that when back to 2005 during the Astronaut Hall of Fame induction.
music_space Member Posts: 1179 From: Canada Registered: Jul 2001	posted 02-24-2012 02:54 PM My Friendship 7 favorite memorabilia is the book "Letters to John Glenn PS. I Heard Your Heart Beat". A candid collection of letters sent to Glenn after the flight - along with facsimile - and a rare insight into the fan mail adressed to an astronaut. A time capsule of the high spirits of the 1960's USA.
gliderpilotuk Member Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002	posted 02-25-2012 11:12 AM Another piece of Atlas booster! Makes you wonder how much was originally recovered... and was this the first case of cutting artefacts into little bits?
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 02-25-2012 12:23 PM quote: Originally posted by gliderpilotuk: ...and was this the first case of cutting artefacts into little bits? When Freedom 7 returned to Hangar S after Alan Shepard's flight, its recovery parachute was hoisted to let dry. Mercury team members were given "permission" to lower the chute and snip off pieces as souvenirs.
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999	posted 02-26-2012 12:12 AM I have an inscribed, autographed photo of John Glenn.
machbusterman Member Posts: 1778 From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland Registered: May 2004	posted 02-26-2012 04:53 AM I've nothing flown from MA-6 but I'm very happy with the items below: Vintage signed BS NASA litho Capsule ingress Recovery MA-6 flight cover
fredtrav Member Posts: 1673 From: Birmingham AL Registered: Aug 2010	posted 02-26-2012 09:53 AM Signed covers plus a copy of Results of the First United States Manned Orbital Space Flight signed by John Glenn.
J.L Member Posts: 674 From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA Registered: May 2005	posted 02-26-2012 11:17 AM Here is a newspaper article that describes the recovered Atlas skin.
mikej Member Posts: 481 From: Germantown, WI USA Registered: Jan 2004	posted 02-26-2012 05:05 PM quote: Originally posted by J.L: Here is a newspaper article that describes the recovered Atlas skin. Do you suppose that that's the piece of Atlas skin at the Astronaut Hall of Fame?
rjurek349 Member Posts: 1190 From: Northwest Indiana Registered: Jan 2002	posted 02-26-2012 05:41 PM What a great thread! Just caught up with it. If you are inclined, you can check out one of the U.S. $2 bills that went along for the ride.
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2912 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001	posted 02-26-2012 08:00 PM Great website, Rich, about the flown U.S. currency aboard Friendship 7. My documentation, from Wendt, Beddingfield and Luetzen, implies; "We the undersigned do affirm, that the following listed serial numbers represent the true and complete list of souvenir United States currency carried by Lt. Col. John H. Glenn within the Friendship 7 spacecraft, during the 3 orbit mission on Feb. 20, 1962." There are both $1 and #2 paper money currency included on my certification list with a total of 52 bills altogether. My provided paperwork and certificate, however, do not provide a break down of the different dollar-value currency that flew aboard MA-6 with Glenn. Mine, a $1 draft with serial number E85611776A, is the 8th indicated currency on the list. My earth-orbited currency, Series 1957A, is signed "JHGlenn, Jr" above the indicated serial number and again signed by Glenn and backup pilot, "M. Scott Carpenter," on the bill-mounted certificate itself. I would think that all 52 flown bills have the same verifying certificate as mine, correct? Do you know, Rich, of anyway to determine if a listed serial number is either a $1 or $2 currency? The $2 bill denomination depicted on the website is the 3rd on the same list that I have from Wendt/Beddengfied/Luetzen.
Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999	posted 02-28-2012 07:47 PM I don't know the original source of the piece of Atlas 109D skin in the Astronaut Hall of Fame, but the section on display actually came from John Glenn. I designed the Astronaut Hall of Fame in it's original Mercury 7 incarnation in 1989. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center sent one of their exhibit staff to the Mercury 7 astronaut's homes to collect material for inclusion. The manifest shows that piece came from Glenn's home.
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2912 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001	posted 02-29-2012 04:35 AM Not only was Joel the primary graphics exhibit/display creator for the original U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in Florida, but he is also an accomplished U.S. Postal Service space philatelic cancellation designer with many pictorial postmarks to his credit. Not only that, but Joel designed the "Dog Crew" patches for the flight crew astronauts of STS-69 and 88, as well. It has been my pleasure to know and work closely with Joel, and still ongoing, throughout so many years. In my book, he's the best, and a great guy at that!
Moonmichael Member Posts: 157 From: Essen, Germany Registered: Jul 2002	posted 02-29-2012 10:31 AM A few items from my collection: MA-6 signed launch badge Ticket from John Glenn's Senate Hearing Friendship 7 launch
Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999	posted 02-29-2012 06:56 PM Thanks for the kind words Ken, you're making me blush.
Fezman92 Member Posts: 1031 From: New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2010	posted 02-29-2012 07:01 PM I don't have anything flown but I do have his autograph that I got when I wrote to him last year and a first edition "We Seven" I picked up on eBay or Amazon for $5 or so.