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Author
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Topic: 45 caliber bullet flown to the moon?
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Chuckster01
Member Posts: 1087
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 02-06-2023 08:51 PM
   
Has anyone heard of Bill Anders flying a 45 caliber bullet to the moon aboard Apollo 8?It seems unlikely that live ammunition would be flown aboard any spacecraft but it would appear that at lease one round did fly to the moon. Any feedback would be appreciated. |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 268
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 02-06-2023 10:07 PM
I have no additional information, but what is the story behind that bullet? |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 1087
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 02-07-2023 06:28 PM
This photo signed by Bill Anders and showing a .45 Cal round in a flown on Apollo 8 display. Again this is only a photograph but I would love to know who Walt is and if any one has ever seen this display? 
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MartinAir
Member Posts: 268
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 02-07-2023 07:36 PM
Seems like a private memento, from his PPK. I think, only Bill can answer the questions... |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 5210
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-07-2023 08:24 PM
Not .45 caliber and if carried would have been inert. |
thisismills
Member Posts: 485
From: Michigan
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 02-07-2023 09:56 PM
For what its worth, this is a known acrylic "puck" presentation style for items flown on Apollo 8 and agree that it was likely in an astronaut's PPK. Another example below for reference which is a coin that was carried and encased with the same text engraved. |
davidcwagner
Member Posts: 982
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 02-08-2023 01:42 AM
Appears to be half of a 45 caliber long round cut lengthwise. Certainly inert. Would it be on PPK list? |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 5210
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-08-2023 03:15 AM
Yep... will buy possibly it is a .45 long colt vice .45 ACP. |
Spacepsycho
Member Posts: 899
From: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 02-08-2023 12:34 PM
The bullet looks to be a .45 Long Colt, it's not cut in half, but it's impossible to tell if it's a live round. The photo doesn't show if it has a primer, so it could be missing and the powder removed. This is commonly done for TV and movie productions, as well as bullet boards that displayed a manufacturers line of ammo. The bullet neck has a liquid seal from the factory, so it's possible this is a live round. Hopefully someone can ask Anders if he remembers the bullet or the photo. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 1181
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 02-08-2023 02:14 PM
Agree that it certainly looks like a 45 Long Colt cartridge, but I cannot conceive of any NASA astronaut being so stupid as to sneaking a live firearm cartridge aboard a U.S. spacecraft. It most certainly has to be a dummy, e.g inert.Nonetheless, this is an interesting story and I certainly hope we find out more details. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 1087
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 02-08-2023 07:38 PM
For the record I never implied it was a live round as there would be no way to tell and again I would not believe any astronaut would fly a live round, still a bit dismayed that any round would fly. Just a strange picture, story to share. If anyone knows how to contact Bill Anders It would be great to see if he recalls this. |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 268
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 02-08-2023 08:04 PM
Indirectly, maybe via his Heritage Flight Museum? |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1404
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 02-09-2023 11:22 AM
According to Anders as relation to his letter written to Fletcher on 11-6-1972, he carried two ".45 empties" with him to the Moon. They were listed in his PPK and approved by Deke. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49924
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-09-2023 11:34 AM
This story seems to have surfaced somewhere once before because in November 2018, someone posted to Quora: "What brand of .45 caliber did an Apollo astronaut carry?"The question was not answered (or at least the replies focused on the fact Apollo astronauts didn't carry guns) but it seems like the originally inquiry could have been inspired by someone being told or having seen Anders' bullets. |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 268
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 02-09-2023 12:11 PM
Off topic, but since it was mentioned here: How many Island Aurar coins were carried? One is on display at the Husavik Exploration Museum Iceland. |
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