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  Apollo 11 patch olive branch: talons or beak

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Author Topic:   Apollo 11 patch olive branch: talons or beak
Betsy
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Posts: 74
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Registered: Jul 2008

posted 08-04-2008 06:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Betsy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
According to First Man, the crew of Apollo 11 had designed the patch to show the eagle carrying an olive branch in his beak. However, Bob Gilruth changed the design and put the olive branch in the eagle's talons so as to make the image more peaceful.

Personally, I think the eagle looks a bit menacing with the olive branch in his talons, as eagles usually carry their prey that way (not to mention, that's how they catch their prey). I think the original design would have shown a gentler, more peaceful eagle.

Thoughts?

KSCartist
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Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 08-04-2008 06:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well, the story goes that NASA was concerned that the talons open and ready to land were menacing. But I'm a big fan of reality, so I would have placed the olive branch in it's beak and had the talons in the lunar dust to hide the sharp claws.

Robert Pearlman
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Posts: 42984
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-04-2008 07:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The original version, with the olive branch in the eagle's beak also flew to the Moon on Apollo 11 in the form of the astronauts' Robbins medals.

Betsy
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Posts: 74
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Registered: Jul 2008

posted 08-04-2008 07:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Betsy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by KSCartist:
NASA was concerned that the talons open and ready to land were menacing.
I can see why NASA would think that, but on the other hand... an eagle is an eagle and no sense pretending that it's a seagull. I like your idea, though.

Robert, I didn't know that, thanks! I really like that image...

FFrench
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Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 08-07-2008 02:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You might also find the images in this story interesting, as they include some Apollo 11 patch ideas with an eagle with open talons... and one where it is carrying the "XI."


Liembo
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Posts: 583
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted 02-02-2016 09:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Liembo   Click Here to Email Liembo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There's a July 2015 episode of Antiques Roadshow where the son of the Apollo 11 emblem artist talks about the talon vs. olive branch version and shows a photo of the original artwork.

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