Posts: 1067 From: Leawood, Kansas USA Registered: Oct 2003
posted 01-10-2008 09:41 PM
I acquired this amateur film from second hand sources. I was told that it is the images of Alan Shepard's capsule, Freedom 7 being lifted to land after his historic flight. The end of the video says "USS Lake Chaplain."
Posts: 43576 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-10-2008 10:03 PM
For comparison:
ejectr Member
Posts: 1758 From: Killingly, CT Registered: Mar 2002
posted 01-11-2008 05:09 AM
Looks like it's being lifted from the water to the carrier to me. Not the land.
I never really noticed that those timbers appear to be between the heat shield and the bottom of the spacecraft.
spacecraft films Member
Posts: 802 From: Columbus, OH USA Registered: Jun 2002
posted 01-11-2008 06:51 AM
It appears to be Freedom 7. Why don't you match it to the footage on our Mercury set? There are over five different angles of this action in much, much better quality than this.
There are also several angles on our Freedom 7 set. On this set there is also a bit of the elusive footage of Shepard being hoisted in the USIA piece.
By the way, enjoyed your book very much. Particularly the text of each of the messages and their backgrounds. A nice addition to the story of Apollo.
Mark
heng44 Member
Posts: 3413 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
posted 01-11-2008 07:06 AM
I think there is no doubt that this is Freedom 7 being lowered onto the deck of the USS Lake Champlain.
Ed
4allmankind Member
Posts: 1048 From: Dallas Registered: Jan 2004
posted 01-11-2008 07:29 AM
That was very cool to watch, thank you for posting that. Jay
Lunar rock nut Member
Posts: 911 From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A. Registered: Feb 2007
posted 01-11-2008 08:29 AM
Maybe it is just me but from the two, three and four second marks at the beginning it appears as though the helicopter passes over two trees.
Terry
Scott Member
Posts: 3307 From: Houston, TX Registered: May 2001
posted 01-11-2008 08:42 AM
Terry, I did see what you are referring to, but I believe they are actually the tops of two men's heads.
Cliff Lentz Member
Posts: 655 From: Philadelphia, PA USA Registered: Mar 2002
posted 01-11-2008 09:50 AM
It looks good to me! One thing I never knew was that the Navy personnel were kept at a distance as this appears to show. In "The Right Stuff" they show Shepard stepping onto the deck and having his footprint painted and then walking through a sea of adoring sailors. They then contrasted Grissom's flight with Gus walking through a sea of disappointed sailors, since he lost Liberty Bell 7.
One more shot at "The Right Stuff!"
fabfivefreddy Member
Posts: 1067 From: Leawood, Kansas USA Registered: Oct 2003
posted 01-11-2008 10:06 AM
Thanks guys!
Robert- that photo you posted pretty much seals it for this being Freedom 7!
Thanks
Tahir
Rick Boos Member
Posts: 851 From: Celina, Ohio Registered: Feb 2000
posted 01-11-2008 10:47 AM
It has to be Freedom 7. Notice that the whip antenna was not cut. As for the trees, I agree that is the tops of a couple of heads.
Lou Chinal Member
Posts: 1332 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
posted 01-11-2008 01:06 PM
Yes! I say it's Freedom 7.
-Lou
Lunar rock nut Member
Posts: 911 From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A. Registered: Feb 2007
posted 01-11-2008 04:26 PM
Heads they are. When I watched that this morning the java had not kicked in.
Terry
micropooz Member
Posts: 1532 From: Washington, DC, USA Registered: Apr 2003
posted 01-11-2008 06:57 PM
Here is another nail in the coffin for this being Shepard's capsule.
This is a picture postcard (#53501 Rowe Distributing Co., Norfolk, Va.) showing "Marine helicopter approaching U.S.S Lake Champlain (CVS-39) with CDR Alan Shepard aboard while carrying the Mercury Capsule. Navy Helicopter in the background photographing this historical event. P2V in upper right of picture. Photography by J. Powell."
So, the tail number on the recovery helo (44) matches perfectly with the film as does the near presence of the second helo and the P2V in the background. Also the whip antenna is present in this picture.
fabfivefreddy Member
Posts: 1067 From: Leawood, Kansas USA Registered: Oct 2003
posted 01-10-2008 09:41 PM
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