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Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 900 (January 22, 2022)
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heng44
Member Posts: 3552
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-21-2022 11:37 AM
   
 Actor James Stewart, who was also a Brigadier-General in the USAF, visits Cape Kennedy and examines the Gemini 1 spacecraft at Pad 19 in February 1964. At left is chief test conductor Paul Donnelly. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3373
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-21-2022 01:29 PM
Never saw this photo before of Stewart in his Air Force uniform on a visit to the Cape! Also noticed that he's wearing a "M"-type security badge that I have never seen before. As an avid badge collector here at the Cape/KSC, it's one that I cannot ever recall seeing, and I thought I have seen just about every badge that had been issued. And getting back to Jimmy Stewart for a sec, I was admiring his three rows of ribbon awards he had been decorated with. What a great guy, a superb actor, and a military officer-Brig. General that served his country well... a true American patriot! |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1350
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 01-21-2022 09:10 PM
One of the most beloved actors of his generation, and also a military flag officer.The past truly is another country. |
randy
Member Posts: 2538
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-21-2022 09:32 PM
What a classy gent! |
Kevmac
Member Posts: 294
From: College Station, TX
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 01-21-2022 11:31 PM
And a decorated combat bomber pilot in WWII. |
413 is in
Member Posts: 668
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 01-23-2022 03:07 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Ken Havekotte:
Also noticed that he's wearing a "M"-type security badge...
Hey Ken, I too was stumped by that "M" badge. In talking to Ed, he says it looks more like a "V" for visitor. Then I realized that is exactly what it is!It is apparently a standard Atlantic Missile Range (AMR) photo ID type badge like those issued out of PAFB which were used from the late 1950s to 1964/65. The badge has a large "V" in place of the employee photo/mugshot. Since it is a B/W photo, the colored vertical stripes that bordered the mugshot on this type of badge makes the "V" look like an "M". In fact, the gentleman to the right in the photo is wearing a standard AMR badge. You can see the mugshot as well as the bordering colored stripes on each side. |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 1120
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-23-2022 05:05 PM
Good eye! |
oly
Member Posts: 1335
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 01-23-2022 06:46 PM
Thank you once again for posting an image that shows some of the behind-the-scenes happenings of the early space programs. Your images are always something I look forward to each week. |
David C
Member Posts: 1318
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 01-24-2022 02:46 AM
I’d like to imagine a parallel universe where Jimmy Stewart was more junior, or the space program more developed, and he got to fly a “blue” shuttle or some such. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3373
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-25-2022 10:16 AM
quote:
Originally posted by 413 is in:
Then I realized that is exactly what it is!
Wow, nice detective work as you certainly have a good eye Bill with those observations! I now see what you're referring to and have included in the photo below a couple of early AMR badges (the sturdy hard-plastic type). Noted are the red vertical bar-strips at each end, therefore, I guess the letter "V" was inserted or printed in the middle of some badges like this making it appear like a "M" instead of a "V" access badge for special Cape visitors. Unfortunately, after checking over all of my badges, Bill, I have no "V" badges, but do have a few in this capacity for press pool and certain newsmen photo-ID escorted authorizations. It looks like this type of badge access did permit individual photos to be included, but it would also seem that a "V" could be used instead of attaching a person's facial shot. Local newsmen like Howard Benedict also would quality for a picture badge since he was assigned to the Cape bureau for continuous space reporting. Stewart, on the other hand, was only a one-time space visitor not requiring a picture badge.  |
413 is in
Member Posts: 668
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 01-25-2022 03:36 PM
I don't have any AMR "V" badges either. Now I'm thinking that I may have seen one in another photo at some point, but I can't remember where. Certainly, they were not commonly used. For reference, here's three special use (non-photo ID type) AMR badges that I do have in my collection. Employees who were affiliated with any of the NASA centers were issued badges with purple stripes. Red, I believe, were for anyone outside of NASA who had no government security clearances.  I've got these two NASA employees as well.  |
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