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Author
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Topic: Current whereabouts of Apollo 16 VICC pennant
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Redglare
Member Posts: 18
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 02-16-2015 12:42 PM
  
Back in 1972, a Brownsville, Texas couple was asked to design a pennant representing the Valley International Country Club. Charlie Duke, an avid golfer, agreed to carry the pennant aboard Apollo 16 on its mission to the moon. At one time the pennant was on display at Johnson Space Center. Today, that couple is interested in knowing the whereabouts of the pennant. Anyone have an idea of where it ended up? The designers would like a current photo of the pennant if possible.  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 56879
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-30-2025 09:59 AM
Updating this 2015 thread...In 2023, a Facebook member posted a photo of the pennant, saying it is part of his collection. Here is my pennant flag from Charlie Duke (Apollo 16) that he took to space for Bill Bass. It's signed by Duke. Kinda kool to have something that was on the moon for three days.  |
Axman
Member Posts: 951
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 11-30-2025 10:39 AM
I have to say there are significant differences between the two images. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 5585
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-30-2025 02:35 PM
Pennant in the news article includes an approximate facsimile of a Thor-Able, Facebook photo more closely resembles a Saturn launch vehicle. Perhaps the designers produced the second (which actually flew) after learning of the distinction. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 56879
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-01-2026 09:34 AM
This week I heard from a member of the Valley International Country Club (VICC) since before the flag was flown to the moon through its return to the club. The flag that was pictured on Facebook (and reproduced above in 2025) is not the flag that flew to the moon, but as explained below, may have been the replica that was displayed at the club in place of exposing the flown flag to damage or theft. The actual "moon flag" was never on display, only a duplicate was for a time.
The flag purchased in a garage sale may have been, or perhaps was, the replica we had made, but the actual flag taken on Apollo 16, that remained inside Orion during the 71 hour 2 minute stay on the lunar surface, was never placed on public display where members or visitors could handle it. Though the replica may have been displayed in the VICC clubhouse at a time in 1972 so people could see a representation of the actual historic flag, the genuine flag followed a completely different and solid chain of custody, of which I am a part.
The authentic flag taken to the moon in 1972 passed directly through individuals strongly associated with the VICC and RVCC country clubs and came into my family's possession in 1990. Most importantly, General Charlie Duke personally authenticated the flag that I inherited was the actual one he took. The "moon flag" also includes Gene Cernan's signature placed on it after Charlie gave it back to Bill Bass.
When the actual flag that sat on the moon was returned to VICC, it was presented to Bill Bass, in a big celebration. Charlie gave the flag to Bill, and Bill presented General Duke with the beautiful handcrafted Apollo 16 mosaic table created in Matamoros, Mexico. Dotty recently sent me a photo of it. Charlie and Dotty still have that same table today.
General Duke was reunited with the flag earlier this month [July 2026] and again confirmed that it is the flag he carried to the moon.,/BLOCKQUOTE> | |
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