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Sale 66
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Lot 446
Apollo 7, 1968, FLOWN Walt Cunningham's "Turtle Club" Question Card (8x5.5", framed to 10x10.5") This is the "cue" card that Walt Cunningham held up during the flight as a question for Paul Haney, NASA "Voice of Mission Control", to answer over an open microphone during the first Apollo telecast. Failure to answer obligated a Turtle Club member to buy drinks for all within hearing. The live exchange, as captured by the in-flight recorder (and posted on Wikipedia) reads as follows: ".Wally Shirra's membership in the Ancient Order of Turtles came up again during Apollo 7, which was captured by the in-flight recorder:
CAPCOM radioed, "Just a minute, Wally. Let's see. Oh, it's a little message to Deke Slayton. A little bit closer Wally. Kind of looks like something about - 'Are you a, are you a—" Schirra acknowledged, "That's right." CAPCOM continued, "Looks like it says, 'Are you a turtle, Deke Slayton?" Schirra confirmed, "That's right." Eisele added, "You get an A for reading today Jack." Swigert continued, "Here comes another one. Walt, oh, that-a-way, that's the way to turn it. It says, 'Paul Haney, are you a turtle" Cunningham radioed, "You'll get a gold star. Perfect score!" Swigert reported, "And there is no reply from Paul Haney there." Cunningham asked, "You mean he's speechless?" A short while later, CAPCOM Cernan informed Schirra, "Wally, this is Gene. Deke just called in, and we've got your answer, and we've got it recorded for your return." Schirra acknowledged, "Roger. Real fine." Shortly thereafter, Schirra asked CAPCOM Swigert, "Have you got Haney's answer yet?" Swigert replied, "No, Haney's isn't talking, Wally." Swigert then added, "Somebody tells me he isn't talking, but just buying." A pleased Schirra responded, "He is buying. Thank you very much. Very good."
This exchange about turtles was a reference to the notorious Turtle's Club drinking club of which Wally Schirra held the title of a Grand Potentate. During Schirra's Mercury flight Deke Slayton had radioed up to Schirra asking Schirra if he was a turtle." There is a faded handwritten note at the lower right corner of the card that reads: Well! (?) No telling who wrote this or when. Interesting! Obviously this card is unique and storied part of Turtle Club history. Back in 1960, this writer was a Turtle Club member. Were you? ALSO included is a 1967 black and white photo (x2, 8x10", faults) of the sign being held in space as photographed from a TV screen by a viewer who sent it to the consignor. It is hand-notated on the reverse and has a series of typed labels by Haney giving the background story. He writes, in part: "…He got hundreds of letters from all over the world asking for the drink he owed them". It also says that the original sign is in the Smithsonian Institut in Washington, DC. That is obviously no longer valid (as often happens with artifacts). ALSO included is a copy of a letter from the Imperial Turtle, International Association of Turtles dated 10/16/68 in which he congratulates the crew of Apollo 7 and says: "Shame on Paul Haney for not being a Turtle in good standing and responding the way he should have…".
This is the first opportunity the collecting community has ever had to acquire this historic, flown cue card.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500,
Ex. the Paul Haney Estate collection,
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| Realized $2,760 |
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