Lot 970
Apollo 11: Unique Crew Signed Navy "Shellback" While in Quarantine to NASA Engineer Also in The MQF. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. In the offer is an outstanding and unique crew signed piece. When Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins were recovered by the USS Hornet, a modified Airstream trailer officially called The Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) was waiting for them on board in case of their carrying extraterrestrial organisms that could wreak havoc on humankind. Joining them in the MQF for 21 days was Flight Surgeon William Carpentier and Mechanical Engineer, John Hirasake. As this was John Hirasaki's first crossing of the Equator, Navy tradition awarded him his Shellback Certificate dated July 15, 1969 on the USS Hornet for the Apollo 11 Spacecraft Recovery with his name boldly lettered in elegant script. Along the bottom Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin all signed in the same blue Flair while in quarantine. Also conveying is a wonderful photo of Armstrong, Aldrin waving and smiling from the rear window of the MQF with Hirasaki standing behind both, smiling.
Interesting note: once the treasure of lunar rocks was moved to the MQF, Hirasaki opened the containment pouch in which the rocks were stored. At that moment, the Apollo 11 flight crew, Carpentier and Hirasaki were the first five men in history to view and examine lunar rocks from the moon on Earth. A fantastic and certainly unique artifact from the Apollo 11 Mission. Also included is a brief biography of John Hirasaki on Goldberg Auctions letterhead autographed by Hirasaki. All items mint. Estimate Value $4,000 - UP
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| Realized $3,250 |
