Apollo 8 Large Color Launch Photo Crew-Signed on the Mat with Associated Letters Signed by Vance Brand.... (Total: 1 Item Items)

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"...you supervised the checkout of the first manned spacecraft to go the moon and return-- flawlessly!..."

Apollo 8 Large Color Launch Photo Crew-Signed on the Mat with Associated Letters Signed by Vance Brand. A 10.75" x 13.5" color photo of the launch of a landmark mission: Apollo 8 was the first manned spaceflight to leave Earth orbit to travel to another celestial body; the first manned launch of a Saturn V rocket; and the first manned launch from the John F. Kennedy Space Center. It is mounted to a 16" x 20" matboard on which the crew has signed, beneath the photo: "To Dick Proffitt - With appreciation for/ a great job well done/ Frank Borman"; "Bill Anders", and "James Lovell". Richard Proffitt was the STC (Spacecraft Test Conductor) for this flight. Very fine condition overall, but extremely faded from display exposure to light.

Included with this photo are two typed letters signed from astronaut Vance Brand to Proffitt. Brand was a member of the Support Crew for Apollo 8 and they worked closely together during that period. The first letter is a letter of transmittal for this photo, dated March 10, 1969, and signed "Vance Brand". It reads, in part: "I heartily agree with Borman and crew that you did a first rate job on the Apollo 8 mission, and I enjoyed working with you." The second letter is dated May 20, 1991, is signed "Vance"; it reads, in part: "Birthday greetings to you too--on your 60th! Erik and I really enjoyed your birthday cards... The words written in by you were kind and much appreciated. I always remember the Apollo-8 days when we worked together with a lot of pleasure. It must be a source of pride for you to realize that you supervised the checkout of the first manned spacecraft to go to the moon and return-- flawlessly! That was really an exciting event and one of the 2 or 3 most important flights in the history of manned space flight..." Both in excellent condition. The 1991 letter includes the envelope. From the estate of NASA engineer Richard C. Proffitt, Launch Complex 39 Operations Manager from 1969 to 1976.