60'S US NAVY SWEATSHIRT

Gemini XII Original crew's patch

 Lovell and Aldrin on the WASP's deck

 

Today's post will keep up with the "Navy obsession" featuring an original mid 60's US NAVY sweatshirt with a NASA connection 

USS Wasp (CVS-18) was the ninth US Navy ship to bear the wasp name. the carrier commissioned in 1943 was to be named originally :Oriskany,but, while still under construction,was renamed Wasp to honor the previous Wasp (CV-7), sunk in September 1942. the new Wasp served in several campaigns in the Pacific, earning eight battle stars. she was decommissioned shortly after the end of the war, but was modernized and recommissioned in the early 1950s as an attack carrier (CVA), and then eventually became an antisubmarine carrier (CVS). the Wasp played a prominent role in the space program, serving as the recovery ship for GEMINI  missions. the ship participated in the Gemini XII recovery operation from 5 November to 18 November 1966. It was the 10th and final manned Gemini flight, the 18th manned American flight and the 26th spaceflight of all time.The recovery took place on 15th of November when the space capsule splashdown occurred within 3 mi (5 km) of Wasp. Captain James A. Lovell and Major Edwin E."buzz" Aldrin were lifted by helicopter hoist to the deck of Wasp and there enjoyed two days of celebration.

She was retired in 1972 and sold for scrap in 1973.