USS Iwo Jima LPH-2 NASA Prime Recovery Ship for Apollo 13 Mission Memorabilia

Description

USS Iwo Jima LPH-2 NASA Prime Recovery Ship for the Apollo 13 Mission Memorabilia
1993 Decommissioning Ceremony booklet
Bronze Medallion
picturing the Apollo 13 Astronauts with the Hands of God. On the Reverse is the image of the USS Iwo Jima and Helicopter Squadron Four, Helicopter #66 hovering above the Returned Apollo 13 Command Module.
Black & White picture reproduction
, of the Recovery Mission depicted on the reverse of the Bronze Medallion
All items are in excellent used condition
Please see all attached pictures
Shipping includes a Tracking Number
USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2)
was the
lead ship
of
her class
and type—the first
amphibious assault ship
to be designed and built from the keel up as a dedicated
helicopter carrier
. She carried
helicopters
and typically embarked
USMC
elements of a Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU)/later Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) principally the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) to conduct heliborne operations in support of an amphibious operation. There was no well deck to support landing craft movement of personnel or equipment to/from shore. Iwo Jima was the second of three ships of the
United States Navy
to be named for the
Battle of Iwo Jima
, although the first to be completed and see service (
the first
was cancelled during construction).
Awards
Combat Action Ribbon
with 2 awards
Navy Unit Commendation
with 2 awards
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
with 5 awards
Navy Battle “E” Ribbon
with 2 awards
Navy Expeditionary Medal
National Defense Service Medal
with 2 awards
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
with 8 awards
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Armes Forces Service Medal
with 3 awards
Humanitarian Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal
(Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal
(Kuwait)
Helicopter Squadron Four, the Black Knights
picked up nearly every astronaut that ever went to the moon, and the helicopter #66, which flew in several of the recovery missions, now sits aboard the deck of the USS Midway museum in San Diego Bay.
From late 1968 through the spring of 1970, the Black Knights of HS-4 participated in and pioneered techniques for the Apollo capsule recoveries. HS-4 was on scene for Apollo missions
8
,
10
,
11
,
12
, and
13
. The recovery was always made by "
Helicopter 66
". The helicopter's side number was changed from "66" to "740" after the Apollo 11 recovery as the U.S. Navy had switched to a three digit aircraft number system – but the helicopter was repainted with the number "66" for each recovery thereafter for public relations reasons. HS-4 earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) for these recoveries. For the recovery of
Apollo 13
in April 1970, HS-4 was assigned to the Amphibious Assault Ship
USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2)
.
List of Helicopter 66 Apollo recovery flights
Mission
Flight date
Base ship
Pilot
Apollo 8
December 27, 1968
USS Yorktown
Donald S. Jones
Apollo 10
May 26, 1969
USS Princeton
Chuck B. Smiley
Apollo 11
July 24, 1969
USS Hornet
Donald S. Jones
Apollo 12
November 24, 1969
USS Hornet
Warren E. Aut
Apollo 13
April 17, 1970
USS Iwo Jima
Chuck B. Smiley