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USS Yorktown awaits Apollo 8's splashdown! Borman reports moon made of American cheese!

Waring Hills Dec 27, 2008
Descending Apollo ready for splashdown.

Descending Apollo ready for splashdown.

Nine hundred miles southwest of Hawaii at 9:31 AM (Houston time), the USS Yorktown (CV-10) awaited the splashdown of Apollo 8 just off Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll.

Unlike previous missions, the Apollo missions would return to earth at the speed of 25,000 miles per hour. They would need a nominal reentry angle of 6.4 degrees, too steep a reentry and the command module would burn up, too shallow and it would skip off the atmosphere and back into space.

One interesting phenomenon of the reentry is the spacecraft skipping from 200,000 feet in altitude back up to 400,000 feet altitude before continuing its descent to the surface. At the 30,000 feet three small, stablizing parachutes were programmed to deploy and at 10,000 feet the main chutes would open.

In the predawn darkness the air search radar on the USS Yorktown picked up the command module 25 miles SW of the ship on its descent. Helicopter crews began talking to the astronauts as they prepared for recovery. Click here to hear about those conversations.

The Navy helicopters quickly picked up the astronauts and delivered them to the flight deck of the Yorktown.

Frank Borman addresses the crew of USS Yorktown, Bill Anders and Jim Lovell to the right.

Frank Borman addresses the crew of USS Yorktown, Bill Anders and Jim Lovell to the right.

The astronauts  spoke to Yorktown’s crew and then descended to the hangar deck to cut up the 500 pound cake awaiting them. President Lyndon Johnson also called to celebrate the first manned mission to the moon and return to earth.

Astronauts Borman, Anders and Lovell prepare to eat cake!

Astronauts Borman, Anders and Lovell prepare to eat cake!

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14 thoughts on “USS Yorktown awaits Apollo 8's splashdown! Borman reports moon made of American cheese!

  1. Butch…Thanks for sharing the history…and what a historic moment it was! Hard to believe all that has happened since. Your blog is a wonderful reminder of the USS Yorktown’s service to our country in times of war and peace.

  2. LARRY KHARE says:

    I WAS ON BOARD FOR THE RECOVERY OF THE APOLLO 8 ASTRONAUTS.I WORKED IN “V-3” DIVISION..A DAY DOESN’T GO BY WITHOUT ME REMEMBERING THAT DAY. IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR THE “FIGHTING LADY”

    1. Frank Murray says:

      Hi Larry I saw your post on the pick up of Apollo V11. I was on the ship as well but my memory don’t work very well these days. Was V3 the hanger deck team? I believe I was also in that group. Maybe you can bring me up to date.
      Frank Murray

  3. William Patrick says:

    I was on board the day of the recovery of the Apollo 8. That day will always be with me. I still have the picture of the three Astronauts that was given out . What a day it was.

  4. Bill O'Brien says:

    I was stationed aboard as a member of the Marine Detachment. It certainly remains one of my most memorable experiences and a highlight of my tour of duty that I often share with friends and family. I too have the photo and also a commemorative lighter that was available.

  5. Paul Leidenfrost says:

    My Father, Frank “Francis” Paul Leidenfrost was aboard the USS YORKTOWN at this time. He worked in the Postal division. My father is now retired living up on Cape Cod, Brewster, MA.

  6. Frank J. Papa Jr says:

    I was stationed aboard the USS Yorktown CVS10 and was on the team that picked up the Apollo VIII capsule. My job was to decontaminate the capsule when it was brought on board. My name is Frank Papa and I was a Damage Controlmen 3rd class. I was proud to serve my country and will always remember this day until the day I die. I am now living in Norfolk Virginia.

    1. Stationed on board the USS Yorktown CVS 10 and was on the team that picked up the Apollo VII capsule.My name is Frank J. Papa Jr. Damage Controlemen 3 rd class.

  7. Margarette Baumbach says:

    My uncle was on the USS Yorktown and witnessed and took photos of the Apollo 8 rescue from the sea. I would like to sale or donate the photos to the maritime museum or to NASA HOUSTON.

  8. Alfred Collard says:

    I was aboard Yorktown bt 2

  9. Carl Frank says:

    What few people remember is that this was a night reentry, never done again. The crew was OK so the hoisting to the helo, # 66, was delayed until first light for safety reasons.
    Carl Frank

  10. Gaylon Noll says:

    Yep that was a pretty big day for a 19 year old Kansas kid. I was a machinist mate in m-div. I did get a piece of cake.

  11. Julia McVay Howell says:

    My dad, Boatson Mate Curtis McVay, was on the Yorktown when they picked up Apollo 8. Does anyone remember my dad?

  12. Jerry Day says:

    My name is jerry day i was a second class commissaryman on board Yorktown that day and has stuck with me ,from watching the Apollo 8 Capel desending entering back to.earth,and when the apollo8 crew had Dinner with our crew.

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