Recovery Ship Patches
Although this site is really dedicated to the patches produced for NASA crewed space flights there is a category of naval patches that are directly related to the Gemini and Apollo missions - those produced to commemorate the recovery operations.
Some of the recovery patches were produced for the crews of the ships involved in the operations by traditional naval patch manufacturers such as Hilborn Hamburger and like most naval patches these tend to be larger than the usual 4" space mission examples. Others were produced unofficially in small runs by crew members of the ships involved in the operations.
It's important to be aware that numerous replicas have been produced of these patches over the years so collectors need to be careful not to mistake these for originals.
Below I have tried to identify the main recovery patches and some of the known replicas, with the originals on the left and the replicas listed in the right hand column.
Gemini Mission Recovery Ship Patches
Gemini 3 recovery patch
This patch, seen in the USS Intrepid ship museum, commemorates the recovery of the Gemini 3 by USS Intrepid CVS-11.
USS Wasp Gemini recovery patch replica
This patch commemorates the recovery of the Gemini 4, 6 & 7 missions by USS Wasp CVS-18.
At least two replicas of this patch exist.
USS Wasp Gemini recovery patch replica
This is replica version of the Gemini recovery USS Wasp patch.
USS Wasp Gemini recovery patch replica
This is another replica version of the Gemini recovery USS Wasp patch.
Gemini 4 Pacific recovery force patch
This patch commemorates the Pacific recovery force for the Gemini 4 mission. The design looks like one from a commemorative cover from the time.
Gemini 4 Atlantic recovery force patch
It's unclear from whether this design commemorating the Atlantic recovery force for the Gemini 4 mission was actually produced as a patch or not. The design itself looks like one from a commemorative cover from the time.
Gemini 2/5 recovery force patch
This patch commemorates the recovery force for the Gemini 2 and 5 missions and appears to be contemporary with the Gemini 5 mission.
Gemini 2/5 recovery force Randy Hunt replica patch
This is a replica produced by Randy Hunt (4gator).
Gemini 2/5 recovery vessel patch
This patch commemorates the recovery vessel for the Gemini 2 and 5 missions - CVS-39 U.S.S. Lake Champlain - as opposed to the recovery force commemorated by the design above.
Gemini 5 pickup recovery patch
This patch appears to commemorate the recovery of Gemini 5, although the "GTP 5" designation is ambiguous. I've only seen this one example sold and the hand-written code on the back may indicate this is a pre-production sample - possibly one that wasn't put into full production.
Gemini 6 recovery patch
This patch commemorates the Pacific recovery force vessel USS Rupertus, deployed for the Gemini 6 mission. The design looks like one from a commemorative cover of the time.
Gemini 6 recovery patch replica
Apparently based on the same commemorative cover design as the patch on the left, this patch is noteworthy for the fact that the "GTA-6" text at top right has been executed as "GTA-G". This patch is believed to be a modern replica.
Gemini 7 recovery patch
This patch commemorates the Pacific recovery force vessel USS Rupertus, deployed for the Gemini 7 mission. The design looks like one from a commemorative cover from the time.
Gemini 8 / Apollo 1 recovery force patch
This patch commemorates the recovery force for the Gemini 8 and Apollo 1 flights, with the Apollo 1 designation referring in this case to the first uncrewed Apollo test flight. We've now seen two example sold, both with the same hand-written code on the back.
Gemini 8 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This patch commemorating the recovery of Gemini 8 by USS Leonard F. Mason is a replica produced by Randy Hunt. It is not clear if an original patch design exists or if this is just a 'fantasy' design.
Gemini 10 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This patch commemorating the recovery of Gemini 10 by USS Guadalcanal is a modern replica produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). It is not clear if an original patch design exists or if this is just a 'fantasy' design.
Gemini 11 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This patch commemorating the recovery of Gemini 11 by USS Guam is a replica produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). It is not clear if an original patch design exists or whether this is just a 'fantasy' design.
Gemini 12 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This patch commemorating the recovery of Gemini 12 by USS Wasp is a modern replica produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). It is not clear if an original patch design exists or whether this is just a 'fantasy' design.
Apollo 7 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This patch commemorating the recovery of Apollo 7 by USS Essex is a modern replica produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). It is not clear if an original patch design exists or whether this is just a 'fantasy' design.
Apollo 8 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This patch commemorating the recovery of Apollo 8 by USS Yorktown CVS-10 is a modern replica produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). It is not clear if an original patch design exists or whether this is just a 'fantasy' design.
Apollo 9 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This patch commemorating the recovery of Apollo 9 by USS Guadalcanal LPH-7 is a modern replica produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). It is not clear if an original patch design exists or whether this is just a 'fantasy' design.
Apollo 10 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This patch commemorating the recovery of Apollo 10 by USS Princeton LPH-5 is a modern replica produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). It is not clear if an original patch design exists or whether this is just a 'fantasy' design.
Apollo 10 USS Princeton recovery patch
This patch commemorates the recovery of Apollo 10 by USS Princeton LPH-5. It was designed by a crew member in the ship's Public Affairs Office - Jared Wickware - who remembers that perhaps 100 examples were produced, possibly in the Philippines. Like many commemorative recovery patches they were not an official product, and were likely paid for and sold by him directly.
Apollo 10 USS Princeton recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This is a replica version of the Apollo 10 USS Princeton LPH-5 recovery patch, produced by Randy Hunt (4gator).
Apollo 13 recovery patch
This patch commemorates the recovery of Apollo 11 by USS Hornet CVS-12. Modern replicas of this patch exist.
Apollo 11 recovery patch replica
This replica has visible yellow threads joining the lettering and discs in the outer ring to the inner border thread. This replica also lacks the distinct inner borders in the ship, helicopter and plane present in the vintage version at lower left.
Apollo 11 recovery patch variant
This patch commemorates the recovery of Apollo 11 by USS Hornet CVS-12. This particular version was part of presentation made to Jerome B. Hammack (Director of the Landing and Recovery Division at MSC) in November 1969[7]. It differs from the version above in that the yellow discs in the outer border are very small, and the ship, helicopter and plane have a distinct inner border.
Apollo 11 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This replica was produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). It can be distinguished from both of the original versions on the left by the distinctly layered superstructure on the carrier.
Apollo 12 recovery patch
This patch commemorates the recovery of Apollo 12 by USS Hornet CVS-12. Note that the spacecraft and inner border on this version are in orange thread while the outer border is in yellow thread.
At least two replicas of this patch exist.
Apollo 12 recovery patch replica
This replica version of the Apollo 12 recovery patch can be distinguished from the originals by the slightly larger moon with a distinct inner border.
Apollo 12 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This replica version of the Apollo 12 recovery patch was produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). It can be distinguished from the originals by the chunkier text (especially visible in the "USS").
Apollo 12 recovery patch variant
This patch commemorates the recovery of Apollo 12 by USS Hornet CVS-12. This particular version was part of presentation made to Jerome B. Hammack (Director of the Landing and Recovery Division at MSC) in November 1969[9]. It differs from the version above in that it has orange thread in both the inner and outer borders and the superstructure has a rounded left hand end.
Apollo 12 alternative recovery replica
This alternative design commemorating the Apollo 12 recovery by USS Hornet CVS 12 is clearly a modern creation. It is not clear whether the design is based on a vintage patch or decal or is a purely fantasy creation.
Apollo 13 recovery patch
This patch by GEMSCO. INC., commemorates the recovery of Apollo 15 by USS Okinawa LPH-3.
Note that at least two replica versions of the patch exist.
Apollo 15 recovery patch replica
This replica version of the Apollo 13 recovery patch can be distinguished from the original by the bolder text, missing vertical line on the prow of the ship, and the dark blue oceans on the Earth at lower left.
Apollo 13 recovery patch replica 2
This replica version of the Apollo 13 recovery patch can be distinguished from the original by the missing text on the Command Module. On the original "APOLLO 13" is embroidered in the upper area of the Command Module but in this replica this area just has random black lines. There is also much more spacing around the dash in the "LPH-2" text on this replica.
Apollo 14 recovery patch
This patch commemorates the recovery of Apollo 14 by USS New Orleans LPH-11. It was most likely produced by Hilborn Hamburger - note the similarity of the border with that of their Skylab 3 recovery patch below.
Apollo 14 recovery patch replica
Although this patch appears to have a bare cloth back I believe it to be a fairly modern replica due to the fill stitch style apparent in the pale blue area of the background. In any case it only measures four inches across so is not a version of the genuine five inch recovery patch. Other replica versions doubtless exist.
Apollo 14 USS New Orleans patch
This patch by GEMSCO. INC., commemorates the recovery of Apollo 15 by USS Okinawa LPH-3.
This patch commemorates the recovery of Apollo 14 by USS New Orleans and was designed for use on caps.
Apollo 15 recovery patch
This patch by GEMSCO. INC., commemorates the recovery of Apollo 15 by USS Okinawa LPH-3.
Note that at least two replicas of this patch have been produced, one by Randy Hunt in the 1990s, and another by an unknown manufacturer in recent years.
Apollo 15 recovery patch modern replica
This modern replica patch (with plastic backing) is quite nicely executed as the design is very close in appearance to the vintage Gemsco patch but is significantly smaller than the original.
Apollo 15 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
A replica version of the recovery patch produced by Randy Hunt (4gator), this version is easily identified by the blue border and overall use of darker blue colors.
Apollo 15 USS Okinawa patch
This patch commemorates the recovery of Apollo 15 by USS Okinawa and was designed for use on caps.
Apollo 16 recovery patch
This patch commemorates the recovery of Apollo 16 by USS Ticonderoga CVS-14. Although I had originally thought this likely to be a Hilborn Hamburger patch it was actually produced by GEMSCO, like the Apollo 15 recovery patch.
Apollo 16 recovery patch replica
This replica of the Apollo 16 recovery patch can be distinguished from the original by the merrowed edge and much neater detailing. Other replica versions may also exist.
Apollo 16 3" recovery patch
This 3" patch commemorating the recovery of Apollo 16 by USS Ticonderoga CVS-14 appears to have been produced at the time of the mission.
Apollo 16 oversize recovery patch
This oversize patch features an alternative Apollo 16 recovery commemorative design.
Apollo 17 recovery patch
This patch, produced by Hilborn Hamburger, commemorates the recovery of Apollo 17 by USS Ticonderoga CVS-14. At least two replica versions of this patch exist.
Apollo 17 recovery patch replica
This replica of the Apollo 17 recovery patch can be readily identified by the purple thread used for the sea in the lower left quadrant.
Apollo 17 recovery patch Randy Hunt replica
This replica of the Apollo 17 recovery patch was produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). It can be indetified by its 4" size, and the pale blue sky, yellow sun, and pointy grey stars, among other differences.
Apollo 17 recovery alternative patch
This alternative version of the Apollo 17 recovery patch adds the slogan "Always in Right Field".
Apollo 17 recovery alternative patch replica
This is a replica version of the alternative version of the Apollo 17 recovery patch.
Skylab 2 Recovery patch replica
This patch commemorating the recovery of Skylab 2 by USS Ticonderoga is apparently a Randy Hunt (4gator) replica of an original patch design.
Skylab 3 Recovery patch
This patch by Hilborn Hamburger commemorates the recovery of Skylab 3 by USS New Orleans LPH-11.
Skylab 3 Recovery patch replica
This is a replica of the original patch, produced by Randy Hunt (4gator). There is a merrowed edge around the outer rope design, and the landmasses are executed in green thread.
Skylab 4 Recovery patch
This patch by Hilborn Hamburger commemorates the recovery of Skylab 4 by USS New Orleans LPH-11.
Skylab 4 Recovery patch replica
This is a replica of the Skylab 4 recovery patch. One easily distinguishable difference from the original is the lack of a dark inner circle around the human figure in the design.
Manned Spacecraft Atlantic Recovery Force TF-130 patch
This patch commemorates the Manned Spacecraft Pacific Recovery Force TF-130.
Manned Spacecraft Atlantic Recovery Force TF-130 patch replica
This replica was produced by Randy Hunt (4gator) in the 1990s.
Manned Spacecraft Atlantic Recovery Force TF-140 patch
This patch commemorates the Manned Spacecraft Atlantic Recovery Force TF-140.
Manned Spacecraft Atlantic Recovery Force TF-140 patch replica
This replica was produced by Randy Hunt (4gator) in the 1990s.
Footnotes
[1] Examples of USS Wasp Gemini 4/6/7 recovery patch sales:
Lunar Legacies site July 2011 sold at $394.95
eBay item no. 271140528557 Jan 22, 2013 sold at $173.60
eBay item no. 251223449824 Feb 10, 2013 sold at $178.66
eBay item no. 321078582881 Mar 2, 2013 sold at $104.49
eBay item no. 171095437260 Aug 11, 2013 sold at $25 [poorly listed]
eBay item no. 190889928059 Aug 29, 2013 sold at $102.50
eBay item no. 161350903700 Jul 10, 2014 sold at $119.99
Astro-Auction item no. ? Jan 31, 2015 sold at $78
eBay item no. 401285082351 Mar 8, 2017 sold at $49.99 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 201890547363 Mar 9, 2017 sold at $99
eBay item no. 253073436010 Aug 4, 2017 sold at $89.95
eBay item no. 263690406393 May 30, 2018 sold at $105
eBay item no. 382784034298 Feb 17, 2019 sold at $80.70
eBay item no. 392310063251 Jun 11, 2019 sold at $59.00
eBay item no. 254295731501 Jul 22, 2019 sold at $89.00
eBay item no. 264565114280 Dec 25, 2019 sold at $89.00
eBay item no. 264565114280 Jan 12, 2020 sold at $89.00
eBay item no. 393023488043 Nov 24, 2020 sold at $38.51
eBay item no. 255188679174 Dec 16, 2021 sold at $129
eBay item no. 165444403836 Apr 21, 2022 sold at $14.70
[2] Examples of Gemini 4 recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 161030361523 May 25, 2013 sold at $186.05
Lunar Legacies auction lot no. 101 Jul 16, 2016 sold at $119
Lunar Legacies auction lot no. 116 Jan 18, 2020 sold at $219.60
[3] Examples of Gemini 2/5 recovery vessel/force patch sales:
eBay item no. 392237706846 Feb 17, 2019 sold at $178.70 [Recovery Vessel]
eBay item no. 283392886063 Mar 1, 2019 sold at $225 [Recovery Vessel]
eBay item no. 382992635585 Jun 11, 2019 sold at $320.99 [Recovery Force]
eBay item no. 392672450351 Feb 10, 2020 sold at $78.78 [Recovery Vessel]
[4] Examples of Gemini 5 pickup recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 392237724308 Feb 17, 2019 sold at $186.80
[5] Examples of Gemini 6 recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 151048891660 May 25, 2013 sold at $153.50
eBay item no. 141120651225 Nov 24, 2013 sold at $151.49 [possible replica version]
eBay item no. 201333917588 Apr 26, 2015 sold at $117.50
[6] Examples of Gemini 7 recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 161030368865 May 25, 2013 sold at $156
[7] Examples of Gemini 8 / Apollo 1 recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 392237722542 Feb 17, 2019 sold at $181.50
eBay item no. 382992637843< Jun 11, 2019 sold at $301.00
[8] Examples of Apollo 10 USS Princeton recovery patch sales:
Lunar Legacies auction lot 235 Jun 2, 2012 sold at $531 (inc fees)
eBay item no. 321287863784 Dec 31, 2013 sold at $19.99 [Buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 3201333920699 Apr 26, 2015 sold at $150
eBay item no. 232662770968 Feb 18, 2018 sold at $80.00
eBay item no. 303000627328 Dec 24, 2018 sold at $123.87
eBay item no. 303072345269 Feb 22, 2019 sold at $123.87
eBay item no. 264474251001 Nov 20, 2019 sold at $159 [buy-it-now]
[9] Examples of Apollo 11 recovery patch sales:
Lunar Legacies site July 2011 sold at $224.95
eBay item no. 310382996009 Mar 7 2012 sold at $170.05
eBay item no. 370896141010 Sep 18 2013 sold at $70.00 (with other patches)
eBay item no. 321287865399 Dec 31 2013 sold at $19.99 [Buy-it-now] (variant version)
eBay item no. 251796265206 Feb 2 2015 sold at $369
eBay item no. 201333923681 Apr 26 2015 sold at $150
Lunar Legacies Space Auction Lot 309 Oct 28, 2017 sold at $238 [mounted in wall plaque]
eBay item no. 263497786753 Feb 16, 2018 sold at $395 (with Recovery hat)
eBay item no. 282973407435 May 24, 2018 sold at $63
eBay item no. 192719563326 Nov 20, 2018 sold at $261 (sewn on coveralls with Apolo 12 recovery patch)
Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 240 Jun 1, 2019 sold at $170.80
eBay item no. 264320031364 Jun 2, 2019 sold at $695 (with Crew patch)
eBay item no. 254554021106 Apr 23, 2020 sold at $695 (with recovery cap)
[10] Apollo 11 & 12 recovery patch presentation:
Goldberg Space Auction lot 408 Apr 11, 2008 sold at $86
[11] Examples of Apollo 12 recovery patch sales:
Lunar Legacies site July 2011 sold at $199.95
eBay item no. 380808106616 Dec 31 2013 sold at $19.99 [Buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 360851489050 Feb 9, 2014 sold at $199.00
eBay item no. 201432313034 Oct 2, 2015 sold at $145 [offer accepted]
eBay item no. 192719563326 Nov 20, 2018 sold at $261 (sewn on coveralls with Apolo 11 recovery patch)
Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 275 Jun 1, 2019 sold at $122
[12] Examples of Apollo 13 recovery patch sales:
Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 266 Jun 26, 2010 sold at $213
eBay item no. 321287869910 Dec 31 2013 sold at $19.99 [Buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 121268298141 Feb 9, 2014 sold at $133.80
eBay item no. 291343857365 Jan 9, 2015 sold at $89.90
eBay item no. 201391008167 Aug 17, 2015 sold at $150 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 362679708786 Jun 23, 2019 sold at $77
[13] Examples of Apollo 14 recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 250806565074 Apr 24, 2011 sold at $78
Lunar Legacies site July 2011 sold at $224.95
Lunar Legacies Auction lot 365 Aug 20, 2011 sold at $184
eBay item no. 120827349401 Dec 16, 2011 sold at $76
eBay item no. 180777268651 Dec 21, 2011 sold at $99.99
eBay item no. 251214572135 Jan 20, 2013 sold at $98.27
eBay item no. 121268299423 Feb 9, 2014 sold at $106.49
eBay item no. 201338443654 May 3, 2015 sold at $125
[14] Examples of Apollo 14 USS New Orleans recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 251206852921 Jan 6, 2013 sold at $80
eBay item no. 131149089397 Mar 30, 2014 sold at $22
eBay item no. 162539511872 Jun 2, 2017 sold at $18 [best offer accepted]
eBay item no. 263399829331 Jan 16, 2018 sold at $89
[15] Examples of Apollo 15 recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 110894706645 Jun 15, 2012 sold at $515.15
eBay item no. 121263033175 Feb 2, 2014 sold at $199 [on original card]
eBay item no. 201440696189 Oct 22, 2015 sold at $310 [on original card, same example as above]
[16] Examples of Apollo 16 recovery patch sales:
Regency/Superior space auction lot no. 871 Apr 21, 2006 sold at $460
Lunar Legacies site July 2011 sold at $199.99
eBay item no. 251210278760 Jan 13, 2013 sold at $100.99
eBay item no. 190889931356 Aug 29, 2013 sold at $110.10
eBay item no. 321213453095 Sep 28, 2013 sold at $57.66
eBay item no. 360788508183 Nov 17, 2013 sold at $186.20 [oversize patch]
eBay item no. 360846092684 Feb 2, 2014 sold at $99.00
Astro-Auction item no. 1422733919 Jan 31, 2015 sold at $86.55 [on GEMSCO card]
eBay item no. 3201373705740 Jun 25, 2015 sold at $150.00
eBay item no. 322303192145 Oct 30, 2016 sold at $78 [on GEMSCO card]
eBay item no. 162528125205 May 31, 2017 sold at $42.55
eBay item no. 112877560552 Mar 25, 2018 sold at $92.23
eBay item no. 401863567162 Sep 2, 2019 sold at $51
eBay item no. 393093027702 Jan 11, 2022 sold at $12.99
Lunar Legacies Space Auction Lot 566 Sep 23, 2023 sold at $85.40
[17] Examples of Apollo 16 3" recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 400587336617 Oct 31, 2013 sold at (offer < $235)
eBay item no. 321287870820 Dec 31 2013 sold at $9.99 [Buy-it-now]
Astro-Auction item no. 1422733752 Jan 31, 2015 sold at $14.90
eBay item no. 401282378856 Feb 26, 2017 sold at $35
[18] Examples of Apollo 16 oversize recovery patch sales:
[19] Examples of Apollo 17 recovery patch sales:
Lunar Legacies site July 2011 sold at $199.99
eBay item no. 180777268228 Dec 21, 2011 sold at $99.99
eBay item no. 270957210138 Apr 15, 2012 sold at $49.99 [Buy-it-Now with alt patch]
eBay item no. 321213452015 Sep 28, 2013 sold at $56.55
eBay item no. 121263041142 Feb 2, 2014 sold at $99.00
eBay item no. 201816880961 Mar 4, 2017 sold at $99 [but-it-now]
[20] Examples of Apollo 17 recovery alternative patch sales:
eBay item no. 270957210138 Apr 15, 2012 sold at $49.99 [Buy-it-Now with recovery patch]
eBay item no. 310664537374 May 11, 2013 sold at $42.05 (soiled)
[21] Examples of Skylab II recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 380808111135 Dec 31 2013 sold at $19.99 [Buy-it-now]
Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot no. 494 Mar 11, 2017 sold at $446.25 [in original packaging]
eBay item no. 303519987519 Mar 25, 2020 sold at $450
eBay item no. 293543700223 Apr 18, 2020 sold at $250.50
eBay item no. 154314426500 Feb 7, 2022 sold at $129
[22] Examples of Skylab III recovery patch sales:
Swann Auction lot 273 Mar 18, 2006 sold at $138
Lunar Legacies site July 2011 sold at $199.95
eBay item no. 251210277126 Jan 13, 2013 sold at $145.49
eBay item no. 251324841251 Aug 24, 2013 sold at $169.95
eBay item no. 321287878848 Dec 31 2013 sold at $19.99 [Buy-it-now]
[23] Examples of TF-130 recovery patch sales:
Lunar Legacies site July 2011 sold at $179.95
eBay item no. 122580389370 Jul 3, 2017 sold at $99
[24] Examples of TF-140 recovery patch sales:
eBay item no. 112316724011 Feb 26, 2017 sold at $49.99 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 223454103055 Mar 26, 2019 sold at $203.50 (with Ed White signed cover)
American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame auction lot 116 Apr 10, 2021 sold at $210