RIP USAF Colonel NASA astronaut Frank Borman
November 7, 2023, Frank Borman passed away aged 95. Selected a NASA astronaut in 1962, USAF test pilot Frank Borman flew on Gemini VII and Apollo 8 the first circumlunar spaceflight mission.
A West Point graduate, Borman choose for a commission in the USAF and was part of Experimental Flight Test school class 60C at Edwards AFB.
After 8 years at NASA, 20 years in USAF and a long career at Eastern Airlines, Borman retired in 1998. In total, Frank Borman flew 19 days 21 hours 35 minutes in space.
Borman enjoyed his wrist watches, wearing Rolex since 1960 and Omega Speedmaster chronographs since his NASA career in 1966…
(Photo: NASA)
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1953-2023 “ 70 years USAF Thunderbirds “
In 1953, after deactivating the “Acrojets” due to the Korean War effort, the US Air Force activated a new aerobatic flight demo team named the “Thunderbirds” after the mythical creature known by many American indigenous cultures. The team flew subsonic F-84G Thunderjets.
In 1954, the USAF turned to Rolex to provide the team with good pilot wrist watches and Rolex suggested their revolutionary designed 36 mm stainless steel Turn-O’Graph 6609 with rotational bezel.
However, after a long duty tour with the demo team, many pilots were issued a Gold Datejust version. Rolex aligned themselves with the Thunderbirds in their promotional materials, and nicknamed their Datejust Turn-O-Graph the ‘Thunderbird’, placing the team’s emblem directly on the dial at six o’clock position.
Between 1955-1957 NASA astronaut William Pogue was Thunderbirds team member and wore his Gold Datejust during NASA training for Apollo & Skylab programs.
This photo shows US Air Force Captain Herman Griffin wearing a Gold Datejust 6605 during the 1958 season... 65 years ago!
(Photo: USAF)
The Rolex Datejust collection has long been revered for its iconic design, timeless appeal, and exceptional craftsmanship. Among its many iterations, the Rolex Datejust 36 stands out as a classic timepiece that embodies understated elegance. In this blog post, we will delve into the exquisite features of the Rolex Datejust 36 model 126234, showcasing its… Read more