Ed White Gemini 4 Omega Speedmaster Spacewalk. 4 Speedmasters on Gemini 4

A video exploring the 1965 Gemini 4 NASA mission and the Ed White Spacewalk, including what happened to the first Omega Speedmasters worn in space and the fact that four Omega Speedmaster watches were exposed to the vacuum of space for the first time on this mission - four on four. The video also looks to explain why there were so many Omega speedmasters worn on the mission and why Omega chose the Ed White Speedmaster for their 2020 321 Movement steel on steel reissue. This video has been made with help and support from Philip of MoonwatchUniverse / moonwatchuniverse
Others sources are NASA and various Air and Space Museums. This video is made for educational purposes / not for profit.

[@phmwu7368]

Superb video, and yes it was a dangerous mission as it was a test flight after all. On June 7, 1965 the crew was recovered by USS Wasp with a minor mishap as the parachutes sank... Moreover an amazing flight as the Gemini capsule was a cramped cockpit. After Gemini V in August 1965 Charles "Pete" Conrad summarized his mission as " 8 days in a garbage can ".

[@OmegaFanMan]

Thanks Philip for all your help and support in making this one. Amazing archive of photos and information you have collected and collated at Moon Watch Universe.

[@phmwu7368]

@@OmegaFanMan You're welcome... Do check the upcoming Springer Praxis Publishing book series on each of the Gemini missions !

[@OmegaFanMan]

Ph MWU - Thanks for the tip. I will certainly do that.

[@phmwu7368]

As the two man Gemini missions became more complicated with more difficult maneuvers & activities, astronauts started to wear additional wristwatches, even underneath the spacesuit. On Gemini V Cooper wore his personal Bulova Accutron Astronaut tuning fork watch he also wore on Faith-7, Charles Conrad wore his personal Glycine Airman automatic GMT pilot watch on Gemini V and Gemini XI. During Gemini VIII, Neil Armstrong wore an old big crown Wittnauer-Weems aviator watch which belonged to his childhood hero James "Jimmie" Mattern (1905-1988) !

[@OmegaFanMan]

Very interesting background data - especially the Neil Armstrong story. It demonstrates both the practical need for a tool watch in those situations and the deeper sentimental value a timepiece can give as we move forward in time at light speed.

[@gentlmentlmn]

Excellent video. Very informative, a great historical record. Thanks!

[@phmwu7368]

Easy to remember: 4 watches on Gemini IV 5 watches on Gemini 5 ( 3 NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster, 1 Accutron Astronaut pilot watch and 1 Glycine Airman automatic pilot watch worn by Conrad )

[@phmwu7368]

Thank You, a great job by OmegaFanMan !

[@jha77jha77]

Great vid!

[@owenlaprath4135]

EY! Don't knock Gemini for being small, they had more space than a Beetle, and I had one of those!

[@daffidavit]

What month and year did Omega change from the .321 to the .861. I have an .861 Speedmaster Pro that I "think" was built in Oct. 1968. But how can I be sure? I got it as a BD give at the end of July 1969 about 10 days after Buzz wore his .321 on the moon. Mine is definitely and .861 so it must be a newer conversion. But How can I be certain without paying Omega megabucks?

[@OmegaFanMan]

That is a complex question. If you had is as a gift you have good provenance and a very nice watch. Do you still have box and papers? October 68 is seen as a changeover month but there are variations on the story. Your serial number will give the date of manufacture for the movement but not when the watch was assembled and sold. A picture of the watch would help - applied logo / details of hand etc - all tell a story. I would post a photo on Omegaforums.net You will get good interest, information and advice if you still have a 68 birthday gift Speedmaster.

[@daffidavit]

@@OmegaFanMan Thank you for your reply. Here's a funny story. The watch cost my girlfriend $275.00 because she was an employee of "Bamberger's" later bought out by Macys. She got a 20% discount so I guess back in 1969 you could get a Speedmaster Professional for about $325.00 plus tax back in the day. I sent it back for service twice. The first time Omega gave me a new Hazilite crystal with new "pushers" and a new rubber gasket. They returned the old parts in a little plastic bag, so I still have the original parts. Except Omega had to replace the "radium" hands or whatever they called the glowing radio-active stuff because it was flaking off the sweep second hand. They never gave that original part back to me. I guess they were worried about danger, or lawsuits. So I only have a few links of the original wristband. But the replaced wristband is much better with a better clasp and structure. It's a 1980s steel wristband I guess. What is amazing is that for $300. not only did they do the repairs, the give me a brand new stainless steel wristband and a newer harder and more scratch resistant "hazilite" crystal. All for $300 bucks. I think it was back in the 1990s I sent it back again for a "tune-up". I got back the same watch this time but with a "tune-up". I can't remember how much I paid for the second "tune-up". When I got the watch, I was 16 years old. I never dreamt it would become an icon so I never saved the box. It was only 10 days after Buzz wore his on the moon did I get my watch. I still wear it occasionally, but I mostly keep it in the safe. Thanks for your advice. I appreciate it.

[@OmegaFanMan]

@@daffidavit With inflation $300 is about $2000 today... so I would say your Girlfriend made a very sound investment. The watch is worth a lot more now. Great story.

[@phmwu7368]

Also check: www.ilovemyspeedmaster.com/productiondateprediction/