Unveiling the Secret Story: Navy Frogmen and their Role in the Apollo Space Program

The 1960s captivated the world with the landmark Apollo spacecraft missions. While most people remember the iconic scenes of Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moon, there’s an unwritten narrative: the unsung heroes of the U.S. Navy, specifically the Underwater Demolition Team frogmen, and their noteworthy role in ensuring the success of these missions. When the Apollo capsule, housing astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins splashed upside down into the Pacific, it was the frogmen who stepped in. These individuals were highly trained experts assigned the intricate task of securing the capsule and evacuating the astronauts from their confined projectile. However, there’s an engrossing subplot to this tale: the timepieces these frogmen wore. While the Omega Speedmaster takes center stage as the watch associated with the lunar missions, many other wristwatches played vital yet understated roles. From John Glenn’s Heuer and Scott Carpenter’s Breitling to Jack Swigert’s Rolex, Dave Scott’s Bulova, and William Pogue’s Seiko, these were the ‘flown’ watches that were part of the journey. Similar to the UDT members who have largely remained unnoticed, the watches they wore were also veiled from public view. Now, these timepieces and the contributions of their owners warrant recognition and commendation in the annals of the space race history.