Gemini G-2C-2 Full Pressure Suit (Training) CWO4 Charles O. Laine

[Wlaine]

Dear All,

Perhaps you all can assist me in my quest. My Father, CWO Charles O. Laine, worked for the 6511th Test Parachute group in El Centro California in the early 60's and did some work with the Gemini program's personnel recovery system (NASA). Please see the attached photos. Question: Can his space suit be located. I know it was custom made for him by (David Clark). I have found CWO Mitchell B. Kanowski's and Marcum's: See attached. I would appreciate any assistance you could give. My goal is to donate numerous photos to the facility that has this suit and to also share the story of the man in the suit. I have looked in all the obvious places and museums and have contacted many experts in this field but came up empty. If you know of a G-2C display somewhere please advise. Should read Laine on the right chest. Thanks for any assistance you can give.

Sincerely,


William J. Laine
Wlaine1@cox.net
(619) 316-6722

 

[Michel Van]

Hi there several ways were the Suit could end up


One: They return to the Johnson spacecraft Center after test and are in storage there.
Two. They remain in Naval Parachute facility, El Centro.
Three: They return at suit manufacture David Clark.

 

[Wlaine]

Good Advice Sir. Unfortunately I have tried all three with no luck. Marcum's suit (Pictured in Attachment) is located at the Smithsonian. The suit left El Centro in the late 60's but no record as to where it was sent. David Clark made the suit for my Dad but has no records of where it went as it became government property after it was made.

 

[Michel Van]

worst case scenario
The suit left El Centro is now somewhere in a US Navy facility in showcase.
For rest Suits they could be in JSC Texas, the Smithsonian, other Museum or worst in Private collection.

i see you contacted Mr. Burke (aka the Artist in this forum) of the Greater St Louis Air and Space Museum.

just a speculation, if those Gemini Test suit were used in early MOL program, there can be in National Museum of the United States Air Force.

 

[Wlaine]

I have been working on this project for (3) years and have found two of the Five suits pictured in the attachment. I am hoping that my Dad's suit is in a Museum and that one of your members has seen it. I have contacted the Air Force Museum with no luck. I am open to any and all suggestions. Please advise. Thanks!

PS. See attached Photo: NASA Ballute

 

[archipeppe]

Here it is the operational G-3C suit.

 

[Wlaine]

Dear All,

I have located my Father's Gemini G-2C-2 Pressure suit. Mission Accomplished! Thanks again for all your help and support. Best wishes to all. See attached. Be well.

 

[Michel Van]

Congratulation, wlaine
By the way, were is the suit on dislay?

 

[Wlaine]

I have reached out to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's curator in Alabama as this was the last facility known to be in possession of my Father's suit. I will keep you all posted as I find out more information. Thanks again for all your help and support. Be well.

 

[Wlaine]

Dear All,

After finding my Fathers's G-2C-2 Gemini Pressure Suit and looking at all the pictures I have in my collection, I have come to the conclusion that the glove that is currently on his suit was not made for him by the David Clark Company. None of the photos I have in my possession have light bulbs in the fingers. I know his suit was modified after the fact to test a new cooling system. Perhaps this glove was added for another reason. Please see the attached Photos. I believe that the glove currently on his suit is a BF Goodrich glove similar to the one pictured. When I visited the USSRC in Alabama where his suit is in storage, they tried to take the glove off to see the label but were unsuccessful. Perhaps future attempts will be made as I am thinking that this glove was made for an astronaut. I could be wrong.

Request: I am still trying to locate his gloves and helmet. The gloves should read on the label: GG-2C-2 and his helmet should read GH-2C size Laine. Any assistance this community could give would be greatly appreciated. Be well.

 

[Wlaine]

Below is a famous silkscreen by artist Robert Rauschenberg (American, 1925-1997) which he titled "Retroactive 1." He made several versions of this silkscreen including Retroactive II, Axle, and Buffalo II.
He used real images in his silkscreening process. I am interested in what appears to be a test subject with the Gemini escape systems Ballute. See below.

On the internet, I can find a reference to the NASA space program but no other information. Perhaps our secretprojects community can assist me in obtaining more information about this photo.

When this photo was taken and where would be great information as I always thought that this was either my father (CWO Charles O. Laine) or one of his four colleagues that did the live testing at the 6511th Test Parachute Facility in El Centro, California in the early 1960s. Please advise. Thanks!

 

[Wlaine]

The two photos below where taken by Ralph Morse and are in LIFE Magazine's September 27, 1963 edition. The artist Robert Rauschenberg used the ballute photo in his silkscreen. In each photo the subjects appear to be wearing earlier versions of the full pressure suit, not a G-2C suit. The fabric used in this Ballute also looks very different from what my father and his colleagues tested in El Centro, California. Perhaps an earlier version as well.
The second photo is a technician from the Navy's Air Crew Equipment Lab testing the tools. I am wondering if the Ballute jump was a staged photo in the lab as well. Not sure. Any information related would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Wlaine]

CWO4 Charles O. Laine’s Gemini G-2C-2 Full Pressure Suit. (Update)

Thought I would update you all on the progress I have made on researching my Father’s Gemini G-2C-2 Full Pressure suit. As stated earlier, his suit: G-2C-2 is located at the USSRC in Huntsville Alabama. His suit currently has one glove and two boots attached. The glove and boots attached were not made for him. Perhaps the current Curator will take them off to see who they actually were made for. I have located his boots at the Air and Space Museum in storage. See below.

Note: GB-2C-2 boots. Matches the suit G-2C-2 Full Pressure Suit.

After my Father’s work was completed on the Gemini Escape System his suit was used by several different Astronauts in training. Pictured below is General Tom Stafford preparing for his Gemini 6 flight wearing my Father’s G-2C-2 pressure suit. Apparently NASA made good use out of the training suits in preparation for future flights. Zoom in on the name tag to see “Laine.” How cool is that!

I am still looking for his gloves: GG-2C-2 and Helmet: GH-2C-2. Any help in my search would be greatly appreciated. Be well.

 

[Wlaine]

As I continue my search for my Father’s Gemini GH-2C-2 training helmet I have included several photos below related to this search. This helmet has several distinctive features that should easily identify the type of helmet that I am looking for.








For comparison I have included the same photo as above but have circled in red the distinctive features that I was referring to. Notice (4) bumps on the front of the helmet just above the neck ring. Also notice the small tube with no base plate as well. These were early versions of the GH-2C helmets and many modifications were made to these helmets soon after.



Here are Astronaut’s Young and Conrad wearing the same type of helmet below while training in 1963. I am hoping that these distinctive features will make it easier to identify the helmet that I am looking for. Any assistance given in this search would be greatly appreciated. Be well.

 

[Wlaine]

The good people at the United States Space and Rocket Center recently put my Father’s G-2C-2 Full Pressure Suit on display. They did an outstanding job.

 

[Wlaine]

Through research at the National Archives, I was able to locate these two videos related to my father’s work on the Gemini space program. The first video has outstanding air to air footage related to this testing and the second video shows Laine and Marcum in live jumps as well as dummy testing. There were also several malfunctions recorded in the second video.
Note: The dummy drop recorded is wearing what appears to be a Gemini G-2C full pressure suit. The G-2C helmets, gloves and boots were interchangeable. This may explain why I have not be able to locate my father’s helmet. Enjoy!

View: https://youtu.be/d6ViVpRoB4U

View: https://youtu.be/QH2i1SnXTDo

 

[Wlaine]

Here is the actual footage of the first live Ballute test jump on 11/22/63. Sadly my Father made this jump on the same day JFK was assassinated. There are several different camera angles included. See below.

View: https://youtu.be/m-pYkt3r8mA

 

[archipeppe]

Here it is my G-4C used for the first Gemini flights.
@Wlaine Did your father's suit had his name attached on?

I would like to make a drawing of his G-2C suit, exploiting the great Space and Rocket Center's photo...

 

[Wlaine]

Yes my Father’s name “Laine” was attached to the right chest. I would love to see your drawing. See photos attached.

 

[Wlaine]

You can find more information and photos of my Father here: http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/001337.html

 

[archipeppe]

Yes my Father’s name “Laine” was attached to the right chest. I would love to see your drawing. See photos attached.

Thank you so much.

 

[Wlaine]

While searching the net I found another artists rendition of my Father’s Gemini G-2C full pressure suit. See below.

I found this on Etsy and wanted to share it with you.

Nasa Spacesuit Gemini G3c Giclée Print A4/A3 UNFRAMED​

$20.16​

Etsy is a marketplace where people around the world connect to buy and sell unique goods.