Tom Stafford's Gemini 9 Flown Patch with Signed

Fantastic large flown embroidered Gemini 9 mission patch, measuring 4Ë x 3.5ËÂ, affixed to a letter of provenance signed in blue ballpoint by Command Pilot Tom Stafford, in part: "The Gemini IX crew emblem patch displayed below is one that I carried into space during June 3 to 6, 1966. That was after two previous attempts to fly this mission. First, our Agena docking vehicle failed to reach orbit on May 17. Then on June 1, a smaller back-up vehicle known as the ATDA, or Augmented Target Docking Adaptor, was launched into orbit but our Titan rocket had problems. Finally, Gene Cernan and I made it to orbit on June 3 and when we rendezvous with the ATDA, we realized what the problem was from some of the telemetry it was sending to the ground. The big white aerodynamic shield failed to jettison. I radioed to the ground that it looked like an 'Angry Alligator!'â€Â¦Our emblem shows the Roman number IX and a '9' shape in the spacewalk tether." The patch and letter are matted alongside a color satin-finish 7.25 x 9.25 photo of the 'Angry Alligator' as seen from the Gemini spacecraft, signed in black felt tip, "Gene Cernan, Gemini IX." The display measures an overall 19.5 x 12.5. In fine condition.