Group of three Western Union telegrams relating to the Apollo 1 tragedy on January 27, 1967, each one page, ranging in size from 8.5 x 13.5 to 8.5 x 21.5, including: a telegram from Reuters, in part: "Cape Kennedy FLA America's Apollo program i[s] in deep trouble; trouble which may cost great loss of national prestige as well as the moon prize in the space race with Russia. The tragic deaths of three astronauts, and the many inefficiencies which paved the road to disaster, is expected to delay any hope of the United States landing men on the moon until 1970 or later"; a second, headed "Fairpub CCO…Cocoa Beach FLO 2 305P EST…Copy Metalworking News, Section A," in part: "Cape Kennedy FLA 'If we die, we want people to accept it. We are in a risky business and we hope if anything happens to us, it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life. ' These are the words of Air Force Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, Command Pilot for Apollo 204, veteran of Mercury and Gemini, who first set foot on Cape Canaveral in 1959. On January 27 at 6:31 P.m. a Dante's Inferno cremated Grissom, 40, space walker Air Force Lt. Colonel Edward White, 36, and rookie Navy Lt. Commander Roger Chaffee, 31"; and the third, headed "Fairpub CCO, Electronic News, Second take Congressman visit Cape Apollo 204," in part: "Although much of the shock of the triple tragedy has worn off through published reports of the accident and the investigation of the board of reviews, the horror of the moment when Virgil I. Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee met their deaths by fire could again be felt in the White Room Friday." Includes an official color semi-glossy 10 x 8 photo of the Apollo 1 crew, with "A Kodak Paper" watermarks on the reverse. In overall very good to fine condition, with toning, trimming, and a tear to right side of one. Accompanied by business cards from noted space journalist Mary E. Bubb. From the collection of aerospace memorabilia specialist Ken Havekotte.
