Collection of 23 official color glossy NASA red-numbered photographs, each approximately 10 x 8, documenting the development, preparation, and testing of the Apollo boilerplate spacecraft BP-1102A, which was used for water egress trainer for all Apollo flights, as well as the biological isolation garment, or BIG, which was worn from the moment the hatch was opened after splashdown until the astronauts were sealed inside the Mobile Quarantine Facility. The collection contains nine photos of the BP-1102A, with images of the latch door, the inner cabin, and the mass simulator on casters ready for transport; and 14 photos of the BP-1102A during water egress training, which depicts images of recovery personnel performing various rescue procedures; the reverse of one photo features a handwritten description: “Recovery practice in Gulf with BP 1102A, Spring 1969. This is exactly what Apollo 11 recovery will look like. An SH-3 Navy helo is lifting the crew with a Billy Pugh rescue net. The crew is wearing biological isolation garments (BIG’s) and has been scrubbed down with a decontaminant solution prior to retrieval. Crew in this photo consists of P. Kruppenbacher, LRD / Art Lisa (Swimmer) / Mike Collins, LRD, Tex Ward, FCS.” In overall fine condition. From the personal collection of Paul Kruppenbacher, a member of the NASA Houston Landing and Recovery Division who trained Apollo astronauts in water recovery procedures and was deployed on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers for crew and spacecraft recovery operations.
