Outstanding flown silver-colored Apollo 1 Fliteline medallion that was carried in the Personal Preference Kit of CDR Jim McDivitt during the Apollo 9 mission and later presented to the family of Ed White II. The medal measures 1.25” diameter, with the front featuring a raised design of the mission insignia, and the reverse featuring the mission name and the last names of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee; while the reverse of unflown examples are left blank, the center of this flown medal bears the Apollo 9 mission dates, “March 3-13, 1969.” Condition is mint state, with some tarnishing to reverse.
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Edward H. White III, on behalf of his father's estate: "This document shall certify that this sterling silver Apollo 1 crew medallion was carried into space by James McDivitt on the Apollo 9 mission. The medallion was engraved on the reverse side with the Apollo 9 dates and then presented to my family. It has been in our possession since that time."
A few Apollo 1 medallions were carried in Jim McDivitt's PPK aboard Apollo 9 as a favor to the families of the astronauts who died in the Apollo 1 fire. One of the Apollo 1 astronauts, Ed White II, had flown with McDivitt on the Gemini 4 mission. McDivitt carried one gold-plated medallion for each of the surviving widows and silver-plated ones for each child. After Apollo 9 returned, the flown medallions were engraved on the reverse with the dates of the mission. This example remained with the White family until its sale at auction in 1999.
