Bezelless Speedmasters in Space: NASA 60 Seconds Bezel

45 years ago... STS-1... and Omega was alert with a great Speedmaster campaign...
January 1981, NASA astronaut John Young training with an Omega Speedmaster 105.012-65
Note the running chronograph hand despite the missing lower push button.
No need for a button, amazed the Tachymètre bezel was still on... During the actual mission, Young wore another NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster. Fun fact: Robert Crippen never did !
(Photo: NASA STS01-81PC19 with Omega sticker)
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1956-2026... 70 years USAF Thunderbirds aerobatic squadron going supersonic !
In 1956, the USAF Thunderbirds received the swept-wing supersonic North American F-100C Super Sabre, flying their first show on May 20, 1956.
The occasion didn't go unnoticed and Rolex watches brought out a bespoke USAF Thunderbirds logo Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph with practical turnable bezel. During two decades, these logo dial pilot watches were only available for USAF Thunderbirds pilots. Working on an article about these amazing pilots and anniversary of these awesome time pieces...
And yes, the Rolex Datejust has been flown in space...
(photo: MWU)
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Exactly 55 years ago... finally a practical 60 seconds bezel on NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster...
NASA photo 71HC-677 is among the very first photos clearly showing a NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster with "60 seconds" bezel... May 5, 1971.
Apollo 15 "Moonwalkers" David Scott & James Irwin presenting the Geologic Rover, used in training at the artificially created Cinder Lake crater field in Arizona.
Of course I won't reveal the exact moment when NASA presented the 60 seconds bezel and won't go on about the story (Gemini & Apollo 13 feedback), but You folks can read everything in my upcoming article revealing all about the practical "60 seconds" bezel as requested by NASA astronauts...
😉
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Practical 60 seconds bezels a gogo...
(Forum photo, not mine)
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While this topic learned us we have had almost 30 years of a practical "60 seconds" bezel on the American side by NASA crews wearing the Omega X-33 Speedmaster as shown above...
I would like to point out that the practical "60 seconds" bezel was also appreciated behind the Iron Curtain for at least 15 years... although the exact number of Omega Speedmaster Alaska Project II Speedmaster chronographs delivered to Russia is unclear (rumoured 4), there's a whole story to be told... soon!
(MoonwatchUniverse/Omega/TASS)
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