“And we have splash down!” some news reporter would exclaim as the capsule dropped into the sea and bobbed about, waiting for the signal from the swimmer that it was okay to open the capsules hatch. If it was opened to soon the craft would sink.
About that swimmer: Not once has the Navy sent a man out to greet the awaiting astronauts. It has always been an Air Force Pararescueman.
During the first splash down of a U.S space capsule some reporter said the swimmer was Navy. It’s was an easy mistake to make after seeing the swimmer jump from a Navy Helicopter.
But the Air Force’s top brass was so offended by the slight they ordered the letters, “PJ,” stenciled on the back of the swimmers headgear to identify him. Too bad the top brass never got around to telling the media that “PJ,” stands for Pararescue Jumper.
As for Apollo 9, its crew consisted of Commander Jim McDivitt, Command Module Pilot David Scott, and Lunar Module Pilot Rusty Schweickart. After launching March 3, 1969, they spent ten days in orbit.
The Old Blog in the Desert 
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