Nautilus flag in space
February 26, 2009, at the Submarine Museum in Groton, CAPT Stephen Bowen, USN, the first submariner in space, gave a presentation on this recent flight to the space station. He also presented to H.S.Nautilus OIC, LCDR Greg Caskey, USN, for the museum, four items he carried into space.
They are a pair of silver dolphins, a pair of gold dolphins, a gold 50th anniversary “First Transpolar Voyage” medallion and the SSN 571 flag that USS Providence had taken to the North Pole last year. All of these items will become part of a future museum display.
H.S. Nautilus XO, LT Howie Hughs, USN provided the attached photo of CAPT Bowen in the shuttle with the flag. The SSN 571 flag has now been very deep at the North Pole and very far into space.
In closing, LCDR Caskey gave CAPT Bowen a Nautilus cap with scrambled eggs, a gold 50th anniversary “First Transpolar Voyage” medallion, and a Nautilus plaque commending him for adding to the submarine force’s heritage and commemorating the event.