Bob’s Watches is proud to offer a lifelong collection of Navy memorabilia, including a ref. 1675 Pepsi Rolex GMT- Master, from Thomas Francis Finley Jr., a United States Navy veteran who served for 28 years and retired as a Navy Captain.
We initially got in contact with Tom over the summer regarding his GMT Master and when we heard the extraordinary story we knew it needed to be told. That is why we created the Apollo 14 Ocean Recovery auction, featuring a vintage Rolex 1675 among other special items. The auction is organized as a single-lot auction to showcase this amazing story and piece of history and, in the process, find a new guardian for his priceless collection.
Tom joined the Navy in October 1966 and piloted the H3 helicopter throughout his career. He was involved with various special operations, including the retrieval of the astronauts from Apollo 14 after splashing down in the South Pacific Ocean on February 9, 1971.
Tom served a crucial role in the recovery of the Apollo 14 mission as he was the co-pilot of the helicopter that picked up the astronauts. Apollo 14 was the eighth crewed mission by the United States and the third to land on the Moon. The prime crew members were Alan B. Shepard Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell, and Stuart A. Roosa. It was on this mission that a famous video was recorded, depicting NASA astronaut Alan Shepard hitting a golf ball from the lunar surface using a makeshift club.
After splashing down in the South Pacific, the astronauts were transported by Tom’s helicopter to the USS New Orleans, which was the prime recovery vessel. From the USS New Orleans, the astronauts were then flown by Tom and his crew to Pago-Pago in American Samoa.
Tom is now a volunteer at the USS Midway in San Diego and has been a docent for the last 17 years and an instructor on the ship for the last 15 years. He has logged nearly 8,000 volunteer hours aboard. Tom is ready to part with these possessions he has cared for over the last decades and for them to have a new caretaker.
We recently visited Tom onsite at the USS Midway, where an HS3 Helicopter similar to the one he flew during the Apollo 14 recovery mission is parked. It was an honor to interview him about this lot aboard the prestigious ship.
A Watch and Jacket: Symbols of a Career in the Skies
Tom’s vintage Rolex GMT Master and flight jacket are among the most stand-out items in this lot. However, he is also parting with other remarkable items associated with his Navy career, including photos of him wearing the watch, which is clearly recognizable as a famous Rolex Pepsi GMT, as well as other photos Tom took himself with his Kodak Instamatic camera on the day of the recovery.
The original aviator’s flight book Tom used to log his missions also outlines the Apollo 14 recovery assignment, which he has so kindly tabbed to make it easier for its new owner to find. The mission is distinguished by the code “IPO,” which stands for “Foreign Search & Rescue Special Operation.” Tom’s role during the mission is detailed even further in the accompanying flight schedule from that day.
Cruise books are like yearbooks, traditionally produced by US Navy ships after long deployments. The cruise book made for the USS New Orleans where Tom Finley was stationed, also called “The Moon Book,” is a unique piece of history that only adds to the value and collectability of this entire lot. Both of his photos in the book are marked off for easy reference.