1966-03-16, 9:28 pm This is Gemini Control, Houston. We have just had a report relayed to us via Hawaii from the aircraft that their position is 25 degrees, 2 minutes north; 136 degrees, 00 minutes east and they advise that they were deploying their pararescue men. There are two pararescue men aboard who have a flotation collar. They affirmed again that the spacecraft is in a stable, upright, good floating attitude. The pararescue men undoubtedly will be the first to talk to the pilots. We have had no reports of any radio contact with the airplane. This is Gemini Control, Houston.

This is Gemini Control, Houston; 10 hours, 53 minutes after lift-off of Gemini VIII. No additional reports from the area. We are standing by. We know the swinrmers are in the water and we are assuming this dropout communications was caused by the C-54 dipping down in order to let the pair of rescue men leap into the water. As soon as they get back to altitude, we should have more information from them relayed through Okinawa and on back through Hawaii to the States. Meanwhile, the flight controllers are taking a careful look at the Agena and making some plans for it over the next day or two. Some maneuvers will more than likely be attempted. The on-board fuel situation of the Agena is being looked at and slowly but surely, it looks like the Agena will remain in business for a time and while we don't have the detailed flight plan at this point, it should be available within a few hours. This is Gemini Control, Houston.

1966-03-16, 9:57 pm This is Gemini Control, Houston. Our situation is this, one of the aircraft in the area - we have two in the area, C-54, from which one pararescue man has leaped and a second is preparing to leap in the water. This aircraft did reestablish contact briefly with the Mason, a destroyer which Is moving on the scene. It is now estimated about 75 miles from the point and the C-54 will deploy a second pararescue man momentarily and they will begin to affix the flotation collar. This represents all the informatlon we have at this time. We will come back to you with further developments. This is Gemini Control, Houston.

1966-03-16, 10:05 pm This is Gemini Control, Houston. We now have information to confirm that both pair of rescue men are in the water, both jumpers. Their names are, Air force Staff Sargeant L. Huyett of Manchester, Pennsylvania, and Airman First Class E. N. Neal of Charleston, West Virginia. The aircraft is under the command of Capt. Leslie G. Snyder of Statan Island, New York. In addition to that, the Search I aircraft, an amphibian, is in the area observing the action. It is under the command of Capt. Crayton Frost of Massa, Arizona. This is Gemini Control, Houston.

1966-03-16, 10:17 pm This is Gemini Control, Houston; 11 hours, 36 minutes into the flight. We have just been advised from the ship that the flotation collar is securely around the spacecraft at this time. There are also three swimmers in the water in the area of the spacecraft and they report everything going very nicely. We still have no report on crew status, we should have something momentarily. I say agaln the big flotation collar, which ie an aid to navigation for spacecraft floating on the waves, is securely about Gemini 8. They are floating in an upright position and there are three swimmers in the water. We do not know the identity of the third.

1966-03-16, 10:27 pm Gemini Control, Houston here. We've just had a report relayed through Hawaii that the swimmers in the water have been in voice contact with the crew. The crew reports all aboard is fine. I say again, the crew reports their condition is okay. The plan from the air is to bring the Mason, which is now approximately 50 miles away, along side to pick up the spacecraft and the crew members. This could change, but that is the plan right now. Some 50 miles away, the Mason making approximately 30 knots. This is Gemini Control, Houston.

1966-03-17, 12:32 am This is Mission Control in Houston. We have just received word that both astronauts are on board the destroyer USS Mason. They were both on board at 12:30 CST. The plan now is to go on to Naha where they will off-load off the destroyer. We had a report a few minutes earlier that the astronauts were standing up in the spacecraft with their sunglasses on, smiling and waving. We'll have further announcements later on. This is Gemini Control.

1966-03-17, 12:50 am This is Mission Control in Houston. We now have word that Gemini 8 spacecraft is on deck of the destroyer, Mason. It was lifted on board at 12:38 am, Central Standard Time. The astrounauts were lifted on board, rather climbed on board, 8 minutes earlier. A Jacob's ladder, which is a rope ladder, was thrown over the side and the two astronauts climbed up the ladder to the deck of the destroyer. The Mason is now steaming toward Naha, in Okinawa. The Agena spacecraft is now over the South Pacific. It's 15 hours and 51 minutes in its flight. The Flight Controller reports the Agena is looking good. Plans for the remainder of the night are to take memory readouts from the Agena at stations around the network. The Flight Plan is now being updated, and the plan now is to pick up the Agena burns earlier than previously planned. No burns will be scheduled earlier than 8:00 am in the morning, Central Standard Time. The Agena is now in its 10th rev, at 15 hours and 51 minutes into its flight. This is Mission Control, Houston

1966-03-17, 8:50 am This is Agena Control at Houston. About 25 minutes ago, a small burn was performed by the primary propulsion system engine on the Agena. The burn time was approxisately 2.2 seconds in duration. The Ground Elapsed Time when the burn took place was 23 hours and 24 minutes into the Agena mission. This burn put the Agena into a 160 by 218-nautical-mile orbit. It has been determined by the flight controllers that a minimum of five hours space will be placed between each burn. This last burn took place over Carnarvon at approxisately 8:24:58. This is Agena Control in Houston.