DEBUS KURT: (1908-1983) German Rocket Scientist, worked alongside Wernher von Braun. Debus became th...

DEBUS KURT: (1908-1983) German Rocket Scientist, worked alongside Wernher von Braun. Debus became the first director of the Kennedy Space Centre in 1962. T.L.S., Kurt H. Debus, one page, 4to, Titusville, Florida, 3rd April 1959, to Reverend C. Greenway. Debus informs his correspondent, in part, 'Inclosed is the autographed picture which you requested by letter dated March 20, 1959. I followed your request with the exception of the time of lift-off which I have designated according to our official records as 0010 hours 56 seconds EST' and further explaining, 'Please accept it with my compliments as well as the coloured photograph which I have also inclosed of the missile while sitting on the pad prior to firing. This photograph is actually a print of a double exposure in which one of our photographers attempted to include the missile and the moon in one photograph.' Together with two vintage signed 8 x 10 photographs as written about in the above correspondence, one image depicting the Juno II AM-14 rocket on the launch pad, signed by Debus in black fountain pen ink to a clear area on the rocket, and adding '3 March, 1959, 0010 hours, 56 seconds, EST' in his hand, and the other photograph depicting the Juno II AM-14 rocket lifting off, signed by Debus in bold blue fountain pen ink to a clear area at the base of the image, and adding, 'Tuesday, March 3, 1959, 0010 Hours, 56 seconds EST, Cape Canaveral, Florida' in his hand. With very minor creasing to the head and right side of the letter, otherwise VG, 3 £200-300