HMS Friday & Apollo 13

[GNC]

There's a letter in FT199 about the HMS Friday story, a ship that was supposed to defy the bad luck Friday superstition. It was launched on a Friday, its captain was James Friday, etc, then it disappeared on its maiden voyage thereby proving the superstition to be true. As far as I know it's an urban myth (anyone know differently?) but how does it relate to the Apollo 13 story? Was that a deliberate attempt to defy the unlucky 13 superstition or has one story been adapted into another?

 

[Yithian]

Can't find anything definitive either but did stumble across this curiosity:

HMS Nonsuch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Nine vessels of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Nonsuch.

The first Nonsuch was a 34-gun ship launched in 1646 and wrecked 1664.
The second Nonsuch was an 8-gun ketch purchased in 1654 and sold in 1667, later as the civilian vessel Nonsuch making the trading voyage establishing the Hudson's Bay Company.
The third Nonsuch was a 42-gun fourth-rate launched in 1668 and captured in 1695 by the French privateer Le Francais.
The fourth Nonsuch was a 5-gun hoy launched in 1686 and sold 1714.
The fifth Nonsuch was a 48-gun fourth-rate, launched in 1696, rebuilt 1717, and broken up in 1745.
The sixth Nonsuch was a 50-gun fourth-rate in service from 1741 to 1766.
The seventh Nonsuch was a 64-gun third-rate launched in 1774, used as a floating battery from 1794, and broken up in 1802.
The eighth Nonsuch was an M-class destroyer launched in 1915 and sold 1921.
The ninth Nonsuch was a sloop laid down in February 1945 and cancelled in October of that year.
HMS Nonsuch is also a sample ship name as used by the Royal Navy.[1]

An HMS Nonsuch also appears in the tales of Horatio Hornblower.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Nonsuch

 

[rynner2]

Never heard of HMS Friday - suspect that's a dodgy UL, but will check up on it.

As for Apollo 13, the name was logical for the Apollo between 12 and 14...

But there were a lot of 13's involved in its dramatic voyage. IIRC, it launched at 13:13 EST on the 13th April... etc, etc.

However, although the mission failed to land on the moon, it was not a disaster, as all the crew returned safely to Earth, in a wonderful display of human ingenuity in the face of serious problems.

So bad luck in not completing the mission, but good luck in overcoming the problems and getting back home.

 

[EnolaGaia]

HMS Friday is an urban myth concerning a disastrous attempt by the Royal Navy to dispel the superstition against sailing on a Friday. While widely circulated, the story is in fact untrue; moreover, there was never even a ship named HMS Friday. ...

In fact, there has never been any Royal Navy ship of that name.It is unclear where the story originated; however, it seems to have gained in popularity after its recounting by comedian Dave Allen on his BBC television show Dave Allen at Large, Series 1, Episode 2, first broadcast 4 February 1971.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Friday

 

[EnolaGaia]

According to the myth, the Royal Navy launched HMS Friday on a Friday and put a Captain James Friday in command before it myseriously disappeared.

But Portsmouth's Royal Navy Museum said no HMS Friday had ever existed.

The museum's Julian Thomas said the story "regularly arose", particularly around a superstitious Friday the 13th. ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/6896203.stm