Cover of the Month
This is an eclectic group of covers posted over many years and by a variety of members. Steve Shay should be credited with most of these. Many of the archived covers give highlights of the ship’s history, the cachet maker if appropriate and what the cancellation date and type are.
USS S-23 (SS-128)
November 9, 2020
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USS S-23 By Steve Shay (#L-10,821) The submarine S-23 was launched in 1920 and commissioned a full three years later on October 30, 1923. She was initially home ported in Groton, Connecticut but exercises occasionally took her to the Pacific.
USS S-22 (SS-127)
November 9, 2020
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USS S-22 (SS-127) By Steve Shay (#L-10,821) A sender in Hawaii sent this rather heavy air mail envelope from Honolulu, Hawaii in 1938 to George Dyer, Commanding Officer Sub Division 8 aboard the submarine, USS S-22 in the Canal Zone.
USS Portland (CA-33) – Thanksgiving
November 9, 2020
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USS Portland (CA-33) – Thanksgiving Turkey By John Young (L-8219) Mimeographed cachet by Jeffrey K. Delano (USCS #70) depicts Ship Cook 1/c serving the holiday turkey, posted aboard USS PORTLAND (CA 33) on 30 NOV 1933. The cruiser was
USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740)
November 8, 2020
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USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) By Captain Lawrence B. Brennan, U.S. Navy (Retired), (USCS #L-6221) At first glance little would appear remarkable about this cover. It bears a 37 cent stamp at a time when first class postage is 49
USS Tutuila (PR-4)
November 8, 2020
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USS Tutuila (PR-4) By Steve Shay (#L-10821) This cover has a collage cachet made of cut out Chinese postage stamps by A. Marie Schaff. The choice of stamps is appropriate because the river gunboat USS Tutuila was part of the
USS Triton (SSNR(N)-586)
November 8, 2020
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USS Triton SSNR(N)-586 By Steve Shay (#L-10821) The USS Triton was the only US Navy submarine commissioned with two nuclear reactors and she was the largest submarine at the time of her construction in 1956. Designed as a radar picket
USS Crevalle (SS-291)
November 8, 2020
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USS CREVALLE SS-291 by Glenn Smith (#8073) Motor Machinist First Class Robert L. “Bob” Yeager was a ‘plank owner’ in CREVALLE, having been a Fireman in her at commissioning June 24th, 1943. By September 11th, 1944, he had reached the
USS Black Hawk (AD-9)
November 8, 2020
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USS Black Hawk (AD 9) John Young (L-8219) An interesting printed St. Patrick’s Day cachet feathering the shamrock used by St. Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) to the Celtic pagans in Ireland. Reverse
USS Parche (SS-384)
November 8, 2020
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USS PARCHE SS-384 By Glenn Smith (#8073) Being battle stations helmsman is an important position for a junior man in any Navy ship. Signalman Second Class Courtland Chester “Chet” Stanton had earned this task in PARCHE because of his rating
SS Santa Elena
November 8, 2020
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SS SANTA ELENA By Steve Shay (#L-10,821) This is a bit of an odd cover. Someone apparently wanted to wallpaper this cover with stamp pane selvage to get multiple cancellations. I’ve not seen another cover quite like this one.
USS Nautilus (SSN-571)
November 8, 2020
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USS Nautilus SSN-571 By Steve Shay (#L-10821) The world’s first nuclear submarine was the US Navy’s USS Nautilus, SSN-571. And with this nuclear power plant design, submarines were changed forever. No longer was there a requirement to surface periodically for
USS Marblehead (CL-12)
November 8, 2020
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USS Marblehead, CL-12 By Steve Shay (#L-10,821) The cruiser USS Marblehead was a Omaha class, light cruiser, launched in 1923 and commissioned the following year. She served around the globe, with time spent in South America, the Asiatic Fleet,
USS Lexington (ACV-2)
November 8, 2020
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USS Lexington (ACV-2) By Steve Shay (#L-10,821) USS Lexington was the third aircraft carrier commissioned by the US Navy. Built on a cruiser hull, she and USS Saratoga paved the way for carrier operations in the Navy. Launched October 3,
USS Northampton (CA-26)
November 8, 2020
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USS Northampton CA-26 By Steve Shay (#L-10821) This cover was prepared by an early USCS chapter, Chapter #5, the Oliver Hazard Perry Chapter. The attractive cachet marks the Fourth of July 1934. The cover was cancelled aboard the cruiser USS
USS Leary (DD-158)
November 8, 2020
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USS Leary, DD-158 By Steve Shay (#L-10,821) The USS Leary was one of many four stacker destroyers authorized during World War I. She was commissioned just after the war ended, December 5, 1919. She remained in service only a short