T1701

Great Americans

Claire Lee Chennault - "Flying Tigers" Aviator

Collins Cover Announcement

GENERAL CLAIRE L. CHENNAULT

Founder of the "Flying Tigers"

In the early 40's as China suffered under the onslaught of the Japanese aggression, a consensus was reached that something had to be done to halt the air raids on Chungking and other Chinese cities. In April of 1941, President Roosevelt signed a secret executive order that permitted China to recruit American pilots. Under the command of General Chennault, these skilled and daring pilots flying P-40 fighter aircraft by July of 1942 had achieved the highest ratio of victories to losses of any air combat unit in the world.

In 1942, a Chinese newspaper referred to these pilots as "fei bu' or flying tigers. The Associated Press picked up on this and the world was soon reading of the amazing exploits of the Flying Tigers.

The hand-painted "entire" cachet for this COLLINS shows a flight of four P-40's on combat patrol. Their famed "shark's teeth" and "eye" nose design gave them a menacing appearance. (I note that the A-10 wart-hogs currently being used in the Gulf War for ground support and tank killing have the same "shark's teeth" as their famous ancestors.) Also on the 

P-40's below the cockpit you will note the Flying Tiger logo. These four fighters cruise through the clouds in close formation looking for enemy planes.

An oval portrait of General Chennault is also an important part of the cover. It was under his recruitment, organization, training, and command that the unit was formed and fought.

The picture of Chennault is presented in front of an American flag.

There are two forty-cent stamps on this cover. One is officially canceled at First Day City Monroe, Louisiana near which he spent his boyhood. The second has a high quality unofficial First Day cancel from Commerce, Texas where he was born in September of 1893.

This COLLINS is destined to be a hobby favorite and a sought after item. The cachet is first-rate with the distinctive P-40 Flying Tigers and the General Chennault portrait. The trip to Louisiana and Texas on September 6th resulted in two stamps and two cancels with meaningful philatelic significance. Most important, it is an attractive, realistic and well done cover that pays tribute to the memory of a famous American military unit. Flying Tigers. Item #T1701. $9.50.