H1501

Great Americans

Henry "Hap" Arnold - Aviation Pioneer, General of the Airforce

Collins Cover Announcement

H. H. "HAP" ARNOLD 

(Sixty-Five Cent Famous American)

DEDICATED TO MY FATHER - FRED COLLINS, SR.

This COLLINS is a very special one, iraeed, and I'm pleased to offer it for your collection. Hap Arnold was the Commanding General of the United States Army Air Corps during World War

II. One of the airmen that he commanded was my father who was on the flight crew of a B-17 flying fortress. His plane was stationed in England and flew missions against Hitler's Germany. The most feared moments were the anti-aircraft fire and when the fighter planes flying cover had to turn back at the end of their fuel range. Thankfully, Dad completed all of his missions safely and today my parents live only ten miles away. He is but one of the thousands upon thousands of Americans in the military and in the civilian war effort that saw the forces of freedom through to victory.

The hand-painted cachet is one that is destined to become a sought after cover. It shows a formation of B-17's flying above the clouds. In the foreground, and shown in great detail, is my father's plane. The name of this flying fortress was the "Ragin' Bull" and it is so noted in the cachet if one looks closely at the nose of the bomber. Included in the cachet is a fine oval portrait of General Arnold, Commanding General. And, prominently displayed is my dedication to a member of the Ragin' Bull's flight crew, 412th Squadron, 95th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. Fred Collins, Sr.

This is one of those "special" COLLINS FDCs. A beautiful hand-painted cachet. A Famous American cover continuing that popular series. A superb military FOC. And the purpose and theme of the cover will link it for all time as a most important item in COLLINS collections. A single of the Arnold stamp is canceled with a bullseye postmark at Gladwyne, PA. Probably a rapid sell out. Item #H1501 - $7.75.