First day cover for the U.S.S. HELM

first day cover

PHILATELY
USA, VA, Hampton Roads; USA, OH, Mansfield
1938-02-04
paper
overall: 3-5/8 x 6-1/2 in.

First day cover for the U.S.S. HELM (DD-388, built 1937), destroyer; front of envelope has cachet on left in blue ink wiith unidentified navy ship underway, billowing smoke from stack, clouds in background; stamp on right depicts Warren G. Harding, printed on stamp "UNITED STATES POSTAGE/ HARDING/ 1-1/2 CENTS 1-1/2"; stamp postmarked "U.S.S./ FEB/ 4/ A.M./ 1938/ HELM." and "HAMPTON/ ROADS-N'O'B"; address handwritten on front "Bob Meeker/ 56 Elmwood Dr./ Mansfield,/ Ohio". The U.S.S. HELM was strafed and bombed during the attack on Pearl Harbor and shot down one enemy plane (see correspondence file).

2007.25.16