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

first day cover

First day cover for the U.S.S. PELIAS (AS-14, built 1939 as MORMACYORK), submarine tender; front of envelope has cachet in blue ink, features profile of unidentified navy ship at anchor, clouds in background, row of five stars above and below image, printed on left "FIRST DAY POSTAL SERVICE/ U.S.S. PELIAS/ SUBMARINE TENDER AS 17/ EX - S.S. MORMACYORK"; stamp on right features portrait of Benjamin Franklin in profile, printed on stamp "UNITED/ STATES/ POSTAGE/ BENJAMIN/ FRANKLIN/ 1/2 CENT 1/2"; stamp postmarked "U.S.S./ SEP/ 5/ P.M./ PELIAS" and "FIRST DAY OF/ COMMISSION". The U.S.S. PELIAS shot down one torpedo plane during the attack on Pearl Harbor and was on repair duty after the attack (see correspondence file).