brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 19, 2018 12:05:56 GMT
This is the first of a small number of military covers I have in my collection. I'll eventually post them all.
From 1974, a souvenir cover from 416 Squadron. They flew from CFB Chatham New Brunswick, on an operational sortie. Which means they flew around for a while, then landed back on base. The info card gives a history of the squadron.
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 19, 2018 12:08:30 GMT
This cover started life at CFB Comox, crossed the country, and landed at Gander, Newfoundland. It looks like they probably partied for a few days before returning to home base at CFB North Bay, Ontario! The cover was backstopped at 4.30 PM on the 8th of June, with a null meter on the 9th from Gander. Then the front cancelled with a squadron rubber date stamp. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 19, 2018 12:16:12 GMT
409 Squadron, the "Nighthawks" on a flight from Ottawa to CFB Comox on July 15, 1977. I liked these souvenir covers flown by the various squadron's in the RCAF. I tried to get 413 SAR Squadron (Search & Rescue in Summerside, PEI) to get one, but they showed no interest.
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 19, 2018 12:17:18 GMT
This cover is the first of 8 issued by 407 Squadron back in 1975. Lazo, B.C. is the Canadian Post Office name for CFB Comox, on Vancouver Island. The Argus long-range patrol aircraft (lower aircraft as pictured) had a glass (plexiglass-glass, or whatever...) dome in the nose of the plane, shown in black in the picture. It was an ideal search position for trying to find small (or large) boats in distress. I had a flight in one when I was posted at CFB Summerside, PEI. I sat in that seat, where you could look straight down to the ocean, far below. It was an awesome plane. There was nothing like the sound of its propeller engines starting up. (Oh, maybe a Tracker's engines starting up!  )
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 19, 2018 12:54:02 GMT
Here is cover #2 from a series of 8. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 19, 2018 13:04:43 GMT
Cover #3 is the series... this time they were in Hawaii.
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renden
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Posts: 8,705
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Jul 19, 2018 23:43:27 GMT
Very nice !!
René
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2018 12:12:10 GMT
This squadron really went overboard with these covers, although they limped on the envelope budget! They aren't quite even-steven all the way around I do like them in any case. Whoops, the address sticker came off as I pulled it out of the holder. No worries, it has been re-glued in case were wondering!  Here is cover #4, saluting North Pacific Operations. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2018 12:27:30 GMT
Cover #5 saluting TasmanEx 1975, Pacific Operations in the Tasman Sea.
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2018 12:40:58 GMT
Here is cover #6. It took them quite a while to get down to Fiji! They must have had engine problems on the way! TasmanEx 1975, Pacific Operations in the Tasman Sea. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2018 13:13:28 GMT
Cover #7, this time at RAAF Base Richmond, NSW. Located about 50 kilometres NW of Sydney. This one was cancelled at 4PM on the 17th of November, 1975. They not only cheaped out on the envelopes, but also the stamps! I doubt that 3¢ stamp made it anywhere except their attache case they were keeping these in! Same with the previous cover with a 3¢ stamp from Fiji, nor the next one from New Zealand! I was in boot camp in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia learning how to be a soldier at that time, while they were cavorting about in Sydney! |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2018 13:23:22 GMT
Finally, the last of the series of 8 celebrating the Presentation of the Squadron Standard. This one was cancelled at RNZAF Base Auckland, aka Hobsonville. he backside is the same as the Australian cover. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2018 14:09:41 GMT
410 Squadron "Cougars" celebrating 25 years of service as well. I've included the enclosed info sheet on the history of the squadron. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2018 14:22:04 GMT
434 "Bluenose" Squadron 25 years of service cross-Canada flight. MOON (Money Oder Office Number) cancel from Courtenay BC (CFB Comox) and MOON cancel from (CFB) Shearwater (Halifax) a few hours later. The Royal Canadian Legion stamp was cancelled at Medley (CFB Cold Lake) Alberta. The schooner "Bluenose II" also had a part in this. For details on the MOON system, visit the BNAPS MOON explanation page.
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2018 15:14:07 GMT
430 Squadron, based at CFB Bagotville (Courcelette) Quebec, dated June 25th, 1977. The info sheet is unfortunately now sealed inside the envelope. I don't want to tear it, so there it remains. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2018 15:23:02 GMT
1980 saw the introduction of the CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft. It replaced the aging Argus, as was pictured on 409 Squadron series of covers. Its first flight was made from CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia on the 29th of May, 1980. 38 years & it is still flying! The squadron history can be found in the RCAF website. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2018 15:55:09 GMT
The final set of covers. This one for 444 Squadron, with a bit about its history. How about that... these two are FDC's as well! Not only that, but they look like they are of the "dull fluorescent" variety (903i & 904ii). I'll wait to confirm once it gets dark.
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 29, 2018 14:17:20 GMT
Not all military covers are from flying squadrons. Here is one from RMC (Royal Military College) in Kingston, Ontario, with the enclosed letter from the Commandant.  The crest is embossed & the entire cachet is gold.  |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 29, 2018 14:21:05 GMT
Here is another "ground-based" souvenir cover. This one from a "roadeo" for MSE Ops! (Mobile Support Equipment Operators) They are the ones driving big rigs & various equipment to keep the military moving. This was held at C.F.B. Borden, which is a large training base in Ontario, on October 3rd, 1983. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 29, 2018 15:57:25 GMT
My first posting with the military was to CFB Summerside (Canada Post ID: Slemon Park) in Prince Edward Island. I arrived in April 1976 & stayed there until August 1979. The Argus long range patrol (LRP) aircraft was stationed there. It was a large, 4 propeller engine plane that sounded so cool starting up! It was eventually replaced by the Aurora (jet engine) LRP in 1981. They are still in service to this day! This is the first of three commemorative covers that 415 Squadron issued to mark the passing of a great airplane. The first one was the North Atlantic Farewell. It took place in May of 1981. First to Iceland, landing at Naval Air Station Keflavik, then on to Andøya, Norway; RAF Station Kinloss, Scotland; Nordholz Naval Air Base, Germany; Valkenburg Naval Air Base, Netherllands (closed since 2006) & finally RAF St. Mawgan, England. That must have been one heckuva a farewell tour for the crew! Unfortunately, I have never been much of a photographer, and took just one photo of this aircraft while there!  |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 29, 2018 18:11:48 GMT
The Canadian Farewell flight of the Argus aircraft. Argus 10736 flew from CFB Comox (Canada Post ID: Lazo), British Columbia to CFB Summerside. They departed Comox on July 13, 1981 at 2330Z (GMT, now known as UTC) & flew over Victoria BC; Edmonton, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Toronto & Ottawa, Ontario; Quebec City, Quebec; Fredericton, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; St. Johns, Newfoundland, did a fly past at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island & landed at Summerside, PEI 22 hours later at 2130 the next day. A copy of the Navigation Log was included inside the cover. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 29, 2018 18:34:53 GMT
The Last Flight of Argus 10736 took place on July 24, 1981. They flew from the new home of 415 Squadron (CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia) to CFB Summerside. The flight took less than an hour from engines on, to engines off. Approaching Summerside, they were escorted by T-33's & Tracker's did a formation pass, then a solo last pass. Argus 10736 was unfortunately scrapped - see a photo of her landing. But 10739 sits out front of the airfield entrance. The base was closed ten years later in 1991. A copy of the Navigation Log was included inside the cover. |
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bluehens
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Posts: 51
What I collect: Greece, Cayman Islands, British Africa, US, history, geography, maps and religion.
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Post by bluehens on Aug 8, 2018 18:34:13 GMT
Fascinating- what a wonderful collection. I will have to look for something similar on Ebay and other sites.
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mikeclevenger
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Posts: 887
What I collect: Ohio Tax Stamps, Ohio & Georgia Revenues, US Revenues, US FDC's, & Germany Classics
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Post by mikeclevenger on Aug 10, 2018 11:53:55 GMT
Here is a 1906 postcard with the U.S. Marines aboard a U.S. Navy Ship. It is very rare to find pictures of Marines on Postcard that are this is old. This is one of my favorite pieces in my collection.  |
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