B-17 "Heavenly Body II" Flying Fortress Issue

B-17 "Heavenly Body II" Stamp

The CILP is pleased to announce the release of a single stamp design on 19 June, 2015, entitled “Heavenly Body II”.

It is a direct tribute to the aircrews of two B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 379^th Bomb Group, 8^th USAAF which collided in mid-air approaching Canvey Island whilst returning from a mission to destroy V-1 sites in France on 19 June, 1944. Indirectly it honours all USAAF aircrews operating from England during WWII.

© 2015 CILP

The stamp issue is named after the nickname of one of the aircraft, B-17 42-97942. The other B-17 involved was the un-named 44-6133. Eleven men died in the incident and seven survived, some of whom came ashore on Canvey Island.

The stamp features a B-17 on an airfield in England, showing the 1^st Division, 8^th USAAF yellow triangle tail marking. The 379^th was an element of the 1^st Division but the aircraft in the image is actually from another 1^st Division element, the 525^th Bomb Group.

The CILP has produced a limited edition 270 horizontal stamps measuring 59x20mm. All stamps are perforated and gummed.

First Day Cover and FDI Postcard

An associated limited edition of 12 First Day Covers has also been produced. Each cover bears a pair of stamps with hand-struck FDI cancel.  The cover measures 162x114mm and features the 8th USAAF patch and has a detailed card insert describing the incident.

© 2015 CILP

Six 'First Day Issue' postcards were also produced using the Dutch Cottage Heritage Postcard #1. They bear a single stamp on the reverse with a hand-struck FDI cancellation.

Buy Canvey Local Post Stamps

Early purchase of this issue is recommended as it is anticipated it will be popular with aircraft and military collectors in addition to Cinderella fans, especially the FDCs and FDI postcards.

Collectors may obtain this and previous issues (subject to availability) from Alpha Thematics at http://alpha-thematics.ebid.net (under menu section ‘Cinderella’)