Korean War South African Postal History
I have always wanted to collect South African postal history from the Korean War. Over the years I have accumulated a few items here and there, usually by good fortune. On a trip to Cape Town to visit my mother I was lucky to meet a Korean War veteran who lived in the same retirement home as her. He was a real character with an irrepressible sense of fun. He has got me grinning as I write this! He served in Korea with the SAAF and No. 2 Squadron, the 'Flying Cheetahs'. He gave me his story which I have written up as part of a wider history of the war and South Africa's small part in it. But what a part! The SAAF punched above its weight and won the respect of the Yanks. I now want to use that article as part of a new on-line display / article, and illustrate it with what I have, as well as any contributions I receive from club members. I am not expecting to be overwhelmed by the response to this as South African Korean war material is uncommon. When you do find it is often aesthetically unappealing. However, it is a neglected area of South African postal history, that needs writing up. Have a look at a few of the pieces below which I plan to include. All have been provided by others. If you have material that you want to share with us in this display / article, please email the Club for more info. Thanks.
In descending order, the files below are:
1]. Christmas Card from the 18FBG (18th Fighter Bomber Group) to which the Flying Cheetahs were assigned.
2]. SAAF serviceman's 'crossing the line' certificate.
3] Cover from FPO in Korea to Ysterplaat AFB, Cape Town.
Uploaded files:
I spotted these on Kenny Napier's Auction. (Get on his mailing lis!) They are great examples South African Korean War Letter Cards. I would buy them if the SAAF's 'Flying Cheetahs' were my main collecting interest. Sadly, one has to draw a line somewhere under what you can affordably collect. (Yesterday at Stampex a stranger said to me that collecting outside of one's core interest was "going down the rabbit hole!") Much as I want them I must learn to live without them. This does not mean they are not worthy of collecting and that you should not aspire to own them also. It really just means that I must cut my cloth to fit my needs.
1952. Letter Card. FPO (FIELD POST OFFICE) 798 '15 JY 52' to SPRING, Union of SA.
2 1/2d GB affixed to cancelled 6d card supplied free to SAAF. 2 1/2d was the postage rate.
NOTE: The preceding post's letter card is similarly paid.
(General Louis Botha married an Emmett!)
The following two cards are unused. On both the 6d rate has been cancelled intentionally for use during the early FREE concessionary period, Later, the postage had to be paid by SAAF members at the 2 1/2d rate. On the lower card the postmark 'ARMY AIR FORCE POSTAL SERVICE A.P.O. 925' bears a huge resmblance to US Navy Ship postmarks of the WW2 era.
I missed the and I collect them.
I grew up in Pinelands, Cape Town, under the flight path into Ysterplaat AFB. During WW2 it was AFB Brooklyn, named after the adjoining suburb. My earliest chilhood memories have planes flying overhead - Dakotas, Shackletons, Harvards, Vampires and once or twice and most excitingly so, Sabres, ones the SAAF bought home from the Korean War. I should collect covers like these, I know, but I have learned that I cannot collect everything. So, sadly, I will put my SAAF material up for sale to concentrate on my bigger collecting interests.