Virtual Museum - Air
Mails and Philately
Ref. No. 851. TH, CBREE
1944
NAZI
WAR STAMPS. Issued by the German Government, this set
depicts three aircraft: a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor (lower left), a
Dornier float plane at lower right (appears to be variant of the Do 18
flying boat) and a four-engined transport aircraft at top (possibly a
Junkers 290). 
Ref. No. 856. 38TH ANNIVERSAY OF BATTLE OF
BRITAIN COVER. This cover was flown in a Sepecat Jaguar G R 1
airframe No. XX724 to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the Battle of
Britain. The aircraft was flown by the unit test pilot Squadron
Leader T E L Lloyd, AFC, RAF, from RAF Abingdon on airtest. Flight time
0.54 minutes. Stamped 16 September 1978 by British Force Postal
Services. Cover depicts New Zealander Air Marshall Sir Keith Park
and his Hurricane OK 1. 
Ref. No. 855. SIGNED 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF
BATTLE OF BRITAIN COVER – “ADLER TAG” 13 AUGUST 1940.
Signed by Air Commodore A C Deere, DSO, OBE, DFC, RAF (Ret’d).
Flown from RAF Coningsby in Spitfire PS853 of the RAF’s Battle of
Britain Memorial Flight on 23 August 1980. Flight time 50
minutes. Stamped 13 August 1980 RAF Post Office Biggin Hill,
Kent. 
40TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF 488 (FIGHTER) SQUADRON ON 2 SEPTEMBER
1941. Flown from Rongotai, where No. 488 Squadroon was
formed, to RNZAF Base Wigram on 2nd September 1981. Aircraft:
Strikemaster Mk 88 (NZ6362) of No. 14 Squadron RNZAF. Flight
duration: 42 minutes. Captain: Flt Lt G C Alexander. Signed
by J N Mackenzie, Squadron Leader of No. 488 Squadron January to March
1942.
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF 488
(NEW ZEALAND) SQUADRON ON 25TH JUNE 1942. Flown over
Church Fenton in an RAF Jet Provost Mk 5A on 25th June 1982.
Flight time: 45 minutes. Aircraft Captain: Flt Lt R G Geddes (RAF).
Crew: Flt Lt K Schultz (RAF). Signed by Wing Commander Richard
Haine, Commanding Officer of 488 (NZ) Squadron January to October 1944.
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF 486
(NEW ZEALAND) SQUADRON ON 7 MARCH 1942. Flown from RAF
Waddington over Scotland at low level through the Vale of York and
overhead Kirton-in Lindsey on 8th March 1982 in a Vulcan Mk II, XH562
of the Royal Air Force. Signed by Flt Lt Al Walker. Flight
time: 2 hours 58 miniutes.
PRESENTATION OF THE STANDARD TO NO. 40
SQUADRON RNZAF, 9 FEBRUARY 1979. Stamped 29 February
1980. Signed by Wing Commander R. A. Kirkup AFC, RNZAF (Rtd.),
Commanding Officer, September 1944 to April 1946.
35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF NO.
23 (FIGHTER) SQUADRON, 7 AUGUST 1979. Flown from Auckland
to Nadi by Air New Zealand DC10 ZK-NZC Flight TE104. Flight time
two hours 28 minutes. Captain Peter Muir. Flown from Fiji to New
Hebrides by Air Pacific BAC111 DQ-FBV Flight FJ701. Flight time
one hour 25 minutes. Captain B. Rankin. Signed by Flight
Lieutenant A. M. (Max) Davis, DFC, Officer in Charge "B" Flight
1944. During WWII, Davis was credited with the destruction of two
D3A Vals on 1 October 1943 and one Zeke on 27 October 1943 while flying
P-40 Kittyhawk fighters with the RNZAF.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF NO. 40
SQUADRON 1 JUNE 1943. Flown from RNZAF Whenuapai to
Christchurch, to Nausori Fiji and back to Whenuapai on C130-H Hercules
NZ7003. Flight time 11 hours. Crew: Captain: Flt Lt R B
Wignall, Crew: F/O S Hassett, Flt Lt D Ellis, F/Sgt J Morris, F/Sgt M
Barett, M/Arms R Brumfit, Sgt D Neilson. Copy number 238 of
690. Signed by Air Marshal R B Bolt, CB, CBE, DFC, AFC, Chief of
Defence.
FIRST DIRECT AIR MAIL CHRISTCHURCH TO
SYDNEY. Flown on a Lockheed Constellation. Canterbury
Centennial - 1850-1950. Postmarked Christchurch 20 December 1950
12.30 a.m.
Ref. No. 861 MILITARY HISTORY STAMP ISSUE
1987 NEW ZEALAND FIRST DAY COVER. 1987. Issued to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the RNZAF. Four stamps depict
an Avro 626, P-40 Kittyhawks, Sunderland flying boat and A4
Skyhawks. 
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