1940 U.S.S Sailfish First Day in Commission Naval Cover - Raised Cachet by G. A. Shaw - World War 2 US Submarine Sailfish Commission Cover

This listing is for the photographed 1940 U.S. Submarine Sailfish First Day in Commission WW2 Naval Cover. This postal cover was issued on the commission day of the USS Sailfish, May 15th, 1940, during the Second World War. The cachet on the left end of the naval cover was printed with a raised texture and was designed by G. A. Shaw, a rarer cachet design for USS Sailfish covers! A stamp is featured in the upper right corner of the cover, Scott#871. Attractive cachet for these kinds of Naval covers! Amazing piece of history! The cover is in excellent condition with no signs of circulation, making it a great addition to any collection!

The history of the USS Sailfish is an especially interesting one, as the submarine began under a different name, the U.S.S. Squalus. While it was in use as Squalus, it sank off of the New Hampshire coast during test dives on May 23rd, 1939 due to a failure of the main induction valve. The sinking caused flooding in the torpedo room, both engine rooms, and the crews quarters, drowning 26 men aboard almost immediately. The USS Falcon arrived the next day, sending down naval divers to rescue the 33 survivors. The ship was salvaged and raised several months later in September of 1939, and was soon recommissioned and renamed the USS Sailfish after undergoing major repairs. The USS Sailfish was commissioned on May 15th, 1940, and conducted numerous war patrols in the Pacific during World War II, earing a total of 9 battle stars by the time she was decommissioned and put on Naval Reserve in October of 1945. She was later scrapped after being taken off the reserve, but today her conning tower is on display at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

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1940 U.S.S Sailfish First Day in Commission Naval Cover - Raised Cachet by G. A. Shaw - World War 2 US Submarine Sailfish Commission Cover