Panama Canal Anniversary Cover, USs. Charleston Cds

A first day cover of scott #856 and notating the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. I actually found 3 of them but I do like the postmark from the U.S.S. Charleston

I believe this is the ship from which it was postmarked.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ch..._%28PG-51%29

Soon after the Canal was put to it's toughest test during WWII. The Panama Canal's mission was to be at the service of world shipping and commerce. So it was always a tense time when the Japanese navy sent it's ships through the Canal. At one point, a Japanese sub was chained into a lock for several hours before it was allowed to go through.

Are you saying the United States let a Japanese sub go through the Panama Canal between Dec 1941 and Aug 1945?

Don

I doubt after the bombing at Pearl Harbor. and besides I don't think they ever really wandered into the Atlantic did they?

The event I am thinking of, I think occurred before Pearl Harbor, but when tensions were definitely high. After Pearl Harbor, the Panama Canal was quickly fortified and heavily defended.

It's my understanding that prior to December 1941, Japan was not at war with anyone but China.

Don

Correct except remember that we helped China during that conflict with our infamous "Flying Tigers", The 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force

As well as the U.S volunteers flying with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force against the Germans.

The U.S was constantly on the edge of violating the neutrality laws during the years leading up to the United States' declaration of war. I suppose the Canal Administration could have detained a Japanese submarine, but I have not seen any reference to such an act previously.

This thread has gone off topic so I'm signing off.

Don

Don

It's actually pretty interesting.. :)

USS CHARLESTON PG-51 was an ERIE CLASS gun boat. She patrolled the Caribbean and South Atlantic during the war looking for U-boats.

*Laid down 27 October 1934 by the Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, SC
*Launched 25 February 1936
*Commissioned 8 July 1936
*Decommissioned 10 May 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission
*Transferred to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy 25 March 1948
*Last cruise for the Maritime Academy was in 1957
*Sold to an Italian investor and planned to be converted into a floating night club/hotel
*Fate unknown.

Here's a photo of her in the Panama Canal

Wow! So that (above) was the exact same ship that my letter came from eh? Now that's neat!