American airmen honoured by stamp issue

On 13 February 2007 a new stamp issue will honour the American airmen who flew secret missions from Northamptonshire deep into enemy territory. It will be in the form of a first day cover for Royal Mail’s “Sky at Night” stamps. The design by artist Michael Bannard shows a B24 liberator bomber dropping a British agent as part of “Operation Carpetbagger” during World War. On the reverse are original wartime photos of the black B24s operated by the USAAF 801st/492nd Bomb Group and the memorial that now stands to them. The Carpetbagger museum logo is the postmark cancelling the stamps on their first day of issue. The cover has been published in conjunction with Bletchley Park, another location with a secret or two.

Bletchley Park Post Office is known around the world for its first day and commemorative covers. Some are now fetching hundred of pounds GBP on auction sites. Using a combination of original art and postage stamps it transforms the humble envelope into little pieces of art and history. Originally set up by volunteers to raise funds for Bletchley Park it has helped many other charities and museums with their fundraising. As ‘Postmaster’ Terry Mitchell said, “Raising funds for small museums such as the Carpetbaggers Aviation Museum at Harrington is never easy. Most stay open purely because of the commitment and enthusiasm of their volunteers in providing visitors with a super day out. The covers provide us at Bletchley Park with extra income and it is a pleasure to be able to do the same for others. We all have great stories to tell which provide a rich source of material”.

Only 300 of the limited edition cover will be issued and it can be previewed at www.bletchleycovers.com. It costs £12.50 ($25US) plus £1.50 UK post and packing ($5US) from Bletchley Park Post Office, The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, MK3 6EB, UK. Phone; +44 (0) 1908 272690/631797.
For more details on the Carpetbagger Museum visit the website at www.harringtonmuseum.org.uk or call 01604 686608.
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Notes to editors: Photocall can be arranged at museum if required. JPEG of cover mock up available.

The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum was formed in 1993 for the 50th Anniversary reunion of the USAAF's 801st / 492nd Bomb Group (The Carpetbaggers) at Harrington. It is housed in the Group Operations Building on the Administration Site of the former Station 179 airfield at Harrington, Northamptonshire, England. The Museum is administered by members of the Harrington Aviation Museum Society, a Registered Charity No 1061997
Displays and exhibits within the museum depict the history of the airfield and vividly show the work carried out by the 801st (Provisional) / 492nd Bomb Group, especially during Operation Carpetbagger, and their secret missions to deliver agents and supplies to resistance groups in Occupied Europe during the Second World War