COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

First Flight Over the Falkland Islands

Issue Date: 21 June 1999





The Jeanne d'Arc

The "Jeanne d'Arc", a French Training Ship was built in 1931 and classed as a 'cruiser' by the French Navy. One of her first voyages took her to the Falkland Islands where she arrived on 7 December 1931. On board were two seaplanes, one of which, the JA1-CAMS-37A, took off from Stanley Harbour on 8 December 1931 and flew to Port Louis, a former French settlement before returning to Stanley. This flight was recorded as the first flight ever made in the Islands.

The stamps in this issue depict the vessel, the aircraft and the first flight undertaken.

35p - French Cruiser "Jeanne d'Arc"

A French Cruiser used as a Training ship with a normal complement of 505 crew but with accommodation space for 156 midshipmen and 20 trainers. Powered by Parson's turbines producing 32,500 hp through four screws gave a top speed of around 25.5 knots. At a weight of 6496 tons she was 525ft long and 57.5ft broad. Her armaments consisted of eight 6.1" guns, four 3" anti-aircraft guns, two 37mm guns, two torpedo tubes and two seaplanes.

40p - CAMS37/11 Flying Boat

Illustrated is the flying boat taking off from Stanley Harbour on the first ever flight in the Falkland Islands. The registrations for the two aircraft were the JA1-CAMS-37A and JA2-CAMS-37A. The CAMS stood for "Chantiers Aires Maritimes de la Seine".

£1 souvenir sheet

The souvenir sheet illustrates the first flight over Port Stanley in 1931.

First Day Cover

The cover design shows the aircraft taking off with the Jeanne d'Arc in the background. The cachet resembles a photograph taken of the aircraft overflying Stanley.



Technical details:

Designer: John Batchelor
Printer: House of Questa
Process: Lithography
Perforations: 14 per 2 cms
Stamp size: 28.45 x 42.58 mm
S/S: 115.63 x 63 mm
S/S stamp: 31.75 x 48.26 mm
Watermark: Crown Agents




Copyright: FI Philatelic Bureau Created and Maintained by: Cyberpoint Limited