1955 Lt. Jose Gozar

 Boeing P-26 and Lt. Jose Gozar

On December 10, 1941, a Japanese bomber formation flying over Zablan field, Manila, was intercepted by the Philippine Army Air Corps flying obsolete Boeing P-26 (Peashooter) pursuit aircraft.  During the attack, 3rd Lieutenant Jose P. Gozar, United States Army Air Forces, attempted to ram Japanese aircraft when his guns jammed. After a series of such maneuvres, it is reported that he forced the Japanese plane to fly away without further attacks on the air field. Lt. Gozar was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism. President Roosevelt ordered the decoration in reply to to reports from the battlefields by General MacArthur. Gozar died later in the war.

On October 26, 1955, the Bureau of Posts honored Lt. Gozar with the issue of a set of two airmail stamps engraved by Waterlow and Sons of England.

Stamps

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First Day of Issue Cachet

First Day Covers

Unpainted and Painted

 (Not in author's collection)

(Not in author's collection)

1955 9th Anniversary of the Republic

The Bureau of Posts issued a set of three stamps on July 4, 1955, featuring the image of President Ramon Magsaysay to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the Philippine Republic.


Stamps

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The stamps were engraved by De la Rue (England).


First Day of Issue Cachet

First Day Covers

1955 Labor-Management Conference

A Labor-Management Congress was held at the University of the East, Manila, from May 26 to 38, 1955. To mark the meeting, a slogan cancellation was prepared for use at the Manila post office and the Bureau of Posts issued a commemorative stamp on May 26, 1955, "honoring labor".

Slogan

Manila, May 15, 1955
LABOR-MANAGEMENT
CONGRESS
MAY 26 - 28, 1955

Stamp

The single 5c engraved stamp was produced by De la Rue (England).

First Day of Issue Cachet

First Day Covers

Unpainted and Painted

 

Tribute to Labor Series

1955 Rotary International 50th Anniversary

Rotary International , a world-wide service club organization, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1955. Rotarians conduct themselves by their motto, "Service Above Self", and engage in meaningful community and international service projects. The first Rotary Club in the Philippines was created in Manila on June 1, 1919.

Stamps

A set of two regular stamps and one airmail stamp, produced by the English printer De la Rue was issued on February 23, 1955.

The central element of the stamp design features the famous Mayon Volcano located on Luzon Island.with a traditional sailing ship (vinta) in the foreground.

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The stamp is not unattractive but bears no relation to the subject being commemorated. Furthermore, there is an error in the stamp  design.  Vintas did not sail in Luzon Island waters. They were used for inter-island transport by the Muslim community in Mindinao, 1000 miles or so southwest of Mayon Volcano.

Regular Stamps 

  
Air Mail Stamp

First Day of Issue Cachet

First Day Covers


The Filipino cachet designers did a much better job of showing why the Philippines was commemorating the 50th anniversary of Rotary International than did the stamp designer.