1940 Cover COLOMBO Ceylon CENSOR Franking PAQUEBOT W (02/26/2011)...

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1940 Cover COLOMBO Ceylon CENSOR Franking PAQUEBOT WWII

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1940 Cover COLOMBO Ceylon CENSOR Franking PAQUEBOT WWII

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Sold Date: 02/26/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Stamps

Stock Photo Stock Photo Stock Image Stock Image I am listing a large collection of covers to a Seattle based importer from the 30's and 40s. Many of these are interesting stamps/cancellations/franking/high dollar/registered/wax seals/etc
SEE MY OTHER LISTINGS FOR OTHER COVERS
I am not a stamp expert, so please let me know any info I have omitted. Some of the covers are likely quite valuable, but I really don't know which ones. I will ship international for a price over $25.
THIS COVER
1940 from COLOMBO, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to USA, customs documents, on the eve of US entry into WWII.
FANTASTIC WAX seals from the COLOMBO CENSOR on the back and front. Post marked at San Pedro, California PAQUEBOT. This may have been the last journey for the Hoegh Merchant, as she was sunk DECEMBER 8, 1941 while re-routing due to Pearl Harbor. She was on her way to Honolulu, leaving the same port as this post mark, SAN PEDRO. Very cool piece of postal and WWII History.
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Høegh Merchant (in Silver Java Pacific Line) had arrived San Francisco from Manila on Nov. 9-1941, unloaded some cargo, then headed to San Pedro where the rest of her cargo was discharged before taking on a new cargo for Java there (for private consignees). With about 1350 tons in her holds she headed for San Francisco to be docked at Moore Dry Dock, Oakland on Nov. 22. 3 days later, on Nov. 25 she proceeded to Richmond to load lube oil in barrels as well as cement, then went to Pier 50 A in San Francisco on the 26th where she added some more general cargo (old newspapers, lumber etc - total cargo when done, 7500 tons) meant for Manila, Singapore, Batavia, Samarang, Sourabaya, Madras, Colombo and Bombay. She was at this pier until Dec. 3 at which time she headed further out in order to load TNT (80 tons) and dynamite (20 tons) in especially built rooms in the shelter deck, then departed for Manila the following afternoon, Dec. 4. (Before she left, Repair Man A. Furuhaug , Ordinary Seaman Eilif Henriksen , and Galley Boy Nils Olsen paid off).

On Dec. 7 (attack on Pearl Harbor) she was ordered to head for a British, Dutch or U.S. port, so course was altered back to San Francisco. However, on Dec. 8 a telegram was received via Vancouver Radio instructing them to go to Honolulu. In the afternoon of Dec. 13 they could see land straight ahead, but not knowing the conditions they stopped about 20 n. miles from Makapuu Point to await sailing directions and daylight, and was still lying still when she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-16 (Yamada) (or was it I-4? see * below) in the early morning hours of Dec. 14-1941 - time given in the captain's report is 03:55. The torpedo hit on the starboard side near No. 3 hatch. The captain asked the radio operator to contact the Navy Station in Honolulu, but no messages could be sent. Some sacks of potatoes in the hold caught on fire, but the flames died out by themselves. However, 10-15 minutes later another explosion occurred in the same hold, believed to have been caused because water had seeped into the carbide located there. Considering the explosives on board the captain now ordered the ship to be abandoned. All 40 had survived (incl. 5 passengers) and were rescued from the lifeboats soon afterwards by the American destroyer USS Trever (DMS 16) and taken to Honolulu. The commander later told them that he had seen the fire from Trever 7 miles away.

*Leif Høegh's fleet list claims I-16 sank this ship. Jürgen Rohwer says Høegh Merchant was sunk by I-4 (Nakagawa) on Dec. 15-1941, 29 n. miles off Cape Makapuu. The submarine corresponds with what is found in "The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II" by Robert J. Cressman. He says it happened on the 14th, which is the correct date, according to USS Trever 's log.

The maritime hearings were held on Jan 8-1942 with the 1st mate, both 2nd mates, the 3rd mate, the 1st engineer, the 3rd engineer, the radio operator, Ordinary Seaman Brandvik , and Ordinary Seam...