CASTOR AKS 1

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Castor Class General Stores Issue Ship Keel Laid as "SS CHALLENGER" - Launched 20 May 1939 Acquired by US Navy 23 October 1940 Renamed 29 October 1940 USS CASTOR AKS-1 Commissioned 12 March 1941 - Decommissioned 30 June 1947 Recommissioned 24 November 1950 - Decommissioned 31 October 1968 Struck from Naval Register 1 December 1968 Sold 25 July 1969 for scrap

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. USS Castor AKS-1 Covers Page 1    (1941-1968)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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Post Office Established 12 March 1941 - Disestablished 24 August 1946

 

Locy Type FDC 3 (A-BBT) "FIRST DAY / COMMISSION"

1941-03-12

First Day in Commission. Cachet by Dr. S. E. Hutnick.

 

Locy Type 3 (A-BBT)

1941-11-26

Note:

 

Locy Type 2z

1947-01-19

Note:

 

Locy Type 3z (BBT)

1941-05-02

Note: Pre-war usage of Type z cancel. Sailor Mail.

 

Locy Type 3z (BBT)

1943-04-01

Note:

 

Locy Type 9v

1941-11-26

Note:

 

Locy Type 9efw

1941-11-26

Note:

 

Locy Type 9x

1941-11-26

Note:

 

Locy Type F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. C-21

1945-10-27

Note:

 

Locy Type F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. C-21a

1945-11-21

Note:

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Post Office Reestablished 16 March 1951 - Disestablished 30 September 1968

 

Locy Type FDPS 2r

1951-03-21

First Day Postal Service

 

Locy Type FDPS 9efu

1951-03-21

First Day Postal Service

 

Locy Type 2(n+) (USS)

1963-11-11

Note:

 

Locy Type 2r

1955-01-08

Note:

 

Locy Type 9efu

1966-07-09

Note:
 

Locy Type F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. C-21c

1958-10-27

Note:
 

Locy Type PPB USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. C-21d

1966-07-09

Note:

 

Other Information

USS CASTOR earned the Combat Action Ribbon, the China Service Medal, the American Defense Service Medal w/ Fleet clasp, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 3 Battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ Asia clasp, the National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), the Korean Service Medal w/ 2 Campaign stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3 awards), the Vietnam Service Medal w/ 6 Campaign stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal during her Naval career.

USS CASTOR was at Pearl Harbor December 7 1941 at The Pearl Harbor Submarine Base

NAMESAKE - Named for the more northern of the two bright stars in the constellation Gemini.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. T. M. Woodward.

Two ships of the US Navy have borne the name CASTOR - USS Castor (1869 Monitor) and USS Castor AKS-1.

 

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