OtherUS Macon ZRS 5

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.

USS MACON ZRS-5 Ring Laid 19 December 1931 - Launched and Christened 11 March 1933 by Jeanette Whitton Moffett, wife of RAdm. William A. Moffett, Chief of the USN's Bureau of Aeronautics Maiden Flight 21 April 1933 - Commissioned 23 June 1933 - Crashed off the coast of California 12 February 1935 - Struck 26 February 1935

Naval Covers

Covers should be listed in chronological order. Use the postmark date or best guess.

1. USS Macon ZRS-5 Covers Page 1 (19 December 1931 to 31 December 1934)
2. USS Macon ZRS-5 Covers Page 2 (01 January 1935 to 1983)
3. USS Macon ZRS-5 Covers Page 3 (Cachetmakers Logs of activities)

 

Thumbnail Link To Cachet Close-Up Image	Thumbnail Link To Full Cover Front Image	Thumbnail Link To Postmark or Back Image	Postmark Date Postmark Type Killer Bar Text Ship --------- Category

 

N/A		N/A	1931-12-19 USPO Machine Cancel Akron OH
			Cacheted

Ring Raising.

 

N/A		N/A	1933-03-11 USPO Machine Cancel Akron OH
			Cacheted

Christening.

 

N/A		N/A	1933-09-13 USPO Machine Cancel West Point NY
			First Flight over US Military Academy

Cachet sponsored by the Sea Scout Ship "Alliance", BSA

 

N/A		N/A	1933-10-12 USPO Machine Cancel Lakehurst NJ
			Cachet by Ted Bedell, sponsored by the Lakewood Stamp Society.

Leaving for Sunnyvale CA. From the William Lowe collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1933-10-13 USPO Machine Cancel Macon GA
			R/S Cachet

Visit to Macon GA

 

N/A		N/A	1933-10-13 USPO Machine Cancel Macon GA
			R/S Cachet

Visit to Macon GA. From the William J. Wladyka collection.

 

			1933-10-15 USPO Type 2 Moffett Field CA
			Cachet by San Francisco Junior Chamber of Commerce. Cachet Director is John D. Long

Arrival at Home Base. Singed by Postmaster and Registered.

 

N/A			1933-11-14 Locy Type 3 (B-TBT) "WELCOME / U.S.S. MACON" USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by Clyde G. Morris, sponsored by the Fighting Bob Evans Chapter No. 7, USCS

Tactical maneuvers with U.S. Battle Fleet

 

N/A		N/A	1934-01-03 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Fourth Flight

Cachet by Clyde Welch, sponsored by the National Aiglon Society

 

N/A		N/A	1934-01-05 Locy Type 5hks "WELCOME / MACON" USS Nevada BB-36
			Cachet sponsored by the Fighting Bob Evans Chapter No. 7, USCS

Note:

 

N/A			1934-01-05 Locy Type 3 (AT SEA) (same as USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. P-15 but with 'AT SEA' added) "OFF SO. CALIF / WITH USS MACON" USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by Byrd L. Powell, sponsored by the Fighting Bob Evans Chapter No. 7, USCS

Note:

 

N/A		N/A	1934-02-09 USPO Machine Cancel Balboa CA
			Cacheted

Welcome to Balboa CA.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-02-20 Locy Type 3 (B-BTT) "AT SEA / WITH FLEET" USS Portland CA-33
			Cachet by J. K. Delano

From the Bob Govern collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-02-20 Locy Type 3 (B-BTT) "AT SEA / WITH FLEET" USS Portland CA-33
			Cachet by J. K. Delano

Note:

 

N/A			1934-03-20 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet sponsored by the Oakland/Alameda Chamber of Commerce

USS Macon Training Flight at Sea.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-04-09 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cacheted

USS Macon joins the US Pacific Fleet

 

N/A			1934-04-09 Locy Type F "OFF POINT / FIRMIN LIGHT" USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. N-18b USS Northampton CA-26
			Signed by NMC Leo A. Miller.

From the Bob Govern collection. 2 errors - USS MACON (Misspelled MOCON) & Point Fermin Light (misspelled Point FIRMIN)

 

N/A		N/A	1934-04-09 Locy Type F "OFF POINT / FIRMIN LIGHT" USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. N-18b USS Northampton CA-26
			USS Macon Maneuvers With Fleet.

Cachet by Richard Dumonte.

 

N/A			1934-04-10 Locy Type 3 (B-BTT) "MACON SOME / WHERE AT SEA" USS Relief AH-1
			Cachet by Clyde G. Morris, sponsored by A. H. G. Voss, W. P. D'Amour and Walter G. Crosby. Signed by Voss, Navy Mail Clerk, USS Relief.

From the Bob Govern collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-04-10 Locy Type 5hks (C) "USS MACON / WITH FLEET" USS Texas BB-35
			USS Macon Maneuvers With Fleet.

Cachet by Richard Dumonte.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-04-11 Locy Type 5hks "MACON / JOINS FLEET" USS Nevada BB-36
			Cachet by Clyde G. Morris, Sponsored by the Fighting Bob Evans Chapter No. 7, USCS

From the Bob Govern collection.

 

N/A			1934-04-11 Locy Type 5hks "U.S.S.MACON / ON MANEUVERS" USS West Virginia BB-48
			Cachet by Clyde G. Morris, Co-sponsored by the Fighting Bob Evans Chapter No. 7, USCS and Walter G. Crosby

USCS Auction Donation - shared by Lloyd Ferrell.

 

			1934-04-11 Locy Type 3 (B-TBT, AT SEA) "USS MACON / IN SO. WATERS" USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by Ted DeNyse, sponsored by Byrd L. Powell

Note:

 

N/A			1934-04-18 Locy Type 3 (B-BBT) USS Algorma AT-34
			Cachet sponsored by Byrd L. Powell

From the Bob Govern collection.

 

			1934-04-20 USPO Machine Cancel San Jose CA
			Cachet by L. F. Christopherson

Note:

 

N/A		N/A	1934-04-20 USPO Duplex Cancel Sunnyvale CA
			Cachet by Edward Hacker

USS Macon leaves Moffett Field CA for Miami FL.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-05-06 Locy Type 3 (B-BTT) "ENROUTE GTM / -O.BAY AREA." USS Indianapolis CA-35
			Cacheted

Note:

 

N/A			1934-05-09 Locy Type 3 "MACON / ENROUTE" USS Lexington CV-2
			E.L. Beckwith

USS Lexington CV-2 East Coast Cruise cachet.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-05-17 USPO Duplex Cancel Los Angeles CA
			Cachet by Richard Dumonte

Los Angeles CA greets USS Macon on her return.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-05-18 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet by Edward Hacker

USS Macon returns to Moffett Field CA from Miami FL.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-05-18 USPO Duplex Cancel Sunnyvale CA
			Cachet by Edward Hacker

USS Macon returns to Moffett Field CA from Miami FL.

 

N/A			1934-05-18 USPO Duplex Cancel "Airport Sta." Oakland CA
			Cachet sponsored by the Oakland/Alameda Chamber of Commerce

USS Macon returns to Moffett Field CA from Miami FL.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-05-18 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet sponsored by the Oakland/Alameda Chamber of Commerce

USS Macon returns to Moffett Field CA from Miami FL.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-06-19 USPO Duplex Cancel San Francisco CA
			Typed Cachet

First Flight to Oregon and Washington.

 

N/A			1934-07-04 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Independence Day

Cachet by Clyde Welch
Sponsored by the National Aiglon Society

 

N/A		N/A	1934-07-11 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet sponsored by the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce.

Change of Command. From the William Lowe collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-07-11 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Change of Command.

Cachet by Richard Dumonte, sponsored by the Admiral Joseph M. Reeves Chapter No. 14, USCS

 

N/A			1934-07-12 USPO Machine Cancel Long Beach CA
			Cachet by Ted DeNyse Sponsored by Byrd L. Powell

USS Macon Greets Long Beach CA. From the Tom Kean collection.

 

N/A			1934-07-12 USPO Duplex Cancel Long Beach CA
			Cachet by Ted DeNyse Sponsored by Byrd L. Powell

USS Macon Greets Long Beach CA. From the William Lowe collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-07-18 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet sponsored by the Oakland/Alameda Chamber of Commerce

Training Flight at Sea

 

N/A		N/A	1934-08-07 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet sponsored by the Oakland/Alameda Chamber of Commerce

Fifteenth Departure

 

N/A		N/A	1934-08-21 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet sponsored by the Oakland/Alameda Chamber of Commerce

USS Macon flies again.

 

N/A			1934-08-22 USPO Machine Cancel Fort Lewis WA
			Fort Lewis Greets USS Macon

Cachet sponsored by the USS Tacoma Post VFW. From the William J. Wladyka collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-08-22 Locy Type 5hks "BREMERTON / WASH" Locy Type 5hks "WELCOME / MACON" USS Nevada BB-36
			3 postmarks

From the William J. Wladyka collection.

 

		N/A	1934-08-22 Locy Type 3 (B-TBT) "MACON OVER / BREMERTON" USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by A. B. Sponsored by Henry Grimsland

Note:

 

N/A		N/A	1934-08-22 Locy Type 3 (B-TBT) "MACON OVER / BREMERTON" USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			USS Macon Over No. California Training Cruise.

Cachet by Richard Dumonte.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-08-22 Locy Type 5hk USS Maryland BB-46
			Cacheted - Visiting Bremerton Navy Yard

From the Bob Govern collection.

 

			1934-08-22 Locy Type 3 (B-TBT) "MACON OVER / BREMERTON" USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by Almas, sponsored by R. S. Ewing

Note:

 

N/A			1934-08-22 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Returns to Base From Technical Training Cruise

Cachet by Clyde Welch, sponsored by the National Aiglon Society.

 

N/A			1934-09-10 Locy Type 6 USS Cincinnati CL-6
			Cachet by Ted DeNyse Sponsored by Byrd L. Powell

Through the Spy Glass of the USS Macon. From the William Lowe collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-09-11 USPO Duplex Cancel USPO Machine Cancel Pasadena CA
			Cachet by David Brockton Browne Sponsored by Richard Dumonte

USS Macon on Training Cruise.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-09-11 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Range Finding Maneuvers & Adjusting Compass

Cachet by Clyde Welch, sponsored by the National Aiglon Society.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-09-26 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Training Flight & Compass Calibration

Cachet by Clyde Welch, sponsored by the National Aiglon Society.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-10-15 USPO Duplex Cancel Sunnyvale CA
			Cacheted

First Anniversary of the USS Macon's arrival to NAS Sunnyvale.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-10-27 USPO Duplex Cancel Fort Baker CA
			Cachet by Edward Hacker

Navy Day

 

N/A			1934-10-27 Locy Type 3 (A) "MARE ISLAND / CALIF" USS Medusa AR-1
			Navy Day at Mare Island Navy Yard Keel Laying of - USS Smith DD-378 & USS Preston DD-379

Cachet sponsored by Walter G. Crosby. From the William J. Wladyka collection.

 

			1934-10-27 Locy Type 3 (B-TBT) "MACON OVER / FRISCO" USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by Deane C. Bartley, sponsored by R. S. Ewing

Note:

 

N/A			1934-10-27 Locy Type 3 (B-TBT) "MACON OVER / FRISCO" USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by R. S. Ewing, sponsored by Byrd L. Powell

Courtesy of the William J. Wladyka Collection.

 

N/A			1934-10-27 Locy Type 3 (B-TBT) "MACON OVER / FRISCO" USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Navy Day Cachet by the West Coast Airmail Society, sponsored by R. S. Ewing

From the Bob Govern collection.

 

N/A			1934-10-27 USPO Machine Cancel San Jose CA
			Navy Day.

Cachet by L. F. Christopherson and sponsored by the San Jose Evening News

 

N/A			1934-11-05 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			"Spy Trip" on US Fleet

Cachet by Clyde Welch, sponsored by the National Aiglon Society.

 

N/A			1934-11-09 Locy Type 3 "FLEETS IN / TODAY" USS Bobolink AM-20
			Cachet sponsored by Byrd L. Powell

USS Macon Soars Over. From the Tom Kean collection.

 

N/A			1934-11-09 Locy Type 3 "FLEETS IN / TODAY" USS Bobolink AM-20
			Cachet by sponsored by Byrd L. Powell

USS Macon Soars Over. From the William Lowe collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-11-09 Locy Type 3 "MACON / ABOVE" USS Bobolink AM-20
			USS Macon Over Los Angeles CA.

Cachet by Richard Dumonte.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-11-09 Locy Type 3 (B-TBT) "SAN PEDRO / CALIFORNIA" USS New Mexico BB-40
			USS Macon Meets the Fleet, Homeward Bound.

Cachet by Richard Dumonte, sponsored by the Admiral Joseph M. Reeves Chapter No. 14, USCS

 

N/A		N/A	1934-11-12 USPO Duplex Cancel Oakland CA
			Armistice Day Parade

Cachet by Clyde Welch.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-11-21 USPO Slogan Machine Cancel Los Angeles CA
			Training Cruise over S. California

Cachet by Richard Dumonte

 

N/A		N/A	1934-11-22 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cacheted

29th Pacific Coast Flight.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-11-29 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Thanksgiving

Cachet by Clyde Welch, sponsored by the National Aiglon Society.

 

N/A		N/A	1934-12-05 USPO 4-bar Cancel USN Sta. Marine Base San Diego CA
			Cacheted

4th Mooring at Camp Kearney, leaves for Moffett Field 5 Dec. 1934.

 

			1934-12-06 Locy Type 3 (B-TBT, AT SEA) "MACON & FLT / MVRS. 6 DEC." USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by R. S. Ewing, sponsored by Byrd L. Powell

Note:

 

N/A		N/A	1934-12-08 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cacheted

Note:

 

N/A		N/A	1934-12-17 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cacheted

31st Pacific Coast Flight.

 

N/A			1934-12-17 Locy Type 3 (BC-TTT) "MACON OVER / GOLDEN GATE" USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by R. S. Ewing, sponsored by the National Aiglon Society

From the Tom Kean collection.

 

N/A			1934-12-17 Locy Type 3 (B-BTT) "MACON / OVERHEAD" USS Portland CA-33
			Cachet sponsored by J. K. Delano, Naval Mail Clerk

Note:

 

N/A		N/A	1934-12-17 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			We Await Your Safe Return

Cachet by Clyde Welch

 

N/A		N/A	1934-12-17 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			We Await Your Safe Return

Airmail. Cachet by Clyde Welch

 

N/A		N/A	1934-12-25 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet by Robert L. Manley

Note:

 

N/A		N/A	1934-12-25 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet by J. C. Formick

Note:

 

N/A		N/A	1935-01-03 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet sponsored by the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce.

First Flight of 1935. From the William J. Wladyka collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1935-01-15 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			Cachet by Clyde Welch Sponsored by the National Aiglon Society

275 covers created.

 

N/A			1935-01-15 USPO 4-bar Cancel Moffett Field CA
			From Moffett Field

Cachet by L. F. Christopherson and Clyde Welch. Sponsored by the National Aiglon Society

 

N/A			1935-01-15 Locy Type 3 (BC-TTT) "ZRS5 OVER / FLEET AGAIN" Locy Type 9 USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by Byrd L. Powell

Note:

 

N/A			1935-01-15 Locy Type 3 (BC-TTT) "ZRS5 OVER / FLEET AGAIN" Locy Type 9 USS Pennsylvania BB-38
			Cachet by Ted DeNyse Sponsored by Byrd L. Powell

Through the Spy Glass of the USS Macon. From the Bob Govern collection.

 

N/A		N/A	1935-01-15 Locy Type 3 (B-BTT) "MACON / OVER FLT." USS Portland CA-33
			Cachet by Eugene L. Mueller

Note:

 

---

 

If you have images to add to this page, then either contact the Curator or edit this page yourself and add them. See Editing Other U.S. Navy Pages for detailed information on editing this page.

 

---

Copyright 2024 Naval Cover Museum