WWII USS Trout Launched Postal Cover - Lost Boat

This is a US Submarine Trout SS202 Launched May 21, 1940 Postal Cover. Cachet by Portsmouth Navy Yard Improvement Association. Courtesy of www.hazegray.org: On 8 February, 1944, the submarine began her 11th and final war patrol. Trout topped off with fuel at Midway and, on the 16th, headed via a great circle route toward the East China Sea. She was never heard from again. Japanese records indicate that one of their convoys was attacked by a submarine on 29 February 1944 in the patrol area assigned to Trout. The submarine badly damaged one large passenger-cargo ship and sank the 7,126-ton transport Sakito Maru. Possibly one of the convoy's escorts sank the submarine. On 17 April 1944, Trout was declared presumed lost. Trout received 11 battle stars for World War II service and the Presidential Unit Citation for her second, third, and fifth patrols. [Japanese records examined after the war showed that destroyer Asashimo, presumably an escort in the convoy of Sakito Maru, detected a submarine and dropped 19 depth charges. Oil and debris came to the surface and the destroyer dropped a final depth charge on that spot. Trout went down with all 81 hands.

Circa May 21, 1940.

About 6-1/2 in width by 3-3/4" in height.

Printed paper with black ink.

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This is from a large collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months.

8+ (Excellent): Very minor wear.

As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.