JS(AC)49a / AF03a Operation Colossus SAS cover

JS(AC)49a RAF commemorative cover dual numbered AF3 (although it says AC3 on the cover) as part of the Airborne Forces Series. The cover commemorates Operation Colossus the attack on the Tragino Aqueduct on the night of 10/11 February 1941 by the SAS. The cover shows the SAS troops dropping from an RAF Whitley bomber and the aqueduct exploding. The raid went extremely well and they even dropped the SAS troops within 250 feet of the aqueduct, when the SAS landed they found that the aqueduct had been built out of solid concrete rather the wood and brick structure intelligence had told them to expect (it has been rebuilt at some point in time) the troops decided to blow up one section rather than the entire bridge as had been previously planned.

Cover bears UK definitive stamp with BFPS 2242 postmark for the 50th Anniversary of Operation Colossus.

Unsigned variant
Cover size 190mm x 113mm