June cartoon caption winner laments airplane’s tiny tray

U.S. Stamp Notes by John M. Hotchner

The cartoon caption contest for June featured a DC-3 passenger plane from the mid-20th century shown on a 32¢ stamp (Scott 3142q) in the 1997 Classic American Aircraft pane of 20 (3142).

Several entries compared the image to the well-known 1918 24¢ bicolor airmail error stamp (Scott C3a).

A particularly apt example was sent by Laura and Tom Tomaszek of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, “I’m not a high-plane, low-plane, fast-plane, slo-plane, or upside-down plane, like the Curtiss Jenny.”

Another group of entries turned to current events. Bob Miller of Saint Alban’s, W.Va., combines the name of the aircraft with a current court case, “They want us to leave the air show and pick up some boxes to take from D.C. to Trump’s place in Florida.”

The cartoon caption contest winner in the philatelic category, shown in the box above, taps into a problem I’ve had on planes. I could swear that trays are getting smaller and smaller. It is from Bill Etter of Irvine, Calif.

On the nonphilatelic side of the contest, Richard Wolf of Westminster, Md., wins with “I just bought 500 shares of Western Airlines. I’m gonna be rich!”

Both winners will receive a 13-week subscription to Linn’s (a new subscription or an extension).

Here are the best of the other runners-up:

“I want to see if I’ll get home before my post cards arrive?” by Sebastian Glentz of Sheboygan, Wis.

“Oh, no, the pilot just came on and said one of the engines went out and we’ll be two hours late! Hope the other engine doesn’t quit or I’ll never get to Boston!” by David Vikan of Dickinson, N.D.

“Another fight? Who would have thought that try-outs for a hockey team would take place at 30,000 feet!” by Steve Kotler of San Francisco, Calif.

“Stop the plane. I left my tongs at home!” from Thomas Willer of Libertyville, Ill.

Thanks and a tip of the hat to all who entered.

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