William Barker is being recognized in Canada Post’s ‘Canadians in Flight’ stamp collection.
He is part of a five-stamp set that celebrates legendary examples of Canadian ingenuity, technological prowess and courage in civilian and military aviation.
Jim Phillips, the Director of Stamps Services at Canada Post, describes what’s on the Barker stamp.
“His Victoria Order of Cross, being the only one in this field. You’ve got some schematics of the plane that he was famous for flying, the Sopwith Camel. You’ve got Royal Airforce insignia, the famous red, blue, and white. Then you have a great shot of Captain Barker, and it’s all kind of in sepia tones, which is in keeping with the rest of the set of stamps.”
Phillips recommends getting a set soon, as they only printed a limited number.
“I’d love for them to collect them. But I’d love for them to just know about it and to buy some and to use it on their mail. They’re meant to be used. They are all permanent rate. Buy them now they are good forever at the domestic rate. They could send them to friends, or aviation buffs, or even just family and say ‘hey look what just happened, look who came from my town who’s is on a stamp.’ They might learn something about the other ones they might not have known about.”
His team did a lot of research to develop the stamps. Barker flew more than 900 combat hours between 1916 and 1918 and is credited with 50 victories over enemy aircraft. He remains the most decorated member of the military in the history of Canada and the British Empire.
The stamps are available in a booklet of 10, with two of each design, and a gummed mini-pane of five.
The collection features four others including:
1. C.H. “Punch” Dickins who logged more than 1.6 million kilometres flying over northern Canada
2. The Avro CF-105 Arrow interceptor, which could fly at more than twice the speed of sound.
3. Elizabeth “Elsie” MacGill, who was the first woman in Canada to receive a degree in electrical engineering, and first in the world to hold a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering and to work as a professional aircraft designer, and
4. The Lazair, a family of twin-engine, high-wing ultralight monoplanes designed by Dale Kramer of Port Colborne, Ontario. Manufactured as kits in Canada between 1979 and 1985, the Lazair is still considered one of the best light aircraft ever made.
The stamps are available at canadapost.ca and at postal outlets across Canada.
