07/24/1969 USA, Apollo 11 AS 506 Manned Lunar Landing

 Cover Pays Tribute to First Moon Landing Mission

On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 was launched.  Four days later, two astronauts landed on the Moon's surface and soon became the first humans to set foot on the Lunar surface.  The following day, the flight home began, and on July 24 the spacecraft splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean.  This cover honors the US Navy Recovery Force that brought the astronauts and their craft safely home.