On 18 September 1961, Hammarskjöld was en route to negotiate a cease-fire between United Nations Operation in the Congo forces and Katangese troops. His airplane crashed near Ndola, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). Hammarskjöld perished as a result of the crash, as did all of the 15 other passengers.
The circumstances of the crash were never resolved. A 1962 Rhodesian inquiry concluded that pilot error was to blame, while a later UN investigation could not determine the cause of the crash. There is evidence suggesting the plane was shot down. A CIA report claimed the KGB was responsible.
The 10n stamp depicts the air crash.
Details
- Designer: John Waddington of Kirkstall Ltd, Leeds, England
- Printer: The House of Questa
- Process: Lithography (Questa Colour)
- Paper:
- Watermark: None
- Perf: 13.5 x 14 (comb)
- Cylinders: Printed in panes of four and separated by vertical and horizontal gutters. Divided into two panes through vertical gutter for distribution.
- 1A (Cyan) 1A (Yellow) 1A (Magenta) 1A (Black) : 1B (Cyan) 1B (Yellow) 1B (Magenta) 1B (Black) [upper left : lower left]
- 1C (Cyan) 1C (Yellow) 1C (Magenta) 1C : 1D (Cyan) 1D (Yellow) 1D (Magenta) 1D (Black) [bottom left : bottom right]
- Sheet: R5 x 5 (25 stamps)
- Quantity: 277,898 (sold)
