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The $9 stamp (above right) prepays the Same Day rate. It shows a different view of the Ford Island Field Control Tower.

Construction of the 158-foot tall, 15-foot diameter Ford Island Field Control Tower began in early 1941. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941, the tower, built of steel plates and rivets, had not been quite completed yet. At 8:05 a.m. that day, "Air Raid! Pearl Harbor. This is no drill." (see postmark below) was repeatedly broadcast from the tower. It was the first broadcast of the Pearl Harbor attack. The tower was finished in 1942 and painted a single dark color. Later that year, it was repainted with its familiar red and white stripes, as it appears today.

The Ford Island Naval Air Station was decommissioned in 1962, but the control tower was still used for civilian operations at the airfield. Today, the airfield is covered in grass and is only used as an emergency landing field. On September 2nd 2010, the Pacific Aviation Museum, situated close by, signed a lease with the U.S. Navy for the Ford Island Field Control Tower. The date is significant because the same day, 65 years ago in 1945 marked the end of World War II. The Museum plans to spend about $7 million in restoring the landmark. Then part of it will be open to the public for tours.

The $9 minisheet (above) prepays the Same Day rate. It shows a post World War II map of Ford Island. Just inland from where the ferry terminal was located on the island, you can see the control tower marked on the map. The ferry is no longer in operation and was replaced by the Ford Island bridge which opened on April 15th 1998.

The special postmark for this issue depicts a loud speaker blaring the words AIR RAID! PEARL HARBOR THIS IS NO DRILL. This was the first radio announcement of the December 7 1941attack on Pearl Harbor and it was made from the Ford Island Field Control Tower.