Name/Title
Australia Patriotic [Cover]Description
Colored cachet by Lannie Smith of Australia to portray “March 17, 1942 — Gen. Douglas MacArthur Arrives In Australia From Corregidor. His First Statement To The Press Was ‘I Shall Return’.”Context
As they went about their daily tasks, Texans on the home front gathered around their radios, eagerly read the daily news, watched newsreels at local movie houses and studied maps of foreign countries to learn the latest about the war overseas. Lannie Smith, of Port Neches, was the oldest of a large family, with five brothers and three sisters. He had a watch making and repair business in Houston and at one time returned to the family home in San Augustine after losing a leg in an accident. During World War II, Lannie produced a limited set of patriotic covers - most with maps or important war events. His artwork is unique with hand painted color on top of printed black and white design. This cover portrays General Douglas MacArthur's escape from the Philippines. On March 11, 1942, General MacArthur and members of his family and staff left the Philippine island of Corregidor, where his forces were surrounded by the Japanese. They traveled in PT boats through stormy seas patrolled by Japanese warships and reached Mindanao two days later. From there, MacArthur and his party flew to Australia in a pair of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, ultimately arriving in Melbourne by train on March 21. In Australia, he declared, "I came through and I shall return".