2006 Winners:

Aerophilatelic Hall of Fame
American Air Mail Society. To honor men and women who have contributed to the accumulation of aerophilatelic knowledge, have worked for a significant number of years to increase interest in the field, and have served successfully for a significant period in aerophilatelic organizations at the national or international level. The names of those honored are inscribed on the Aerophilatelic Hall of Fame plaque at the headquarters of the American Philatelic Society in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Robert E. Lana (U.S.A.)

Dr. Lana is a well-known and respected aerophilatelist. He is especially noted for his deep knowledge and interest in Italian philately, especially the military posts of Sardinia and Italian aerophilately. Dr. Lana was President of the AAMS in 1991-1992, served the Society as a director, and for many years was Chairman of the Publications Committee. He is well known as a regular columnist on Italian philately for Linn’s Stamp News and as the author of the AAMS-published monograph The Mass Flights of Italo Balbo. He has won major awards as an exhibitor. He is an active member of his local and national philatelic societies, having served the Philadelphia National Stamp Exhibition as president and in other roles on its organizing committee. Dr. Lana was the 1999 recipient of the AAMS Walter J. Conrath Award for outstanding service to the AAMS.

Francisco Lemos da Silveira (Portugal)

Francisco was one of the most outstanding aerophilatelists of the twentieth century. He was Vice-President of FISA from 1964 until 1978 and President of the FIP Commission for Aerophilately from 1980 until 1992. He played a major role in the restructuring of the FIP Regulations for the exhibiting of Aerophilately. As an FIP judge he participated in 24 FIP exhibitions, from ESPAÑA 75 through GRANADA 92. He participated in the formation of FEPA and was a Director of that organization. He received the FIP Medal for Service in 1994. He signed the Role of Distinquished Philatelists in 1998.

Captain da Silveira received the AAMS George W. Angers Award in 1988, the Canadian Aerophilatelic Society Award for his contribution to Aerophilately in 1991 and in 1998 he was awarded the highest Civilian Portuguese Award, The Order of Merit, from the President of Portugal for his leadership and contributions to philately in Portugal. He is a member of the Philatelic Academies of Spain and Belgium.