PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS SY'STEM ROUTES 1od SCHEDULES EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1 , 1931

-- February,

OUAYAOUll

ANTOFAGASTA

• ICHlDUUD ST Ofl'S PORT AU ,..IMCE rs O' STOfl'. 9JH. A.HD wtD. lA * DUIUHO WlNTU SlASOH. AUCTION SALE Prize-winning Italian Colonies Air Mail Collection (Silver Medal Fipex, New York 1956)

PROPERTY OF MR. SEBASTIAO AMARAL

Contains, beside other rarieties, 97 items, all possibly unique. FREE CATALOG UPON REQUEST

Please Write Via Air Mail SOCIEDAD FILATEUCA DE MINAS GERAIS Caixa postal 158 Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL

• Jets • Sputniks AIR POST NEW ISSUES • "I. G. Y." • Arctic OF THE ENTIRE Antarctic • WORLD • Expeditions • Rockets • U. N. - N. Y. PAMPHLET UPON REQUEST • Ghana - BEAUTIFUL COVERS - ASK FOR A SELECTION TODAY Nicolas Sanabria Co. Inc. WALTER R. GUTHRIE A. MEDAWAR, PRESIDENT

P. 0. BOX 390 521 Fifth Ave., New York 17, N. Y. TUCSON, ARIZONA

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL The American Air Mail Society ~ J:IJrpa.!!ilT A Non-Profit Corporation Incorporated 1944 1923 .Jaurne11 Organized Under the Laws '\'-,: -,,,,~~.,,,,"""---- .. of Ohio '~ PRESIDENT Official Publication of the Robert W. Murch 9560 Litzinger Road AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY St. Louis 24, Mo. SECRETARY Ruth T. Smith VOL. 32 NO. 5 ISSUE NO. 369 102 Arbor Road Riverton, New Jersey TREASURER John J. Smith Contents for February, 1961 102 Arbor Road .}'Uverton, New Jersey A New Airport for New York? 114 VfCE-PRESIDENTS Joseph L. Eisendrath, Jr. Canada: Unstamped Air Letters 116 Louise S. Hoffman Airport Dedications ...... ··--- 117 Florence L. Kleinert Dr. Southgate Leigh, Jr. Paris Balloon Posts (continued) ...... 118 EDITOR - Other Publications Official Section ...... 121 L. B. Gatchell The Art of Pursuing Crash Covers ...... 122' ATTORNEY Airs of the Month ...... 124 George D. Kingdom Contract Airmail Cover Notes ...... 126 DIRECTOR OF Chapter News ...... 130 FOREIGN ,RELATIONS Dr. Max Kronstein Foreign Airmail Notes ...... 132 AUCTION MANAGER Cities On the Airmail Routes ...... 134 Samuel S. Goldsticker, Jr. Tips By Julius ...... 136 DIRECTORS Legal F·ootnotes to Aviation History .... 138 Alton J. Blank Foreign Pioneer Airpost Flights, 1909-14 140 Herbert Brandner Samuel S. Goldsticker, Jr. A. P. J. Ads ...... Inside Back Cover Lester S. Manning Emmett Peter, Jr. Dr. Tomas Terry Earl H. Wellman Horace D. >Vestbrooks EDITOR ADVANCE BULLETIN SERVICE Herbert Brandner Joseph L. Eisendrafh, Jr. 4038 Forest Ave., Brookfield, ID. 350 No. Deere Park Drive, Hii:-hland Park, ID. ASSISTANT EDITORS SALES MANAGER Herman Kleinert Robert W~ Murch 213 Virginia Ave., Fullerton, Pa. Ernest A. Kehr L. B. Gatchell DEPARTMENT AND ASSOCIATE EDITORS MEMBERSHIP DUES R. Lee Black, N. Pelletier, Florence L. Kleinert $4.00 PER YEAR Dr. Max Kronstein, Richard L. Singley williani Dues include subscription to R. Ware, Julius Weiss, James Wotherspoon John THE AIRPOST JOURNAL. Ap­ Watson, William T. Wynn, Frank Blum~nthal, plicants must furnish two ref­ Samuel S. Goldsticker, Jr., J. S. Langabeer. erences, philatelic preferred. At Published monthly at Albion, Erie Co., Pa., U.S.A. least one must reside in Appli­ Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office cants home town. Applicants at Albion, Pa., February 10, 1932, under under 21 years must be guar­ the Act of March 3, 1879. anteed by Parent or Guardian. The AIRPOST JOURNAL is not conducted for Membership may be terminated profit. The Editor, and all others, serve without by the Society in accordance COI'!lp~nsation. Rece~pts . from advertising, sub• with its By-Laws. scriptions and conµ-1but10ns are applied to the betterment of the magazine and the promotion Correspondence concerning sub­ of aero-philately. scriptions, back numbers and The Editor and Officers of The American Air bound volumes, address changes Mail Society assume no responsibility for the and other matters and all re­ accuracy of statements made by contributors mittances should be sent to the Every effort is made to insure correctness of Treasurer. All general commun­ all articles. ications and advertising should Subscrl:ption Rates: $4.00 per year, 35c per copy. be sent to the Editor. Advertising Rate Card available from the Editor FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 113 A New Airport For New York by Jack Wagner HE New York International/La Guardia/Newark airport terminals handled almost four times as many passengers and two and one-half times as much T cargo in 1958 as .they did IO years previously. In 1965, they will be called upon to handle almost twice the number of passengers and more than twice as much cargo as in 1958. By 1875, passenger traffic will amount to three and one-half times and air cargo four times the 1958 volume. Passengers Tons af Cargo 1948 3,572,000 68,592 1958 13,451,000 ...... 167,917 1965 24,700,000 ...... 390,000 1975 45,300,000 ...... 680,000 In general terms, it is known that these three airports are handling about 15,000,000 passengers a year and are close to their capacity. For the purpose of airport planning, however, !]:ie 'capacity' of an airport is measured in terms of the number of aircraft that can land and take-off in a given period of time. For example, an airport may be able to handlea thousand landings and take-offs on a day when wind and weather conditions are ideal and all available runways can be used. The same airport would be able to handle only a fraction of that traffic on a day when the weather conditions require all aircraft to use the instrument runways and fly by IFR. An airport must be designed on the basis of capacity limited to the number of aircraft that can be handled on its instrument runway( s) under IFR. The design and capacity of an airport is similarly controlled by the number of aircraft that can be handled with safety and efficiency during peak hours and not on the basis of average or slack hours. Thus the standard measure of capacity of any airport is based upon the number of aircraft that can be handled in a peak hour under IFR. La Guardia and Newark Airports each have one instrumel'lt runway with a rated capacity of 40 movements per peak hour. By next month, New York Inter­ national will have a second runway parallel to its instrument runway; 3,000 feet seperation betw~en the two will allow one to be used for landings and one for take-offs at the same time. This will give the airport a total capacity of 70 move­ ments per hour. The one airport not mentioned up to now is Teterboro ( 225,000 landings and take-offs a year), which serves as an essential link in the regional sys­ tem of handling instructional, business and private aircraft. But Teterboro cannot be added to the rated capacity of the regional airport system even though it possesses an instrument runway, ILS, and approach lights. Its instrument runway ( 6-24) is not parallel to the instrument runways at Newark, La Guardia and New York International, all of which are on the 4-22 alignment. This point and other air space limitations result in the fact that Teterboro Airport cannot have instrument approach paths independent of Newark Airport approaches. Teterboro instrument traffic is therefore required to use the Newark Airport approaches; then it is cleared by the Newark tower to proceed to Teterboro. The Port of New York Authority maintains that the present amount of Teterboro instrument traffic has a negligible effect on Newark, but any substantial increase in that traffic would reduce the capacity of Newark. There is no practical way to expand the capacity of La Guardia or Newark Airport. La Guardia covers only 550 acres, all of which is employed. Newark Air­ port with an area of 2,300 acres, would have sufficient land area to accoommodate PAGE 114 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL another runway parallel to and far enough from its existing runway to permit simultaneous operation of the two runways. Such a runway, however, would have to be constructed on the westerly edge of the airport. According to the PNYA, air-_ craft using the runway would create excessive noise problems for neighbouring communities and, as such, would be unacceptable. New York International, as previously indicated, already has a dual runway system and its capacity therefore cannot be expanded. The case for a new airport in the metropolitan New Jersey-New York area is over-riding. Only with additional runway facilities can the region handle a future demand for capacity above 150 aircraft movements an hour. To determine whether the demand would exceed that figure, it is necessary to transpose the passenger traffic forecasts from passengers per year to peak hour demand. Forecast inference for the New Jersey-New York area indicates that the best estimate of future peak hour demand is as follows: 1965-169 movements per peak hour; 1975-over 200 movements per peak hour. The airport proposed by the PNYA would handle long­ range domestic flights in addition to those using the New York International. A medium-sized airport requires two runways and/or the prevailing direction of flow of air traffic, and a second runway, roughly at right angles to the instrument runway, for use during the period when there is a strong cross wind on the principal runway. Both La Guardia and Newark are in this category. A major airport, which needs additional runway capacity, should have a second set of runways parallel to the first two strips with a minimum of 3,000 feet between the instrument runway and the one parallel to it. New York International has such runways. In order to provide for an additional peak hour capacity of at least 70 air­ craft movements, it would be necessary for the new major airport to have four run­ ways-and, in the Port Authority's opinion, these runways should be at least 12,000 feet in length. After assessing many factors, the most attractive site, in the opinion of the Authority, is one in an area of New Jersey called the great Swamp (due west of Newark Airport). This site is within relative easy access to the metropolitan areas of New Jersey and New York City. The role of each airport in the enlarged system would be as follows: AIRPORT PRIMARY ROLE OTHER TRAFFIC New York All international flights (pas­ Medium-haul and domestic International ...... sengers and cargo). Long-haul flights. Short-haul domestic domestic passenger flights. flights. Few corporate and private aircraft. La Guardia ···----····· Short-haul domestic passengers. Corporate and private air­ craft. Newark ...... Medium - haul domestic pas­ Corporate and private air­ sengers. Short-haul domestic craft. passengers. Domestic cargo flights. Teterboro Instructional flying. Corporate and private aircraft. New Airport ...... Long~haul domestic passengers. Short-haul domestic pas- Medium - haul domestic pas- sengers. Few corporate and sengers. private aircraft. There appears to be little doubt that a new airport will eventually be con­ structed but the 'when' and 'where' will form the subject of controversy for a con­ siderable time to come. -From SHELL AVIATION NEWS - April 1960 FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 115 Canada: Unstamped Air Letters By H. M. Daggett

Collectors of the postal stationery of •~~ ~~•. Canada are generally aware that the Canda Post Office Department issued unstamped air letter forms for a number of years before the first air letters were made available late in 1947. According to Nelson Bond (in his book The Postal Stationery of Canada), these unstamped forms were first issued on June 15, 1942. When first issued, the use of these forms was restricted to correspondence to mem­ bers of the armed forces, but later these forms were used, postage had to be paid through the use of postage stamps. There are a number of varieties of these un­ stamped air letters, differing in many re­ first entered the aerogramme field with spects. unstamped forms which were given out It is probably not realized that most of free from all post offices. The aero­ the various types of stamped air letters (or gramme with a postage stamp impression aerogrammes) that have been issued since commenced [sicJ in 1947. As the supplies 1947 were also available without the post­ of free aerogrammes became depleted, age stamp impression: The writer first be­ the demand for these forms from com­ came aware of this when I read the fol­ mercial firms increased. Originally those lowing notice published in the Post Of­ inquiring about unstamped aerogrammes fice Weekly Bulletin of May 14, 1960: were referred to the printing firm that held the contract for the manufacture of UNSTAMPED AEROGRAtVIMES : For aerogrammes for the Government. This many years the Department has sold aer­ printing firm would sell unstamped forms ogramme forms printed without the ten­ in lots of 1000. cent postage stamp impression. These When the cw·rent design aerogramme forms are sold only in lots of 1000. The was introduced in 1953, the Post office organizations buying these forms usually Department accepted many thousands have their name and §tddress printed on without postage stamp impressions and. the form. When the form is to be mailed sold them to commercial firms in lots of ten cents in postage stamps is affixed to 1000. The commercial firms had their the form, or the postage is prepaid by corner card printed in the return ad­ means of a postage meter impression. dressed portion of their letterheads in the Supplies of unstamped forms of the inside. These stampless aerogrammes have 1 newly designed aerogramme will be a­ been sold ever since and the present vailable from 4 July, and will sell for $8.78 charge is $8.78 per 1000 forms. We emp­ per thousand. These forms will not be hasize that these forms at present are not stocked by the Postage Stamp Depots, sold singly. and patrons interested in procuring them The current d esign of the unstamped are to be ad vised to forward their orders aerogramme form is out of stock and to the Postage Stamp Division, Financial new supplies in the new design will not Branch, Ottawa 4, Ontario. be available until 4 July. In response to a letter asking for fur­ ther information about the issuing of It would appear from the above that these unstamped aerogrammes, I received most, if not all, of the various types of the following reply dated June 8. The air letters ( aero grammes) issued since, italic type is the writers. 1947 were available in unstamped form. It should be noted that these unstamped During the second world war, Canada forms were sold by the manufactur- PAGE 116 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL ers until the Canadian Bank Note Com­ Airport Dedications pany took over the contract in 1953, when the Post Office Department began By WILLIAM T. WYNN selling them. 13537 Rockdale, Detroit 23, Mich. If any members of the Society have The following list will bring up-to-date any of these unstamped air letters in the listings in recent Airpost Journals as their collections, I should appreciate it we have them. We always welcome if they would let me know, for I would news or anything that will make our like to get together a check list of these records more up-to-date, so kindly send items. Incidentally, I have purchased in any news avai1able. some of those issued on July 4, and will May 22: Abilene, Texas (150) make copies available at 6 cents for one June 26: Turner Falls reported to be a copy or five for lOc postpaid. Please ad­ dedication, seems to be from all re­ dress your request to me at 4078 West ports a new landing strip only 37th Avenue, Vancouver 13, B.C. Aug. 6: Corpus Christi, Texas, Interna­ tional; two cachets used but alike; one (Reproduced with permission from BNA is printed, the other rubber stamp. Topics, October, 1960.) (HOO) Covers of Aug. 7 are too late; ded. was 6th only. THE SALES MANAGER SAYS: Aug. 7: West Point, Miss. McCharen; sticker cachet (130) Our last article brought in lots of nice Aug. 8: Huntingburg, Ind. Mun. (203) material. Now is YOUR opportunity to Aug. 19: Fort Worth, Texas, Heliport. add to your collection if you are inter­ (150) ested in any of the following types of Aug. 14: Forest City, Ia. Mun. covers: Aug. 14: Hartley, La. Lamberth. (230) A beautiful stock of FAM covers from Aug. 14: Morrisville, Vt. State. ( 315) 1927 to date, a very large variety since July 23: West Milford, N. J. Mun. (few) this material is the result of breaking up Aug. 28: Ozark, Ala. Blackwell. ( 300) three collections. Some nice Zeppelin Sept. ll: Wadsworth, Ohio. Mun. (246) covers including covers with U.S. Cl3 to Sept. 11: Abbeville, Ala. Cl5 stamps and also covers with all the Sept. 18: N. Little Rock, Ark., runway Zepp stamps of Germany. Early Phil­ only. ippine flights, mainly from the Brugge­ Sept. 18: Crawfordsville, Ind. Roscoe man collection, some rare items included Turner. ( 150) of which only a few exist. Ah, but you Sept. 19: Waveland, Ind., same airport collect Jets! Well, good. A very fine but local PO closed on Sunday. ( 50) variety of these is also available, includ­ Sept. 18: Marshalltown, Ia. ( 58) ing many different from Europe at very Sept. 25: Rochester, Minn. Official op­ attractive prices. Collect air mail first ening. (few) days? A very nice lot of these is on hand Sept. 27: Flora, Ill. Mun. ( 35) from most all of the world. Early flights Aug. 6: Shipshewana, Ind. is OK, but of Australia, New Zealand, Papua, New no covers known. Guinea, etc.? All of these plus many, Oct. 8: Lumberton, N. J. Cameron. many more are represented in our stock, Oct. 9: Gulf Shores, Ala. Ft. Morgan, which is truly the finest we've ever had paved runway. to date. Oct. 2: Frankfort, Ind. Clinton Co. No covers known. If you are not receiving circuits at Oct. 14: Jacksonville, Fla. Towers, NAS. present, why not send in that printed Cct. 16: Boone, la. runway only. request form right now? If you can't Oct. 23: Rock Hill, S. C. Mun. (50) find it, a letter will do. Who knows but The editor of this column will hold you may be agreeably surprised at what your cards for dedication news and will we might send you? Just write Herman put in one of your self-addressed covers Kleinert, 213 Virginia Ave., Fullerton, each as he sends out his own. There is Penna. no charge for this service. FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 117 Balloon Post 0£ The Siege 0£ Paris, 1870-71 By LOUIS A. CHAINTRIER Translated by DR. EVERETTE. THOMPSON and GEORGE W. ANGERS Chapter 28 - General Uhrich

In memory of Jean Jacques Alexis • very unfavorable abnospheric conditions Uhrich, French general, born at Phals- since the preceding day, as a very heavy bourg in 1802, died at Paris in 1886. He fine rain was falling without cessation. commanded the 6th Division at Stras- it would be entirely impossible to choose bourg at the time of the invesbnent a landing place. Consequently he re­ (August 10, 1870) and fought there 48 quested the departure be postponed. days (capitulation Sept. 28, 1870). After These observations appeared to be well­ having been received with praise by the founded; those in charge of the North Government of the National Defense Station sent a courier to the General (Delegation of Tours, October, 1870) he Headquarters to report, but he answered was later the object of severe criti- that it was nevertheless necessary to de­ cism for not having defended Stras- part; so there was nothing to do except bourg until his forces were exhausted. obey. The 26th balloon post was sponsored Up to this time the departure of the by the Telegraph Deparbnent. It con- balloons was announced through items tained 2000 cubic meters and its en- in the newspapers but from the in­ velope was of yellow silk on which the auguration of the nightly schedule, this glaze was not completely dry. It was procedure was changed. The day of piloted by Louis Lemoine, Sr., a me- ascenscion was carefully concealed ex­ chanic by profession, 53 years old. He cept to a very small number of privileged hal already made successful ascensions persons. in the course of public festivals, the Th ce scion of the "General Uh- . t . 'th h" e as n ma1or par m compan)'. Wl is son ric" had as witnesses only some official Eugene who was the pilot of the 43d representatives and one reporter from balloon. the "Gaulois" journal. The passengers were: ( 1) Prosper The departure took place from the Thomas, pigeon fancier, who was going North Station on Friday, November 18, to Tours to devote himself to the ser- 1870, at 11: 15 p.m. in a fine heavy rain vice of the carrier pigeons; (2) Joseph and without the slightest puff of wind. Bienbar; (3) M. Jean Chapouil - these The balloon disappeared in the wink last two, officers of the volunteers com- of an eye in the darkness caused by the missioned to go and place themselves fine rain. at the disposal of the Delegation at Mr. Thomas reported to a corres­ Tours as messengers with the mission pondent of the Journal "Le Siecle" on of returning to Paris through the invest- his arrival at Tours that the quantity ment lines. of rain that fell from the clouds was so The postal shipment comprised of: great that the top of the balloon, yield­ ( 1) two sacks of dispatches weighing ing under the weight, formed a reser­ a total of 80 kilograms ; ( 2) four bas- voir or pool, and the water passing kets containing 34 pigeons of which 10 through the valve fell, as in a spout on belonged to Mr. Begue, 4 to Mr. Lau- the unhappy travelers who remained in rent, 8 to Mr. Vauris, 7 to Mr. Cassiers, that condition for almost seven hours 2 to Mr. Caillat, and 3 to Mr. Prosper under this flood without being able to Derouard. Among tl1ese pigeons were protect themselves from it. Garton Tis­ prize winners in the Ruffec tournament sandier informs us that the voyage ac­ from which some had already returned complished by this balloon was very re­ to Paris. We know from Wilfrid de markable; in fact the travelers had re­ Tonvielle that when Lemoine arrived to mained almost nine hours in the bal­ carry out the preparations for the de- loon, to come down only a few leagues parture he observed that because of from Paris. They believed they crossed PAGE 118 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL over Paris several times during tlhe only a bundle of cloth at his feet. night, and this was possible because of It was 8 a.m. and a very thick fog opposing aerial currents superposed at covered the ground. At this moment the different altitudes. travelers caught sight of a peasant a Lemoine is supposed to have known of few meters away looking at them. the backward and forward motion and to This fellow stood as if petrified by have favored it, for he was so certain the surprise of seeing French uniforms in of not making any distance at all; also a region the enemy had occupied for he was naturally not sure of getting more than a month and where courier far from Paris and consequently of not service and military convoys were per­ ·being able to determine his point of fectly organized. ped to freezing the liquid mass on the The newcomer had the appearance ocean. of being more disposed to run away than Toward 6 a.m. the temperature drop" to approach, but he soon recovered him­ ped to freezing the liquid mass on the self and when he was made to under­ top of the balloon and caused the pas­ stand that it was a question of saving sengers cruel distress. the equipment and dispatches of a bal­ At 7 o'clock, the appendages and the loon, the envelope of which lay flat, he ropes of the "General Urich" were put himself at the disposal of the en­ subjected to so low a temperature that voys of the National Defense with an un­ the mist was condensed into hoar frost diminishing devotion. which by 7:30 had visibly increased. The man, by name Grimbert, was bill At 7:45, as the descent was increas­ sticker and gardener of Mr. Pique, a ing and it would have been necessary in bailiff in Luzarches, who was guarding order to keep in flight to sacrifice a for his absent patron his country home part of the postal consignment; al­ situated a short distance from Tremblais though Lemoine had the right to do Forest, in the immediate vicinity of this, he was not easily resigned to this which the "General Uhrich" had de­ last resort. scended. The place of the landing is At this moment the sun began to ap­ between the Tremblais Forest and the pear from the east, which allowed the Parois Forest at 1800 meters (about pilot to determine that he was near the one mile) to the west of Luzarches ground and the mist extended down to (Dept. Seine et Oise) and only SS kilo­ the fields. Through the thick veil sur­ meters ( 201h miles) from Paris by rounding him he nevertheless recognized crow's flight. a large number of objects of the kind so The duration of the aerial voyage was common in the environs of Paris. thus 8% hours and the average speed Under these circumstances Lemoine, was 3% kilometers per hour. yielding to the request of his passengers The town was occupied by a strong literally benumbed by the cold, seized Bavarian detachment, which had estab­ the valve cord which he had to use all lished lookouts and had barricaded the his strength to pull, as it was wedged entrance from t11e Paris side while set­ in by the frost. He was unable to close ting up an inspection post there. Thanks it again with the result that a wild de­ to the fog everything was satisfactory scent followed, such that the basket but it was necessary to act with care struck the earth with violence. M. J. and speed; the first step was to give the Chapouil was thrown out on the grou~d two volunteer peasants' clothes. A re­ without serious injury. Although it was lative of Grimbert named Lejean offered lightened by the weight of one man, the to guide them by a path where they had balloon rebounded only slightly and soon the best chance of avoiding enemy sank down. As there was not the slightest patrols. ground breeze, Lemoine leaped out of On November 24 Biembar and Cha­ the basket while telling his two com­ pouil were in Tours. panions to follow his example, and then Grimbert, aided by six residents, a­ seizing the balloon covering that was mong whom were Messrs. Varinois and still floating he opened it up with one Cornet, together with Lemoine and cut of his knife. In an instant there was Thomas, hid the balloon in a thicket in FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 119 the Tremblais Forest in such a way that NEW PROP-JET FRIENDSHIPS it would not be seen by the Germans ORDERED which would have brought disastrous The latest Fokker Friendship order has .consequences for this region. In fact, come from the Sudan, whose Republican the enemy, had they been informed of Government has ordered three of these the descent by this undeniable evidence, propjet airliners for the Sudan Airways. would have searched homes, imposed a This country thus becomes the first on fine on the town of Luzarches, and sent the African Continent to operate the some of the inhabitants to the forts on Friendship, delivery of which is sched~ the other side of the Rhine. uled for 1961. The pressurized 305 Finally they brought in succession to m. p.h. Friendships, which cruise well the home of Mr. Pique the balloon above the hot and turbulent air layers cordages and basket, but it was still over the desert, are ideally suited for necessary to save what was most im­ the network of Sudan Airways, which portant of all - the official dispatches, operates not only within its own terri­ the letters and the pigeons, as well as tory, but also to Aden, Ethiopia, Saudi the aeronaut and the pigeon specialist. Arabia, Uganda, the Lebanon and the United Arab Republic. With the new AEROGRAMMES aircraft the Company may now be ex­ pected to expand its network not only Union of South Africa. 6d. Lion in Africa but also to the Middle East. Aerogramme with error of in­ The new order brings the total of F-27 scription (1959). Friendships sold all over the world to From figures released by the Publicity 168 aircraft. Althou~h a very new entry Officer, Department of Posts and Tele­ into the field of commercial aviation, the graphs, it would appear that only 50,400 115 F-27's now flying have already ac­ of these "error" sheets were put on sale cumulated about 250,000 flying hours. as compared with 3,924,000 of the issue immediately preceding it. 6d. Lion Aerogramme - Two-Fold AIR POST STAMPS Format. Are Frequently Offered The companion sheet to the Aero­ gramme, with dark blue printing on IN OUR GENERAL SALES white paper with gray overlay, which was first reported as being on sale on Fully Illustrated, the 29th April, 1960, has now made it~ appearance. The issue is identical in all accurately described respects evcept that the language ar­ auction catalogues, gratis. rangement has ·been changed to Afri­ kaans/English/French. The earliest re­ ported date of this issue was 8th June, 1960. And when you -::ome to sell, write Unfranked Aerogramme - Two-Fold for our booklet, "Modern Methods Format. of Philatelic Auctioneering", ex­ The new Aerogramme form, with Afrikaans texts first, but withont the im­ plaining clearly all the advantages printed 6d. Lion stamp, was put on sale at the end of May, 1960. Being pri­ of selling through marily intended for use with a ls. ad­ hesive stamp to defray postage to the H. R. HARMER, Inc. Americas, Australasia and the Far East, the form does not 'bear an inscription on The 'Caspary• Auctioneers the back regarding limitation of use. 6 West 48th St., New York 36. N.Y. (From the South African Philatelist) PAGE 120 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL OFFICIAL SECTION AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCLETY MONTHLY REPORT. From the Secretary Ruth T. Smith, 102 Arbor Road, Riverton, New Jersey February l, 1961 NEW MEMBERS J4800 Hoffman, David, 840 Andalusia Ave., Coral Gables 34, Fla. 4801 Lanky, Alfred, 156-15 71st Ave., Flushing 67, N. Y. 4802 Emerson, Gertrude M., (Mrs.), 21 Shaw Rd., Wellesley Hills 81, Mass. 4803 Field, John c. W., % F. J. Field, Ltd., Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, England 4804 Hare, Irving H., Col. (USAF Ret'd.), 167 Dolphin Rd., Palm Beach, Fla. 4805 Garzon, Richard, 4116 Edgemere Ct., Indianapolis 5, Ind. N·EW APPLICATIONS Feinberg, Samuel, 79 E. Alvard S., Springfield 8, Mass. Exterminator. Age 48. AM AU U20 UC X By: R. T. Smith Love, Stanley H., Box 782, Riviera Beach, Fla. Boat Yard Worker, Age 43. AU U20 CAM CF ID X By: R. T. Smith Anning, Herbert D., 1708 Ensley Ave., Los Angeles 24, Cal. Investments, Age 58 · By: R. T. Smith Hosford, Arthur, Jr., 211 Pearl St., Reading, Mass. Clerk. Age 47. GF CAM FAM Z GF X By: G. D. Kingdom DECEASED 4708 Pfeif, Ruth, Boston, Mass. 3896 Beech, Wm. W., Philadelphia, Pa. CHANGE OF ADDRESS 4124 Butler, Alfred M., Central Hotel, St. Petersburg, Fla. 2161 Hershey, Owen, 2 N. Broad St., Lititz, Pa. 2695 Smith, Joseph A., Field Service Officer, Rm. 1149, Main PO., Chicago 100, Ill. 4629 McLean, Charles, 941 Beach Dr., Seaside, Oregon 3561 Hester, Keith (Dr.), 103 N. Pendleton, Newport News, Va. LM82 Becken,'Carl M., 528 Hennepin Ave., Rm. 605, Minneapolis 3, Minn. 4710 Hamlin, Charles L., Rt. #7, Allen Road, Macon, Ga. LM39 Long, Elmer R., 22 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, Penna.

Thanks To- Henry Goodkind for a souvenir bro­ chure of first day 7 c airmail coil stamp; Eastern Air Lines, for a first flight Mex­ Aeronaves de Mexico, S. A., for first DC8 ico City - New York, with new stamps; flight Mexico City to New York; Werner Werner C. Kuemmelberg for many Euro­ Kuemmelberg for first flight cover via pean first day and first flight covers; Austrian Airlines, Vienna to Rome; Saad John Taylor for a first day cover new El-Chichini, Chief Philatelic Office, British Europa bicolors and the new ex­ perimental aerogramme; John Boesman Qantas Empire Airways, Ltd., for a for a first Israel balloon cover; John Wat­ cover of Qantas Aeriana; Robert W. son, a 40-year commemorative QANTAS Murch - Rocky Run local post cover; Ju­ Australian aerogramme; John and Ruth lius Weiss - FDC Echo One; Aeronaves Smith a first day 7c air mail coil stamp; de Mexico, S. A. - first flight by jet, Ernest A. Kehr an FDC from the Efi­ Mexico to New York City; Alfredo Saav­ mayo exhibition in Argentina. edra - first day cover Rotary stamp issue of Chile; Adm. Jesse Johnson - FDC The Egyptian Philatelic Department Dulles issue; John Watson - Queensland for stamps and first day cover of the Stamp Centenary FDC; Kurt John Weiss UAR stamps commemorating UN anni­ - first flight jet between Guatemala and versary. Los Angeles; Jim Langabeer - first day with the beautiful New Zealand Christ­ United Arab Republic for a new Nubia mas stamp; Howard A. Brooks and the and Palestine stamps; I'Agencie Phila­ Irish Airlines for a set of the first flights telique de la Republique de Guinee for of the jet between Ireland and New York first day cover new Olympic Games stamps; G. Lindman for first flight cover and return; Joachim Dill - flight cover from Kiruna, Lappland, north of the Arc­ carried by Lufthansa from the Rome tic Circle. Olympic Games. FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 121 The Art of Pursuing Crash Covers By Jos. L. ·Eisendraih, Jr. HEN a plane crashes, generally among the first governmental officials on the scene is a post office inspector. It is his duty to care for what­ W ever mail was aboard the aircraft, to recover it if it is scattered around and to arrange to have it sent on to its destination, if possible, by the quickest way. If the mail is scattered over a wide area, it's his responsibility, to organize search teams to recover it. If any is found, generally it's damaged by fire, water, grease or exposure, and he must put what he finds back into mailable condition. If there is no appreciable damage, the mail often moves on with no further markings. If the time between scheduled arrival at destination and eventual forwarding of the delayed mail is great, then he usually indicates the reason for the delay by means of a rubber stamp cachet on the envelope. If the envelope is pretty messy, charred, or watersoaked, he often prepares a mimeographed slip of explanation which is placed with the envelope inside a government "penalty" envelope, which must be addressed the same as the recovered envelope, and which is sent on. If the address is undecipherable or missing, the recovered piece of mail is sent back to the sender, if his address appears somewhere in the letter or envelope; otherwise the mail is undeliverable and is sent to the dead letter section of the post office (probably in Washington) where, if it is unclaimed after a specific time, it is destroyed. Col­ lectors cannot get such mail so recovered - they must obtain it from the eventual addressee or from the sender - or from the people to whom sender or receiver may have given it. Well, then, how do you get crash covers, I'm often asked. That's the fascina­ tion of collecting such elusive mail. Standard procedure might be such as happened as a result of the crash at Midway Airport here in Chicago in November, 1959. Living in the Chicago area I heard the news on the radio right after it happened. I knew no Chicago mail was on the plane, as it had just taken off from the airport here, bound for the West Coast. I soon learned that a lot of mail was recovered intact and forwarded without appreciable delay and probably with no markings. In the evening papers I saw a picture of soldiers picking up burned mail and I realized it would take some time to process it. Finding that the plane had been bound for Los Angeles, I called our advertising agency to arrange to place an ad in the Sunday paper in Los Angeles in the "Per­ sonal" columns, offering to buy these covers. The crash occurred on Tuesday; by Sunday, I reasoned, most of the mail would finally have been delivered. The Tuesday after publication I received a checking copy of my ad, and noted with dismay that it had appeared under "Stamps and Coins" -and I figured my money had gone down the drain. But within a week, (bless the power of adver­ tising), I had received 13 covers from my ad-and they continued to drift in for a month afterwards. Many times I've advertised with no results. My living is made primarily through dealing with banking institutions. Large banks have a mail room or department, and many of my crash covers have come as a result of having alerted mail room employees to watch for this material. As you build up your collection dealers get to know your specialties, and many a cover in my collection has come from a dealer who remembered. People have recalled my "morbid" collecting-and many friends have contributed covers from their own mail. I even have five crash covers, addressed to me-received in my own mail. Many philatelic publications carry interesting stories on the recovery of such mail, and frequently I have traded or purchased covers from the owners featured in the PAGE 122 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL publication. Then, too, every once in a while I write a story such as this, and some reader will write to see if I'd be interested in one which he owns. I run ads in stamp papers, I get covers in circuits, I've actually fished them out of wastepaper baskets, I've been on televison with my hobby and I've purchased four collections to get certain ite~s I've needed, and frequently have sold off the balance. Maybe you can think of some other ways! I'd be grateful if you'd write me. Once having the covers, then comes the problem of housing and mounting them. I tried many ways before I came up with a satisfactory system. I have accumulated newspaper and magazine clippings for years. These encompass acci­ dents all around the world and are accompanied by photos, letters, official C.A.B. reports, and original press photographs. This means that if today, for example, I acquire a 1939 cover, chances are that I have the material to document it. I use special transparent acetate envelopes, linen hinged, mounted in albums with three­ inch ring binders. These envelopes are large enough to display an 8~ x 11 letter­ head. I mount the cover and clippings on both sides of a gray sheet, and if there are markings on the back of the envelope, cut away the gray sheet so that they can be seen both front and back. I embellish the set up with headlines and a map showing where the interruption took place. If the pilot lived-and some of them do-I've tried to get his autograph on my cover. When the whole thing is put to­ gether, the story is pretty complete. Being loose leaf, and fully protected by the acetate envelope, these can be passed around when giving a talk about them. I know of one or two collections about the size of mine (I have about 600 different accidents represented-with perhaps 100 to 150 duplicates for trading). Most every cover collector has one or two such covers but too few go out to build a collection of this specialty. The Society's American Air Mail Catalogue has a special section listing cataloguing th~se items, which is kept up to date with sup­ plementary listings in the Airpost Joumal. Remember me when you get one! I'll gladly tell you all I know about your cover. (This article originally appeared in the Western Stamp Collector.)

IN MEMORIAM orate the flight. He designed and pre­ pared the labels and the covers for Stephen Hector Smith, late Honorary their proper use. Member of the American Air Mail When rocket mail was born, he con~ Society. structed rockets and started them. He On February 14 1961 Stephen Smith carried out the greatest one man cam­ would have had his 70th birthday. The paign for rocketry in his distant country next day is the tenth anniversary of his and again he did it all by himself, from death. This unusual aerophilatelist not the design and the building of the rock­ only established aerophilately in his ets to the design and preparing of the country as a field of collecting but stamps and covers. He interested people actually created it by his own active like Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, the work. During the period when the early founders of the Boy Scouts and the Girl pioneers of long distance flights arrived Scouts and the Maharajah of Sikkim, in India from all parts of the world to deep in the mountain world of the Hima­ continue their flights to all ends of the lajah to start his rockets. He had friends earth he contacted each of them him­ around the world and many in this self, offered them the hospitality of his country and so we remember him again house, and instructed them how to carry at this anniversary. and redespatch the covers to commem- Dr. M. Kronstein FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 123 Airs of the Month Described and Illustrated through courtesy of Nicholas Sanabria Co.• Inc. 521 Fifth Avenue, New York 17, N. Y.

BOLIVIA: Variegated set of uniform design marks the work of the Rotary Inter­ national Club for the Children's Hospital ( #251-4) CHILE: Commemorating South American Conference of Rotary International at Santiago ( #282) GUATEMALA: Lincoln Centenary set, a limited issue ( # 283-5) Commemorating the opening of the Unesco building in Paris ( #286-9) HAITI: #139 and #140 have been overprinted for air parcel post use. Only 8,000 of the 5G value were overprinted. ( #239-240) Dessalines type of #140 issued in new value and color ( #241) Commemo:rating 15th anniversary of United Nations ( #242-3) Small imperforate souvenir sheet completes the set ( #244) LIBERIA: Stamp centenary ( #186) Scarce sheet with marginal inscription completes set ( # 187 ) PANAMA: Inauguration of Jet Air Service ( #292-4) PAGE 124 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL ROMANIA: New definitive value (#158) SOMALIA: Charity single depicts leopard ( #55) 1960 Rome Olympics set ( #56-7) URUGUAY: Change of values in Winged Victory series (#232-8) VENEZUELA: !30th anniversary of the death of Gen. Jose de Sucre THE PHILATELIC STORY OF FLIGHT by Frank R. Gracey

After the first successful flight across the channel by the Frenchman, Blanchard, his countryman, de Rozier, tried the same trip in a double balloon, a hydrogen balloon above, a fire balloon below. Part way across the balloons burst into flames and de Rozier was killed. In the same year, 1785, a young Italian, the Chevalier Vincent Lunardi, made the first ascension in England. The Duke de Chartres in a balloon of this sort, fitted with oars and a rudder, made an ascent in 1784. The opening through which gas could escape became closed by an air bag inside. The balloon began to swell, but the duke, with his sword, gashed the envelope and prevented a tragic explosion.

WE NEED AUCTION MATERIAL! hobby by these generous donations. Thanks in advance! For many years, at our annual conven­ P. S. Sam says he needs airmail tion, we have held donation auctions of stamps, in particular (but he'll take any­ aerophilatelic material. All proceeds go thing). either to the general fund or the Society's catalogue fund. In the past the Society LUPOSTA WIEN 1961 has counted heavily on contributions to this auction by members, and those in On May 14 - 21, 1961 an Inter­ attendance have always been very gen­ national Airpost Exhibition will be held erous in their bids. The results have in Vienna, Austria, under the auspices proved a financial success. of the international FISA organization. We need your donated material again The exhibition is called LUPOSTA this year and we hope you'll be generous. VIENNA 1961, after the first Luposta in It isn't exactly a tax-saving proposition Danzig in 1932. to you however. The goodness of your The exhibition will display airpost heart will determine your contributions, stamps as well as flown covers and air­ and they are not tax deductible. Please, post stationary and there will be a sec­ though, no material. that would not real­ tion for airpost literature, There will be ize at least $2.00 at auction. Can you special airpost flights on this occasion. get this material to us by March 7th? For additional information write to Send it to: Samuel S. Goldsticker, Jr., Bundesverband Osterr. Briefmarkensam­ 70-D Fremont Street, Bloomfield, N. J. mler-Vereitie/L U P 0 S T A Wien VIII, You're helping yourself and your J osefstadter Strabe 3, Austria, FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 125 !'~~~l~'Il ~~i~~\: :>-..

By William R. Ware. P.O. Box 595, Malden, Mo.

NEWS- • In the Piedmont Local Service Case Recent decisions by the CAB involve progress is being made toward a final an extension of LAKE CENTRAL'S decision. It appears that present service Route #88 from Terre Haute, Indiana to by CAPITAL AIRLINES between Nor­ Evansville, Indiana. In a supplemental folk, Va., and Knoxville. Tenn., via opinion in the Southeastern Area Local Rocky Mount, Raleigh, Durham, High Service Case, Route #98 flown by Point, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Char­ SOUTHERN AIRWAYS has been award­ lotte and Ashville, N. C., will be trans­ ed additional service in Tennessee. Jack­ ferred to Route #87 flown by PIED­ son, Tennessee has been awarded for ser­ MONT AVIATION, INC. vice by this carrier on a new segment AM ROUTE #14 - ADDITION OF between Memphis and Nashville. Since WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.: This city SOUTHERN presently serves Memphis had the distinction of two inaugurals on and Nashville, the addition of Jackson Jan. 15, 1960 at which time it was add­ will simply amount to the addition of an ed to Capital Airlines' Route #14 and immediate point between Memphis and also Delta's Route #54. Nashville. Still another segment of At the time of the inaugural flight of Route #98 has been awarded to West Palm Beach to Route #14 on Jan. SOUTHERN which will operate between 15, 1960, this city was served by this Memphis and Nashville via Clarksville, route by Southbound flights terminating Paris, Union City and Dyersburg, Ten­ and Northbound flights originating at nessee. As is the case with Jackson, the West Palm Beach. Therefore, there was addition of the new cities to this route no Southbound flight on the inaugural will simply amount to intermediate cities date, all mail being flown Northbound being added between Memphis and via Flight #702, Capt. W. M. Lively. Nashville. In connection with this ser­ This flight handled 722 pcs of philatelic vice, it will be recalled that the exten­ mail and 348 pcs of non-philatelic mail. sion of Route #98 by SOUTHERN A blue official cachet was used in the from Nashville via Knoxville to Bristol, same design as previously for the expan­ Va.-Tenn. - Kingsport-Johnson City, Ten­ sion of tl1is route in Florida. First flight nesseee, has been held up through court mail was postmarked at 3:30 PM, Jan. action by SOUTHEASTERN AVIA­ 15th, and was backstamped at Buffalo, TION, INC. It is understood that the N. Y., AMF at 2 AM, Jan. 16th. Court with jurisdiction in this proceed­ AM ROUTE #54 - ADDITION OF ing has affirmed the Board's decision in WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.: Delta awarding this additional service to Airlines also embraced this city on Jan. SOUTHERN but its formal opinion has 15, 1960, the inaugural flights being not been issued. made with DC-7 equipment. PAGE 126 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL Capt. Edmund W. Thomas command­ Bristol Bay area of Alaska for a number ed Northbound flight #504 which hand­ of years, handling mail from some ten or led 2656 pcs of philatelic mail postmark­ twelve post offices on a Star Route basis. ed at 7 AM, Jan. 15th, and subsequently On February 28, 1960, this carrier in­ backstamped at Chicago Midway AMF augurated service between Dillingham at 2 PM, same date. The inaugural and King Salmon which had been certi­ Southbound flight was made by Capt. fied and designated as Route AM #143 W. F. Williams. There were 1317 pcs for regular air mail service. Inaugural of mail postmarked at 7 :30 PM, back­ flight #1 from Dillingham and flight #2 stamped at Miami AMF at 11 PM, same from King Salmon to Dillingham were date of Jan. 15tl1. Official cachet in pur­ made by Captains Myron S. Moran and ple of the same design as previously for John F. Ball operating two sections on the expansion of this route in Florida each flight. Due to two craft being op­ was applied. This cachet erroneously erated on each flight, it is impossible to carries designation "AM-8" although ser­ assign first flight mail to either pilot. We vice is actually by Route #54, Delta op­ have no information as to the number of erating both routes. pieces of mail flown on the inaugural Although not connected with inau­ flights of this service. However, the De­ gural service at West Palm Beach, we partment recognized this service with of­ cannot refrain from mentioning the un­ ficial cachets for each office, magenta at timely death of this pilot at Atlanta on King Salmon and blue at Dillingham, May 23rd, while on a training flight with showing sketch of points served by West­ a Convair 880 Jet. Capt. Williams with ern Alaska and featuring a salmon fish. other crew members were being instruct­ AM ROUTE #77F - EXTENSION ed in the handling of the new equipment SPOKANE TO CALGARY, ALBERTA: ,being received by Delta and immediately Although designated as Route AM 77F after take-off The craft crashed, resulting (foreign) for service outside of U. S. in the death of Capt. Williams and other Territory, service to Calgary is actually crew members. Following the inaugural provided by an extension of Route #77 flight at West Palm Beach, we had cor­ flown by West Coast Airlines, Inc. respondence with Capt. Williams and Capt. Patrick E. O'Grady was in found him very cooperative. charge of inaugural flight #738 from AM ROUTE #87 - ADDITION OF Spokane to Calgary, and also made the STAUNTON, VA.: This city was added inaugural flight #735 from Calgary to to the Washington - Ashville segment of Spokane handling a total of 5106 pcs of Route #87 flown by Piedmont Aviation, mail of which approximately 40 pcs were Inc., on Feb. 1, 1960. dispatched from Calgary AMF. It is Inaugural Northbound flight #380 as thought that a large part of the dispatch well as the inaugural Southbound flight from Calgary was commercial mail. Most #317 was made by Capt. J. E. Pierce. collectors were not aware of the fact that Flight #380 carried 3596 pcs of phila­ the Canadian Post Office Department telic mail postmarked at Staunton at 7 maintained an AMF office at Calgary AM, Feb. 1st, and backstamped at Wash­ which no doubt accounted for the small ington AMF at 9:30 AM, same date, dispatch from that office. We have no while 600 pcs of mail of which 372 were record of the amount dispatched from reported as philatelic were dispatched Spokane and Spokane AMF via the first via Southbound flight #317. This mail flight of this service to Calgary. How­ was postmarked at 10:30 AM and was ever, this mail was favored with an of­ backstamped at Roanoke, Va., at 1:30 ficial green cachet at Spokane and pur­ PM, same date. Official green cachet ple at Spokane AMF. A number of first was put on mail originating at Staunton., flight covers from Calgary received an It was usual map and shield design show­ attractive black cachet furnished through ing map of Virginia. the courtesy o_f the Calgary Philatelic As­ AM ROUTE #143 - DILLINGHAM sociation. This was neatly applied and TO KING SALMON, ALASKA : This reminded us of the attractive cachets route is operated by Western Alaska Air­ formerly used by our neighbor to the lines, Inc., which has operated in the North. FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 127 THE DEPARTMENT STORE OF PHILATELY May We Delp You? Action in Auctions

Regardless of whether you are buying or For more than a quarter of a century we selling, you will likely find The Depart· have held monthly Mail Auction Sales ment Store of Philately ahie and willing whereby fine and unusual philatelic ma­ terial is sold by mail to collectors and to help you. dealers in all parts of the world. If you Your inquiries coupled with your A.A.M.S. receive our catalogs, he sure to send your membership number will he welcomed. hid sheet in the current auction. If you do not receive these catalogs monthly, ask A large and varied stock of stamps, seals for the current one! and covers will he found as close to you as your mailbox. A complete line of albums, These auctions contain almost anything catalogs and supplements is maintained in philatelic, ranging from rarities to entire the Elbe, Scott, Minkus and White Ace collections and accumulations. Every sale features a special section on COVERS, line. You may send your orders for usually running into several hundred sep­ prompt attention: all orders of $2.00 or arate lots. This may he a grand oppor­ more sent Postfree anywhere in The U.S.A. tunity for you, whether you are buying or Interesting covers are always available on selling! approval. As you know, you can't buy covers from a price list! You'll find un­ There is always plenty of action in a Long usual and even unique covers in Long's Sale! All bidding is done via mail and if stock, available to you on approval on you're interested, we will he glad to hear request. Write today! from you!

Life Member: 22 ~ORTH 2~D S'lro, AAMS APS IELMIEIR lllo L~G IHA\RRISIBUURG, ][» A\o SPA

PAGE 128 THE MRPOST JOURNAL FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 129 A.A.M.S. Chapter News By FLORENCE KLEINERT 213 Virginia Avenue, Fuller:ton. Pa, The chapters report Christmas parties, • Community House. It was a very suc- banquets, auctions, stamp shows and cessful and unusual exhibit with 1200 election of new officers. collectors visiting the show. On December 14th, an election of Allen:town Philatelic Society, #29 1961 officers was held, reports Mrs. H. At the November 15th meeting, Earl H. Oetjen, Secretary, 13 E. Hickory St., L. Apfelbaum, Philadelphia stamp deal­ Hinsdale, Illinois. er, spoke on "The Ethics of Stamp Deal­ ing'', at the Y.M.C.A., Centre Square, Jack Knight Air Mail Society, #23 Allentown, Pa. Several frames of stamps Earl H. Wellman, Secretary, writes were displayed. Refreshments were serv­ that 30 Junior members visited the ed. Suburban Collectors' Stamp Exhibit on Our annual Christmas Party was held November 20th at Hinsdale, Illinois. on December 13th at the Y.M.C.A. A November 25th, Roger Swanson show­ program of colored scenic films, door ed "His Iceland Airmails" at the Hotel prizes, Christmas carols and refreshments La Salle, Chicago, Illinois. were the highlights for this party, ac­ Joseph Jancek discussed "The Cham­ cording to Herman Kleinert, President. pions of Liberty Series" at the Brookfield Charles F. Duran:t Air Mail Society. Recreation Comillission Building, in #28 Brookfield, Illinois, on December 18th. This chapter held their annual ban­ The Fourth "COMPEX" will take quet at the Callahan Restaurant in Troy, place during the Memorial Day holiday, N. Y. Special guests were the members' May 27-29, 1961 at the Hotel La Salle. wives to see William Blaun's "Slides of "Intra Hemispheric Solidarity" will be His European Trip", according to Wil­ the theme for "COMPEX 1961". liam J. Franke, Secretary, 56 Excelsior "COMPEX" officers are as follows: Ave., Troy, N. Y. • Dr. James J. Matejka, .President; Roger Motor City Air Mail Society, #11 A. Swanson, Vice President; Howard J. Bliss R. Bowman, Secretary, 8191 Selzer, Secretary, and Earl H. Wellman, Chatham, Detroit 39, Mich., invites all Treasurer, from Jack Knight Air Mail air mail collectors to visit their monthly Society. Ben Reeves will be Honorary meetings at members' homes. Chairman, Frank Kovarik, Directory Ed­ Please contact the secretary for future itor, and John F. Matschinegg, Exhibi­ meetings. tion Chairman. Minnesota Stamp Club, #26 Write to COMPEX, 216 Hotel La bn November 22nd, the annual auc­ Salle, Chicago 2, Illinoiis for further tion took place, and an election of offi­ show and bourse information. cers was held. 1961 officers will be: Metropolitan Air Mail Cover Club, Walter P. Koch, President; Keith Mo­ #31 berg, Vice Prnsident; J. H. Weisenber­ Harold J. Frankel, President, 6201 Bay ger, Secretary, 5200 37th Ave., So., Min­ Parkway, Brooklyn 4, N. Y., writes about neapolis 17, Minnesota; and H. V. Payne, their November 11th Club Benefit Treasurer. Auction at the Willkie Memorial Build­ On December 27th, the various mem­ ing, 20 W. 40th St., New York City. bers gave fifteen-minute talks on their Air mail collectors are invited to write stamps and cover collections. for a free copy of their "M.A.A.C. Bul­ This chapter welcomes stamp collect­ letin'', from Miss E. Anne Britney, Cor­ ors to attend their monthly meetings. responding Secretary, 322 77th St., Suburban Collectors Club, #30 North Bergen, N. J. Please send a Their Stamp Exhibition was held on stamped envelope for the bulletin. November 19th and 20th at the Hinsdale For their November issue, a special PAGE 130 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL bulletin was sent to the members, "In SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES TO THE Memoriam" for Gus F. Lancaster who IIAIRPOST FLIGHTS ON THE was Recording Secretary and co-editor RHIN,E AND MAIN" 1912 of their bulletin. Gus Lancaster was hit by an automobile on November 14th Since the report on these flights was and passed away on November 28, 1960. published in the October, 1960 issue of He was a fine member of the American the Airpost Journal collectors have asked Air Mail Society and the Metropolitan for a few additional listings. Air Mail Cover Club, and will be missed a) 'The Dates of the Zeppelin Post by your societies. Flights of This Airpost Event: Please extend my best wishes for the The mail flights took place on June New Year to all chapters. 12, 13, 17, 18 and 19, 1912. On these flights the airship carried the official UP! UP! UP! flag of the German Reichspost. At the $9,200 Paid for 24c Airmail 'Invert' official end of the "airpost week" a con­ A New England collector paid $9,200 siderable amount of mail was still on for a sheet-margin copy of the U.S. 24c hand, with the airpost cancellation, but inverted center airmail stamp of 1918 in not yet flown by the airship. Although the recent auction of the T. Charlton an additional Zeppelin flight took place Henry Collection of U. S. stamps held on June 27 and the airship still carried by the New York auction house of Har­ the flag of the Reichspost, no new mail mer, Rooke & Co., Inc. T·he entire sev­ was accepted that day. en-album collection realized $132,000. Therefore the cards dated after the The previous record for this popular June 19 flights could have been flown rarity, $6,400, was paid last January in a on this last post flight. The airship New York auction by an anonymous col­ crashed the next day and the flag of the lector. postal administration was still on board and was lost that day .

b) The Dates of the Flight of the Yellow Hound Although the report gave quite spe­ cific dates, collectors have requested a specific listing of the dates. Here it is: The post flights took place on June 10, June 11, June 17, and June 22, 1912. Since the agreement between the postal authorities and the organizers of the air­ post week provided that each item which carried the airpost cancellation had to be flown before it was to be delivered, cards which did not reach the above airplane In the Henry sale, bidding on the fa­ flights were finally flown by airship. mous invert started with a book bid of The cards did not receive special mark­ $7,750, leaving the Scott price of $7,000 ings when this change in the means of well behind. The book bid was tele­ air transportation was made. phoned by a midwestern collector. Two - Dr. Max Kronstein floor bidders ran it up to $9,000. One of these, Herbert L. Shapiro, a collector at Beach Haven Park N. J., bid $9,100, and was topped by the New Englander. Gordon Harmer, who conducted the sale, pointed out that $9,200 is the sec­ ond highest price ever paid for a single airmail stamp. The "Black Honduras" (Scott #Cl2) was sold for $11,500 in a 1957 Harmer Rooke auction. FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 131 F. A. M. N 0 T E S by Frank H. Blumenthal - 3040 Idaho Ave.. N. W. Washington 16, D.C •

Perhaps the flood of jet inaugurations • Mexican agreement. Pan American ask- in 1960 was responsible for the paucity ed for immediate authority to fly from . . . Miami to Merida and Mexico City, but of new F.A.M. services. At this bme the CAB instead ordered a hearing on all there seems little prospect that the situ- requests for new routes, which was held ation will improve from the point of in December. Service to Mexico from view of the FAM collector. Tampa or St. Petersburg is also em­ braced by the agreement, and Eastern The inauguration of service between Airlines has put in a bid for this. An San Antonio, Texas, and Mexico City by American cargo mail line, Aerovia's Sud Braniff Airways (FAM 34) was made Americana, may also fly from Miami and possible by the comprehensive bilateral Tampa to Merida, Cozumel and beyond. agreement between the U.S. and Mexico " " " in August. Braniff had been certificated With no advance notice, Eastern Air­ 'by the Civil Aeronautics Board for this lines added Northern cities to its F.A.M. service more than ten years ago but lack 29 which flies from the continent to San of Mexican approval had held up actual Juan, Puerto Rico. Hitherto service has flights. The inauguration took place on been from New York and Miami, as well November 9 from San Antonio, when the as a short-lived service from Chicago Post Office (this' city has no AMF) dis­ (see below), and it is not definite that patched 5049 pieces to Mexico City. An the addition of continental cities ordin­ attractive magenta cachet showing part arily part of domestic routes should be of the flags of the two countries was ap­ considered listable under an F.A.M. plied, and covers were postmarked at Route. If the Puerto Rico route were 1 p.m. at San Antonio but not back­ being inaugurated today it would prob­ stamped. They were, however, given the ably be designated as a domestic route, return flight cachet· in blue and appar­ but since it originated as an FAM it ently flown back on the first flight from probably will be continued as such. Mexico. The regular return flight covers were posbnarked ·at Mexico City on No­ The Eastern inaugurals took place on vember 10 at 12 :noon and backstamped September 2 when a flight originating at at San Antonio .five~ and a half hours Detroit, stopping at Cleveland and Pitts­ later. The blue (!achet was the same as burgh, went to San Juan without calling the San Antonio, cachet except for the at any previous gateway city. 137 covers substitution of Spanish in the inscription. were dispatched from Detroit Post Office and AMF combined, 61 covers from the Braniff's service does not start at San Cleveland P.O. (no quantities from AMF Antonio but at Minneapolis - St. Paul, with stops at Kansas City and Dallas. recorded), and 142 from the Pittsburgh However, these three cities are part of AMF ( no covers were mailed at the Braniff's domestic route and are not de­ P.O.). San Juan sent covers to all three signated as "gateway" cities qualifying points on September 3; it is known that for FAM listing. Collectors attempted to dispatch covers from all three and as 68 went to Detroit. All covers are back­ far as is known, only Minneapolis and stamped but not cacheted. St. Paul accepted them. The latter cov­ 'At the same time a direct flight from ers were duly flown without cachet, backstamped, and sent back on the first Chicago to San Juan was started, but it flight from Mexico after receiving the now appears that this was merely a re­ blue cachet. They are not eligible for sumption of a service inaugurated June listing. 4, 1958, which was overlooked in pre­ Other Mexican mutes will undoubted­ paring the catalogue. Eastern also sched­ ly be certificated as the result of the uled a flight from Chicago, making stops PAGE 132 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL at Indianapolis, Atlanta, St. Petersburg BOOK REVIEW and Miami before going on to San Juan, but since Miami is the gateway city INTERPHILA 1961 - International (and previously served), the other cities Directory of Philately do not list. In this connection, it may be Edited by Lothar Kruger, published observed that if Detroit and Cleveland by Hermann Rathmann, Marburg/Lahn, are listed on the flight which left the P.O.B. 150, West Germany. Price: $1.50. U.S. at Pittsburgh (the gateway city), it This directory contains approximately will be only because they were first 5,000 addresses of collectors, dealers, served at the same time. This may seem, clubs and associations, magazines and and probably is, inconsistent with the collectors' services. It is completely re­ treatment of Braniff's domestic points on vised annually, prior to publication, to the Mexico flight. This is a difficult insure that the contents are up to date. problem which will have to be solved Code tables, remarks, headings and when catalogue time comes around. It prefaces are printed in ten major lan­ arises, of course, primarily because some guages, thus giving it practically univers­ airlines are both domestic and foreign al usage. There are 208 pages and a and have combined the two types of two-color cover. Collectors and dealers services on one single-plane flight. interested in international exchange, or

0 " business associations, can make good use Pan American Airways started FA~ [ of this book. (and jet) service from Baltimore - Wash­ "Interphila" can be obtained from ington to Paris on June 18, through Stamp Procurement, Service, 129 - 2B Friendship Airport (nearer Baltimore Willow Spring Roa~ , B"altimore 22, Md. than Washington) which is capable of taking jets. This flight stops at ew York but postai recognition was accorded FIRST 11961 EDITION this flight, partly because it was a new I jet service and apparently partly because Pan American is exclusively a foreign· carrier. The Baltimore Post Office dis­ UNITED patched 3060 covers (there is no AMF), the Washington Post Office 2445 pieces and the AMF 2019 pieces. Cachets were black at Baltimore, blue at the Wash­ STATES ington PO and magenta at AMF. All covers were backstamped at Paris on the 19th at 9:30 P.M. An undetermined STAMPS ~ number of covers made the return flight, all backstamped at Baltimore. Flight 160 Pages • Nearly 2000 Illustrations officers were Holman and Anderson. Brand new edition of America's most widely used U.S. & B.N.A. Catalog - published by The airline's November schedules the world's largest stamp firm. A complete show that this flight was extended at this illustrated listing of all major U.S. issues, time to Rome and points beyond, termin­ U.S. Possessions, and British North America, ating in Baghdad. Although covers from including up-to-the-minute prices. Also spe­ this extension would probably qualify cialties, Confederate States, United Nations, for listing, none yet at hand. "Americana", etc. PLUS: The U.S. Stamp " " Identifier .. : .a comprehensive illustrated Correction: In reporting on South Pa­ book let which enables you quickly to distin­ cific Airlines' new service to Tahiti (see guish between rare and common " look-a like " APJ, Aug. '60), the FAM route number stamps. All this and ~ was erroneously printed as number 4. more, in one BIG volume! ~ ¢ The correct number is 40. Incidentally, Send for your copy NOW! ~ 1 since October the airline's planes have -H. E. HARRIS & co.· been flying directly to Tahiti since the airfield there has been completed. Catalog Dept., Boston 17, Mass. FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 133 Cities on the Airmail Routes By James A, McNally

#4 Si. LOUIS, MO. • ment, St. Louis, like Pittsburgh in pre­ Recently, on a vacation trip I had an vious years, became the starting point opportunity to stay over in St. Louis, for hundreds traveling to the west and Mo., and naturally, I utilized this period northwest in search of new frontiers. to obtain some historical facts and back­ With the steady growth in population, ground for this series. industry began to flourish and mail, re­ St. Louis, Mo., located, as it is, in gardless of its fee or means of trans­ almost the center of these United States, portation, also made its mark - for this was sure to become the heart of the city, from 1823 to 1850 moved in r~nk nation's trade and transportation system. among the other cities of tl1e nation, I wonder if the Indians of the Sauk, Fox, from 44th to 20th position; the main Peoria, and Osage tribes, who lived in reason for tl1is advance was the change this area and certainly started the traf­ from water traffic to the railroad as a fic lanes that were later to be used by means of transportation. The effect of the horse, train, bus, and the airplane, the railroad in this area's economy in ever dreamed what they were creating. those days is comparable to the same Over the space of a century, St. Louis effect air travel has today. As the popu­ has changed from a fur trading village lation of St. Louis soared to about to a metropolis of approximately two mil­ 90,000 in 1910, it was only natural that lion people and the Indian footpaths some faster means of communication and are now highways and airlanes. travel be developed, Walter Brookins The first delivery of mail to St. Louis, must of had this in mind when he at­ Mo., was probably from overseas in the tempted his delivery of mail by air on 17th century and addressed to some of October 4, 1911. The next airmail de­ the white settlers located in this region livery was on June 17, 1919, by the about where the foot of Walnut St., is U. S. Navy - this time from Chicago, Ill. today. Other groups from France fol­ While the Navy was normally stationed lowed over the next decade and enlarged at New Orleans, La., it volunteered to the settlement or moved on to discover fly the full length of the Mississippi other places. The first recorded mail River deadhead to carry the mail from dispatch to St. Louis was on February Chicago. The first experimental air route 14, 17 46, from Fort Charles, fifty miles was opened by the United States Govern­ down the Mississippi River, requesting ment in August 16, 1920, but it was the purchase of some furs and other suspended in less than a year because commodities. The area laid in a great of the lack of equipment. wilderness which meant many things St. Louis' industrial advancement had to be brought from France to be helped it become a most important re­ used as barter. tail center as new homes appeared all The area around St. Louis was origi­ over the suburban area. Accordingly, be­ nally settled by the French about 1730 cause the economy of this region is to be followed by others from Spain and widely diversified, agriculture played a England---all three vied for control. The prominent role, especially, with crops of city was named to honor the reigning wheat, corn, and barley. The Post Office French King. The people, mcstly of Department had records of all this when Catholic faith, erected a church which it arranged the airmail routes following still stands today, completely surrounded the passage of the Kelly Act in 1925; for by commercial activity. Spain followed St. Louis was made the terminal point France in authority as ruler, The authori­ for Airmail Contract #2 when it was ty went back to France on Napoleon's re­ leased Robinson Aircraft Corp., for ser­ turn to power, and later it all went to the vice from Chicago, Ill., on April 15, 1926, United States in tl1e Louisiana Purchase. and when this carrier was permitted to With control in the hands of our govern- extend its service from St. Louis to P AGE 134 'THE AIRPOST JOURNAL Omaha, Neb., over C.A.M. #28. St. lines, and Slick Airlines in the field of Louis was so important that it became freight. the base for the introduction of airmail St. Louis, today, stands among the flights by night. Another carrier - Inter­ leaders in the field of transportation, cul­ state Airlines moved into St. Louis on ture, the arts, and recreational facili­ December l, 1928, via C.A.M. #30. ties. Airmail has a great future in St. Its big advance in airmail history came Louis, Mo. on October 25, 1930, when it was made part of the transcontinental route flown KLM INCREASES SERVICE by the Maddox Airline. From then on, as the city grew, airmail moved with it. In KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has in­ 1931, C.A.M. #2 was extended to Mem­ creased its trans-Atlantinc jet service be­ phis, Tenn., Eastern Air Lines made St. tween New York and Amsterdam to two Louis its terminal for A.M. #47 in 1940; daily round trips. so did Mid-Continent Airlines a month This brings the Dutch airline's number later with A.M. #48. Trans World Air­ of round trips per week up to 31. lines moved in on August 15, 1942, with Of these 31 flights, 28 are between A.M. #58. New York and Amsterdam with 14 to be The Second World War made most made in Douglas DC-8 intercontinental · big cities grow in trade because of the jets and 14 in Douglas DC-7C propeller advantages of their transportation facili­ aircraft. ties; consequently, many military bases The remaining three round trips are were located nearby. St. Louis had, be­ on the Houston, Texas - Amsterdam run. sides its good highways in and around the Two of these flights are made in the city, railroads and air transportation, and DC-8s and the other one in a DC-7C. the double advantage of water trans­ This is the only direct air service be­ portation. It is only reasonable to believe tween Texas and Europe. that when the conflict was over, this city was certainly to put its good fortune INTERNATIONAL GESTURE to use. BRINGS FLIGHT COVERS During the post-war years the Post TO MEMBERS Office Deparment had began experi­ menting with local or feeder air trans­ If you received a first flight jet cover portation of mail to and from the smaller from Mexico City to New York via Aer­ communities. Among the carriers used onaves de Mexico air lines (and most was Parks Air Lines - which was award­ members did get one), it was through ed a certificate to carry airmail from the thoughtfulness of the Sociedad Fil­ Chicago to St. Louis, via a number of atelica de Mexico and its Secretary, Jack communities enroute. Because of lack of M. Verrey. The suggestion that this be financial stability on the part of the air­ done came from our good friends south line the award was nullified and trans­ of the border, who feel that much good­ ferred to Ozark Air Lines. From St. will between our two nations can be Louis as its base of operation Ozark engendered by such activity. now feeds airmail to and from this ter­ They would possibly welcome an ex­ minal to approximately fifty local stat­ change service between individual mem­ ions. bers of both societies. There are numer­ A shining example of St. Louis' climb ous Mexicon first flights frequently, as to air transportation prominence is Lam­ well as first day Mexican Air Mail cov­ bert Field, its municipal airport. At a cost ers. If of interest, to any member, please of nearly eight million dollars it is ready contact Mr. Verrey at Apartado Postal to handle efficiently, with the most No. 21,386, Mexico 7, D. F. modern facilities, all the freight, cargo, The editor has a few of these covers and airmail that would pass through its intended for people no longer members terminal. Lambert Field is served by of the A.A.M.S. If you'd like to have five trunklines - American, Trans-World, one, send us a #10-sized self-addressed Eastern, Delta, and Braniff and by two stamped envelope. We'll supply them as feeder carriers - Ozark and Central Air- long as we have them. FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 135 TIPS BY JULIUS By JULIUS WEISS 502 E. 18Sih St., Cleveland 19, Ohio Braniff recently made history with a • Delta issued covers for its "End of an first from San Antonio to Mexico City. Era" flight of the great DC3. Delta The USA dispatch of November 9 has a used this plane from December 23, 1940 violet cachet reading "Inaugural Air Mail to October 29, 1960.. Flight - Braniff International Airways - We begin a new feature in this col­ USA - Mexico City". This is backstamp­ umn. From time to time we receive let­ ed at Mexico City with a blue cachet ters asking about various airmail stamp showing the map of USA and Mexico. enthusiasts. We intend to tell about col­ Mexico used the same cachet for the first lectors, pilots, writers who do much for dispatch from Mexico City, posted on our hobby. We wish to hear from you Nov. 10. with names of those whom you feel we Aeronaves de Mexico, S. A., of Mex­ should profile. We do not care as to ico had a first jet flight on November 20, age, sex, or length of collecting. Merely using a special red cacheted envelope drop us a note giving name, address and - showing their emblem with a sketch of a brief bit of information, or if there is a a DC-8B jet. Cover is backstamped at collector, writer or enthusiast you wish New York, Nov. 20, 1960. us to write about, please submit his or January, 1961, saw Lufthansa, Ger­ her name, address or membership num­ many Airlines extend its routes to Hong ber. People must be members of AAMS. Kong and Tokyo via 707 Boeing jets. This is the only rule, as profiles will be The twice-weekly flights services Rome, about AAMS members only. Cairo, Dhahren, Karachi and Calcutta. We will also use these profiles in October 3 saw Air France and Japan some of our columns in the philatelic Air Lines make a Boeing 707 jet first press. Many readers of the world phila­ from "Hamburg - Tokio". The P.O. telic press are interested in flight covers, used a special violet cachet on Oct. 3. airmail stamps, airmail stationery, rocket The item is backstamped at Tokyo on items, Zepps and most every aerophila­ October 5, 1960. telic phase of our hobby. KLM (Dutch) flew the DC8 into Ja­ At the year's end we shall honor whom pan recently, and on Oct. 20 flew from we feel has contributed most for our Tokyo to Amsterdam. A special brown hobby during the year. This could be a cachet showing a jet plus a map showing collector, a collection, a society (branch Tokyo and Amsterdam was used by Jap­ of AAMS or a foreign airmail group), anese P. 0., as well as a green cachet airmail stationery collector, a dealer, a showing the KLM emblem plus a DC8 philatelic writer or someone whom we craft, a new egg-shaped cachet about an feel has contributed most during the inch in length. There was also a dis­ year 1961. patch from Manila, which we have not We hope to make this the yearly high­ seen. Tokyo to Manila dispatch is back­ light of "Tips by Julius". Needless to stamped, "Oct. 21, Air Mail Recd - Man­ say, this will not be an AAMS opinion, ila, Philippines". but merely the opinion of Julius Weiss. We have suggested that readers watch Since we start off the new brainchild some of the world refugee airmails. Some with this issue, we wish to mention the of these are quite high in price today. member of AAMS who in our opinion If you took our tip you now have some contributed most to our hobby in 1960. elusive items; we understand the hottest The honor must go to a man, who is of the airmails are the two red over­ also selected by editors of several major prints which went on sale in Lebanon. hobby publications. One man in this These may turn out to be some of the world of ours has been unselfish and has most elusive airmail overprints of this aided collectors obtain material from all year. Other refugee airmails are quite parts of the globe, thanks to his refresh­ high, mainly souvenir sheets. ing news. He has spent many hours of PAGE 136 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL time, without pay, as well as money out of his own pocket in order to have some philatelic mail serviced by an interna­ tional Glaciological Expedition in Green­ land. Few collectors know that when the first Polar flight from Frankfurt to Cali­ fornia took place in October, 1958 a special cachet was proposed by this great philatelist. TWA confirmed the proposal and thousands of covers arrived at Fra11kfurt, to be cacheted by TWA­ this due to one of our fellow members. Many of the major weekly stamp jour­ nals contain his "by-lines". This man who has contributed so much to the aero­ philatelic world is JOACHIM DILL of Bad Neustadt/ Fraenk, Saale, W est Ger­ ·many. Mr. Dill (member 4725), living in Western Germany, suffered from t:he pangs of World War IL Things were hard on him for many years, yet he has never ceased trying to bring about good­ father's brewery. From 1955, at his will through stamps, covers and the like. father's death, he and his brother have His news items appear in journals from managed the brewery. In 1959 the firm Britain to Hong Kong. Many of us have reached t·he point where it produced seen his first flight covers in various more beer than before the war. philatelic shows. He has also done much Joachim is president of Bad Neustadt for first day covers, ship cancels, and Aero Club, vice president of Volkshoch­ Polar items as well. schule (People's High School) and is He spends time and money for news known to airline public relations folks in tips from many parts of the globe. He all parts of the globe . . does not keep things secret (you will note, most writers mention things when We thank Joachim Dill for his efforts they are past); not Dill, for in his col­ to bring us news of the airlines of the umns in the majo.i: German stamp jour­ world. al, Deutsche Zeitung fore Briefmarken­ kunde, he gives much advance news, Fellow members, send u your choice telling where to procure items. for the person you would like to see in Born on May 16, 1913, in Germany, profile. young Dill dabbled with newspaper writing, for he is a journalist at heart. JAMES ERROLL BOYD He read Hans Dominik's story about a newsboy who became a great editor; An Associated Press report of Nov. 27 this led him to writing news stories for says that the man who flew the first gov­ several German newspapers. He left ernment mail between the United States newspaper work in 1937 when he enter­ and Europe died Nov. 27th while visit­ ed Wuerzburg University, but the guns ing in Sharon, Conn. He was James Er­ went off in 1939 and Dill became a sol­ roll Boyd, 69, who logged more than dier in the Germany army. 9,000 hours during a 42-year flying ca­ After the war things were bad for Jo­ reer. Boyd had lived at Pompano Beach, achirn; food was scarce and to obtain it Fla., for the past 10 years. In the 1920s he built artcraft materials. Stamp col­ he flew the famed plane, Miss Columbia> lecting was out of t:he question. His and made the first non-stop flights be­ holdings were lost in the war and after tween New York and Bermuda and be­ much hardship Dill went to work at his tween New York and Haiti. FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 137 Legal Footnotes to Aviation History By Nicholas Shymko

Prior to the advent of heavier-than- • with her husband, sued the park owner air craft with an accompanying crop of for damages in respect of injuries sus­ new causes of legal action, many suits tained. arose from injuries to spectators at bal- In the lower courts there was a ver­ loon ascensions .in amusement parks, of diet for the plaintiffs but on appeal by which the following is typical. the defendant, this was reversed on the In 1898 one Joseph P. Smith had leas- ground that Hanna being an independ­ ed a tract of land near Baltimore, Mary- ent contractor, Smith as his employer land, and had converted it into an was not responsible "for such negligence amusement park with bowling alleys, as is entirely collateral to and not a shooting galleries and a restaurant, as probable consequence of the work con­ well as fireworks, acrobatic performances tracted for." and other features. These attractions The judgment of the learned Justice were extensively advertised and drew reads in part as follows: from 1000 to 1500 people on weekdays "The accident in this case is not at­ and three times that number on Sunday. tributable, to any defect in the plan of No admission fee was charged. ascension, nor to anything growing out Among other features designed to at- of what was intended or likely to occur tract visitors were balloon ascensions by in the usual process of sending up the an experienced and competent balloonist balloon. The cause of it, the record named Hanna who had an agreement shows, was proved to be as follows; 'On with Smith to "furnish and pay for the the afternoon of the accident, August 29, material and appliances used in making 1895, the balloon was in the process of the ascensions, and in addition thereto, inflation, and the two supporting poles to employ and pay for all of the men re- were in position, when a violent thun­ quired to conduct the ascensions." Smith der gust came up and so disarranged was to have no part to perform except to the balloon as to cause it to veer over, furnish the field, pay the price and name and permit a supporting pole to fall to the hour for ascensions. the ground, delaying the ascension but The method of ascension was that causing no injury. In order to get ready usually adopted: Two poles of proper for a new inflation of the balloon after height were first erected, and maintained the thunder gust ceased, it became in position by guy lines. A rope passed necessary to re-erect the fallen pole. A from the top of one pole to the top of carpenter's horse was placed under it at the other and from this by means of a convenient stages to support it in the ele­ loop, the balloon was left in position vation. When the top of the pole was while being inflated. When it was in- at a height variously estimated from six flated, the rope was loosened from one or eight inches to five or six feet higher of the poles, and allowed to slip over than the horse it fell striking the horse the top of the balloon, thus releasing it. in its descent, which it probably upset When the rope over the balloon, (called and slid or bounded to the ground. As the "ridge rope") is loosened, one of the it struck the ground it either fell or poles falls to the ground. A guard rope bounded on the heel of the plaintiff intended to keep the people off, is causing the injury complained of." placed around the balloon enclosing a "It is not contended there was any­ space in the shape of a lid of a coffin so thing in the sending up of the balloon, that if the pole did not fall at the prop- or in the needed equipment for such an er angle it would fall outside the space. event, that created concealed dangers On the day in question the pole fell from which it became the duty of the without causing injury but while being proprietor to shield the careless or un­ re-erected it fell again, striking a car- wary by the exercise of extraordinary penter's horse and bouncing off, struck precautions; and there is nothing in the one Mrs. Mary Benick who, together record to show that in the appointed and PAGE 138 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL usual method of ascen. ion there was as the Graf Zeppelin flight around the anything dangerous to persons using world and the flight to the Arctic in reasonable care. It is clear, however, 1931. On May 6, 1937 he was in com­ from the admitted facts, that Mrs. Benick mand of the "Hindenburg" at the Lake­ received her injury in consequence of hurst crash and was injured seriously. circumstances which did not involve the He was a very friendly and good na­ safety of the ordinary method. The tured person and a good friend of the poles had fallen without damage, and airship mail collectors all over the world. the operator then introduced of his own During the years of the "Graf Zeppelin" accord, without the knowledge of the he was in ·charge of the mail services. appellant, a new appliance not contem­ That Zeppelin mail was handled properly plated by the usual method-that is, a in all parts of the world, was mainly his carpenter's horse-and certainly not with­ work. in any consent or agency of the appel­ This illustration was made during lant. If it was careless to make use of those years, a a Zeppelin officer, when the horse, or if Hanna or his agents were the airship landed in Karlsruhe, Ger­ guilty of carelessness in the manner in many on November 9, 1930. The writer which it was used, the appellant cannot accompanied his young daughter at the be held liable; it being shown that Han­ landing fi eld, where she was a flower­ na was an independent contractor." girl to greet the airship crew. The offi­ cer at the window to the right is the IN MEMORIAM late Captain Flemming. Max Pruss is at the middle window in a characteristic Captain Max Pruss po ·e of tho days. (Am. Air Mail Cata­ From Germany comes word of the logue 1950, p 909, No. Z-B-8) death of Captain Max Pruss, one of the After th e econd World War he did early pionee of the Zeppelin Airship . not abandon his belief in the develop­ During the first World War he was an ment of th e airship as a helium filled active Zeppelin Officer. After the war ship and eventuall y to operate with he continued hi airship activity and was nuclear power. He expected that this one of the officers of the "Los Angeles" airship would carry 200 passengers. at its transfer to Lakehurst in 1924. For With his death we feel the period of about a year he remained in the U. S. as Count Zeppelin and his followers is ac­ instructor to the American crew. tually coming to and end. His old In the years of the regular transatlan­ frie11ds and th e collectors all over the tic Zeppelin ervices he participated in world will always remember l\fax Pruss. about 170 transatlantic crossing as well -Dr. Max Kronstein

FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 139 ·Foreign Pioneer Airpost Flights 1909-1914 A. THE PIONEER AIRSTAMPS OF THE WORLD 0909 - 1914) THE FINAL GROUP OF PIONE,ER AIRSTAMPS IN SWITZERLAND, 1913 By Dr. Max Krons:tein

During the preceding period of airpost• flights for the Swiss National Aviation Collection, Oskar Bider had been the most frequent airpost pilot, although Charles Favre, Emile Taddeoli, and Attilio Maffei carried mail. Later in the year Bider became more occupied with military activities and was reported to have gone to foreign airplane factories to become familiar with newer developments. He was reported to have undergone training in Berlin on the Rumpler "Taube" (or dove). Late in October he purchased for himself a new French airplane. But he was no longer seen quite as frequently at domestic aviation days or as a mail pilot. Another young aviator, Theodor Barrer of Solothurn, was the mail pilot of the last airpost events with special airstamp, in 1913. His life as an aviator was very short. He earned his pilot license in Rheims, France, on June 3, 1913 and was killed in an air crash in Basle on March 22, 1914. Thus he appeared for only a short time at the air meetings of Switzerland. On August 3 Borrer left Rheims, France for Switzerland. He flew a Pennier­ Hanriot monoplane and Monsieur Labarre, the chief pilot of the Hanriot factory, accompanied him as a passenger. His goal was his home town Solothurn. The first 350 km ( 217) miles) all went well. But at Lure, near Belfort, Alsace, he was forced to make an emergency landng. The next day, the aviators proceeded into Switzerland, but made a second landing at Delemont. This is not a large city, but it provided the required mechanical assistance and its wide valley between pro­ tecting hills offered a good landing gronud, before crossing the Jura Mou11tains for the destination at Solothurn. This last leg of the trip was made in August 5. A week later he made a passenger flight to the national capital in Berne where he received an invitation by the Army authorities to participate as a ~tary aviator in the coming Fall Maneuvers of the Army. On the return flight to Solothum he

PAGE 140 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL again made an emergency landing, at Deitingen, but returned to Solothurn by air later that day. A few days later he participated in the Air Meeting of his home town at Solothurn. ' I. The Airstamp of Solothurn, August 17, l913 ('The Tenth Swiss Airstamp) The Solothurn airstamp was issued for the Solothum air meeting and the special post-flight of this occasion. This stamp showed the old city church of Solo­ thurn and in the background the mountain chains of the Jury, one of these, the Weissenstein, the actual destination of the post flight. The stamp was brown in various color shades, usually a deep brown lake, but it exists in a lighter shade and in chocolate-brown shade, all on white paper, and perforated 12. Some imperforated stamps are known. There are also some double impressions, which are rarely found today. It is surprising that the number of the mint stamps has never been released. But the fact, that it was printed in sheets of 50 ( 5xl0), makes it probably that quite a few were printed. Since only about 1700 were sold on the occasio~, the stamp few have been printed. Since only about 1700 were sold on the occasion, the stamp is found most frequently in a mint state rather than on flown card. To make it easy for the spectators at the airfield to use the special cards, issued for this flight, the cards were sold at the aviation ground with the airstamp attached and with a 5 centimes postage stamp for the redespatch. All the sender had to do was to write and to address the card and to post it for the air despatch. The post office used a special air cancellation in Solothurn. This circular violet cancellation had the inscription "Schweizer Flug-Post - (no date) - Solothurn­ Weissenstein" and was applied to the airstamp only, and not as in earlier events on the postage stamp for the redespatch. In this case the stamp received the postal cancellation of the redespatch, that is at W eissenstein, Solothurn. The special cards for these despatches showed (in three types) the pilot and his passenger Labarre with the plane usually at their arrival from Rheims, France, or the pilot ready to start. FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 141 On the occasion of the flight as the citys' air meet, thousands of people thronged the airfield . After a number of demonstration flights, and passenger flights with three passengers, he took on board the mail in several bags ( 1650 items) and left with his French passenger and a reported postweight of 25 kilos for his destination on the Weissenstein. This mountain is a well known overlook point over the area of the Jura Mountains and the Lake of Biel. One of the early rope-car railroads connect­ ed the valley near the City of Biel with the top of this mountain. It took the mail pifot 25 minutes to reach this point and to achieve the successful landing. It took him 41h minutes to fly back to the airfield at Solothurn. II. Borrer's Postfligh:t from Grenchen :to Solothurn, Aug. 31, 1913 Two weeks after the W eissenstein flight Barrer carried an airmail from Grenchen (about half way between Biel and Solothurn) to Solothurn. At this interesting event, with no special airstamp issued, mint airstamps of earlier airpost flights were allowed to be attached to the cards for this Grenchen flight. Of the Solothurn airstamp of Au­ gust 17, 1913,, proofs and double impressions were used on this occa ion. There was an official airpost cancellation in violet or blue on the 500 cards of this flight. They belong to the very rare items of the period. The photo shows here instead of a flown card a sheet of proof impressions of this official cancellation, was discovered, some years ago, in the files of the General Postal Direction in Berne. III. The Laufen Airstamp of September 28, 1913 This airstamp of Laufen is the last of the pioneer airstamp issues of Switzerland. It was issued for an Aviation Day at Laufen. Oskar Bider had been expected to be the pilot of the Laufen airpost flight, but he had sustained a head injury during the first Swiss military aviation maneuvers when he made an emergency landing near Zollikofen on Sept. 10 _and became hospitalized. Barrer pinch-bitted for him at the Laufen Aviation Day. Laufen is situated just north of Solothurn, about half way to Basle and is not far from the border 'between Switzerland and the Alsace.

DIRECTION GtN~RALE DES POS1ES ' rfltGRAPiiES fT JfLEPHONE:S

PAGE 142 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL The meeting was held at the Rabacker air field of Laufen on a beautiful autumn day which brought several thousand people to the field. Borrer arrived by air from Solothurn by a 50 mile flight across the Jura Mountains. These are not very high mountains but they are quite "wild" and even today's map of automobile routes does not show a single road directly across this area. At the meeting Borrer made four demonstration flights over the Laufen valley with his Ponnier Hanriot monoplane. Finally he started for his post flight, a return passenger flight to Solothurn. For this flight a special airstamp was issued showing an old building in the city of Laufen with a monoplane in the air. Inscribed "FLUGPOST LAUFEN - 19 - 18 - PILOT - 5 0 - BORRER" it had been printed in green by the print shop of Fentzl'ing in Solothurn. There are two variations, lighter green, and darker green. 3000 stamps had been printed in sheets of 50 ( 5 x 10) and perforated 12. A special official air­ post cancellation was used in violet or in light blue, readng "SCHWEIZ FLUG­ POST - 28.9.13 - LAUFEN - SOLOTHURN". This air cancellation was applied to the airstamp as well as the postal stamps of the redespatch but our illustration shows a Solothurn postal cachet of this redespatch after the arrival of the mail from this flight. It was not a fully successful flight as motor trouble set in near Rohrgraben about half way from the destination, where there is no suitable place for a success­ ful emergency landing. The plane crashed and was so completely wrecked, that it · had to be abandoned. The pilot and the passenger and the mail load were saved and were brought to Solothurn. f. This Laufen airmail represents the first Swiss crash airmail. Only 900 items were flown. The coming of the winter and the two accidents - to Bider and to Barrer - brought the 1913 airpost with their special airstamps for the Swiss National Air Collection to an end. At the coming of spring, 1914, the aviation events in the country were resumed. An international aviation meeting at the St. Jacob field near Basle took place on March 22. French pilot Montmain demonstrated "looping the loop" flights, there were special "official" cards commemorating these flights. When Borrer attempted to imitate such flights with his heavier plane, he crashed, the plane was fully de­ stroyed and he was killed. There were a few more aviation meetings in Switzerland in the spring and early summer of 1914. However, there were no special airstamps issued on these occasions. When the first world war broke out that summer, the Swiss Army went to protect the frontier and the youthful Swiss military aviation entered its first great period of active duty.

AUSTRALIA INTRODUCES airmail within Australia without addi­ A "LETTERSHEET" tional payment. If the weight limitation of one ounce is exceeded by the inser­ Australia introduced a new item of tion of additional sheets within the let­ stamped postal stationery known as a tersheet, then the necessary additional "letter-sheet" at all post offices on Janu­ postage will have to he added. ary 18th. Attractively designed and print­ ed, the lettersheet is the same size and Additional postage will also need to be format as the current aerogramme with affixed when a lettersheet is posted as the imprint of a 5d. stamp. It has a surface mail to overseas countries t<> writing area three times greater than that which the charge of 5d. for one ounce of the previous lettercard. does not apply. The lettersheet cannot The lettersheet will be transmitted by be substituted for an aerogramme. FEBRUARY, 1961 PAGE 143 TRUBY COLLECTION TO BE ARIZONA PIONEERS AUCTIONED BY HEIMAN Member William L. Alexander, Honor­ One of the most notable collections ary Curator, has advised us that the of airmail material to reach the market Arizona Pioneers Historical Museum has established a Postal History Department, in a long time is the Harry A. Truby having the following objectives: collection of airmail covers and stamps. To encourage study and research of Mr. Truby who recently passed away the postal history of the west, and its was one of the founders of the Amer­ special application to the following ican Air Mail Society. His collec­ states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada New Mexico, tion was often termed "fabulous". Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. It contains a wealth of early pioneer To develop a collection of postal flights, both United States and foreign. history covers, representing the mail of The rare Transatlantic flights are all the west, from the earliest to the latest. there, including the Hawker and De­ To establish a collection of topical post­ Pinedo. age stamps dealing with the west. To gather and make available to phila­ There is quite a bit of work yet to telists and others, a postal history re­ be done to sort out the vast material, ference library. which means that Mr. Heiman will auc­ The Museum philatelic activity will be tion it in early Spring, April or May. sponsored by the Philatelic Rangers, a We suggest early requests for catalogues, club having no annual dues. Charter and in order to avoid needless correspon­ membership is still open in this club. dence, we are advised that no part will For information please write Mr. he offered at private sale, but all by Alexander at the Postal History Depart­ auction. Irwin Heiman, Inc. is located at ment, Arizona Pioneers Historical Mu­ 2 West 46th Street, New York 36, N. Y. seum, 949 East Second Street, Tucson.

B A M S Elects New Secretary and AIR MAIL ENTIRES New Treasurer At the annual general meeting of the envelopes British Air Mail Society last October postal cards 29th, Mrs. C. M. Gray of 35 Southwood leiiersheeis Rd., New Eltham, London, S. E. 9 was Finest Stock Jn. the World elected the new Secretary. C. K. Beech­ 'THE NEW ISSUE SERVICE PLUS am, 58 Capstone Road, Bromley, Kent, England is the new Treasurer. the outstanding specials that President Jimmie W otherspoon has characterize this service done a fine job with this young society. ATTRACTIVE PAGES Its monthly news letter and quarterly FOR MOUNTING review are fine contributions to aero­ philately. We suggest readers investi­ THE AIRMAIL ENTIRE TRUTH gate the modest membership fee. Write . newsletter. Send as many Be to Mrs. Gray for information . stamped & addressed No. 10 en­ velopes for as many copies as you wish to receive. MINT AIRMAIL SETS AUTHORIZED AGENT FOR THE WANT LISTS welcomed for Mint only for South and Central America, Mex­ GODINAS CATALOGUE ico, Canada-AIR MAILS, POSTAGE, etc. Complete sets our Specialty; LAVA singles also furnished. The Distributor of the Barbados Error Woodmere Stamp Company !lox 186 New York 59 P.O. Box 145 Woodmere, N. Y.

PAGE 144 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL AAMS EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT APJ ADS BUY SELL WANT LISTS RATES: w ANTED -Pre 1939 TransAtlantic flown FOUR CENTS PER WORD per insertion. covers. Pioneer Zeppelin covers. "\Voth­ Minimum charge one dollar. Remittance erspoon, Broxburn, West Lothian, Scot­ must accompany order and copy. The land. AIRPOST JOURNAL. 350 No. Deere Park WANTED - Great Britain 1919 Railway Drive, Highland Park, Ill. Strike Flown covers. Australia and South 6 3/4 AIRMAIL ENVELOPES, Barber Pole Africa Air Race covers. Wotherspoon, design, 24 lb. Parchment Stock, 100% Rag Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland. Content. Prices and Samples Ten Cents. Milton Ehrlich, 34-15A 31st Ave., Long Is­ WANT Crash Covers, Army Emergency land City 6, N. Y. Member A.A.M.S. 372 Flights, Postal Stationer:\:'; will trade li~e m~terial, or what you might need, or will YOU OWE it to yourself to join Airmails tuy. Joe Eisendrath, 350 No. Deere Park Drive, Highland Park, Ill. Exclusively. No cash fees for next sixty ------days. Join now. Airmails Exclusively, TRADE - First-Firing Polaris George 1757 Henderson St., Chicago 13, II. *371 Washington, U.S.S. Seadragon Polar Trip, 'lnd other Arctic Covers for flown man­ FOREIGN Used Airmail Stamp, Single3 Ded Rocket Research Craft (pre-X-15). and Complete sets on and off covers. E. C. Browne, 120 Kenilworth Place, Want list filled, Price list free. H/R Brooklyn 10, N. Y. Stamp Co., Box 89-N Long Beach, N. Y. *3'12 HAVE X-15, Wallops Island Rocket cov­ ers, pre-commercial jet flights signed, for Atom and Hydrogen Test covers, flown, AAMS EXCHANGE ADS etc. E. c. Browne, 120 Kenilworth Place, Brooklyn 10, New York. WANTED: "New York Times Aeroplane" WANTED - Catalogues 1961 Scott's com­ covers flight November 2, 1916, Chicago­ bined Sanabria. Give Egypt: Commem­ New York, Victor Carlstrom, Pilot: Also orccthes, F.F. & Graf Zeppelin covers. Ab­ "New York Times Advertising Flight" c'hl Hamid Elitriby, P. O. Box 218, Port covers, May' 23, 1918, Catherine Stinson, S1id, Egypt. U.A.R. pilot. David Lidman, 390 West End Ave., New York 24, N. Y. *369 WANTED Flown Covers of Czechoslovakia up to 1946. Also essays, proofs, or col- I HA VE a few hundred rocket covers, in 13.teral philatelic material. Dr. Matejka, exchange for other rocket covers I need 216 Hotel LaSalle, Chicago, Ill. in my collection. Anton Hobling, 1725 Put­ ------nam Ave., Brooklyn 27, N. Y., U.S.A. *369 EXCHANGE Airmail - By lot, approval b-:>sis or by want list. Scott basis. R. E. WANTED - Covers to & from the U.S. MacLean, 39 Vocational Drive, So. Port­ carried by lighter-than-air craft. Pioneer, land, Maine *370 crash, historical, etc. Will exchange basis Amer. Air Mail Cat. W. J. Chamberlin, WANTED: F.F. to and from Philadelphia, 3320 Chintimini Avenue, Corvallis, Oregon. will buy or exchange for CAMs or Jets. '35U R. L. Suter, 3100 Glenview St., Phila. 49, Pennsylvania. WANTED - Air Mail and Sport issues, Transatlantic jetflights, etc. In exchange: COT.LATERAL Material "Allahabad 1911" Jetflights and FDC from Scandinavia. Nils flight, Pictures, Clippings, etc. Albert P. Ekstrom, Angermanhagatan 176, Valling­ Cohen, 137 E. 28th St., New York 16, N.Y. by, Sweden. *369 COLLATERAL Material "Coronation 1911" WANTED - United Nations specialized flights, Pictures, Clippings etc. Albert P. material; meters, stamps, related matter. Cohen, 137 E. 28th St., New York, 16, N.Y. Will exchange flights, etc., or purchase outright. Malkin, 123 Walnut St., Bloom­ UNITED NATIONS Emergency Force can­ iield, New Jersey. *389 cels from all contingents wanted. Have UNEF stationery from Medical Services WANTED - U.S. First Day covers Cl to (cachet) to exchange, also UNEF sheet C24, offer many types covers and stamps. on first flight Beirut-Vienna. Wm. K. What do you want? Herman Kleinert, 213 Simon, 0-101 Midland Ave., Fair Lawn, Virginia, Fullerton, Penna. N. J. WANTED - Flight Covers, Papua, New W."....l\TTED: Lest catalogues: Americ2n Guinea, Canada semi-official, Alaska; of­ cirmail, Graf Zeppelin, D. Field. Give: fer many types covers and stamps. What Egypt Commemorativeo, Airmails, F.F. & do you want? Herman Kleinert, 213 Vir­ Graf Zeppelin Covers. Abdel Hamed El ginia, Fullerton, Penna. Itriby, F'. O. Box 218, Port-SElid (Egypt)

FFC BRANIFF Route Nov. 9, 1960, Min­ \YHAT HAVE YOU in Foreign, Central, neapolis, GPO 8 am. to Mexico, Only S:>uth America obsolete motor V·ehicl,2 three map cachets covers exist. Offer ex­ license plates to exchange for Canadian change takes. N. Rieger, 5323 Baccich St., Stamps. A.A.M.S 4597, John J. McHale, New Orleans, 22, La. 55 Con!lolly St., Halifax, N. S., Cano.da. FEBRUARY, 1961 We are philatelic auctioneers and specialize in providing a competitive market for stamp collections and other philatelic properties

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IRWIN HEIMAN~ Inc. Serving American Philately Since 1926 2 WEST 46th STREET A NEW YORK 36, N.Y. Telephone : JUdson 2-2393 Suite 708