December, 1962 Volume 34, Number 3 The American Air Mail Society A Non-Profit Corporation Incorporated 1944 Organized 1923 Under the Laws of Ohio

PRESIDENT Official Publication of the Dr. James J. Matejka, Jr. AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY LaSalle Hotel, Chicago, Illinois SECRETARY Vol. 34, No. 3 Whole Number 391 Ruth T. Smith 102 Arbor Road Riverton, N. J. TREASURER John J. Smith Contents ...... for December, 1962 102 Arbor Road Riverton, N. J. VICE-PRESIDENTS Success Story 57 Joseph L. Eisendrath Samuel S. Goldsticker, Jr. Herman Kleinert New U. S. 8c Air Mail Stamp 59 Lester S. Manning EDITORS - Other Publications Aviation Pioneer Honored by L. B. Gatchell Special Plaque ...... 60 Geo. D. Kingdom ATTORNEY Canadian Flight Listings 61 George D. Kingdom DIRECTOR OF Official Section 67 FOREIGN RELATIONS Dr. Max Kronstein Foreign Pioneer Airpost Flights, AUCTION MANAGER 1909-1914 ············ 70 Samuel S. Goldsticker, Jr. ADVANCE BULLETIN SERVICE Charles A. Lindbergh 76 Paul Bugg 3724 Old York Rd. A. P. J. Ads ...... Inside Back Cover Baltimore 18, Md. TRANSLATION SERVICE Roland Kohl Augusta-Victoria Str. 4 EDITOR Wiesbaden, West Joseph L. Eisendra:th AUDITOR 350 No. Deere Park Drive, Highland Park, Ill. Stuart J. Malkin ASSISTANT EDITORS DIRECTORS Robert W. Murch Alton J. Blank, Herbert Brand­ Ernest A. Kehr L. B. Gatchell ner, Paul Bugg, Robert E. Har­ ing, Dr. Max Kronstein, George DEPARTMENT AND ASSOCIATE EDITORS L. Lee, Narcisse Pelletier, Horace R. Lee Black, N. Pelletier, Florence L. Kleinert, D. Westbrooks. Dr. Max Kronstein, Richard L. Singley, William MEMBERSHIP DUES - $4.00 R. Ware, James Wotherspoon, John Watson, William T. Wynn, Frank Blumenthal, Samuel per year S. Goldsticker, Jr., J. S. Langabeer. Include subscription to The Published monthly at Albion, Erie Co., Pa., U.S.A. AIRPOST JOURNAL. Appli­ cants must furnish two refer­ Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office ences, philatelic preferred. At at Albion, Pa., February 10, 1932, under least one must reside in Appli­ the Act of March 3, 1879. cant's home town. Applicants The AIRPOST JOURNAL is not conducted for under 21 years must be guar­ profit. The Editor and all others serve without teed by Parent or Guardian. compensation. Receipts from advertising, sub­ Membership may be terminated scriptions and contributions are applied to the by the Society in accordance betterment of the magazine and the promotion with its By-Laws. of aero-philately. Correspondence concerning sub­ 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 com­ all articles. munications and advertising Subscription Rates: $4.00 per year, 35c per copy. should be sent to the Editor. Advertising Rate Card available from the Editor. Airline Success Story By Michael Thompson

A new Convair 340 landed at Chi- • 1,000 in 1948 to nearly 3,000 in 1953, cago's O'Hare International airport. but finances were still bleak. Losses had There was nothing unusual about this in~reased to over $100,000 per year. except that it was the only one to land Management started to reduce the when bad weather had forced the jets number of stops at "unproductive" and other large planes to land at other towns, and as they did, passenger rev­ airports. North Central , which enue declined even further. March, 1954 completed this flight, has a capacity to found the line with a loss of $70,000 reach its destination, despite all obstacles. for just the first two months of that year. NOR is classed as a local service or It had no credit. Five of its planes were "feeder" airline, one of 13 in the U. S. covered with snow, grounded because North Central's obstacles usually there was no money to get them flying. haven't been weather, however. From its The line was barely meeting payrolls. first flight over route AM-86 on a cold, In short, Wisconsin Central was on the snowy day in February, 1948, through brink of bankruptcy. 1954, it looked as though every day The airline's board of directors sent could be its last. out a call for Hal N. Carr, formerly Wisconsin Central, as it was then vice president of Wisconsin Central and known, was the brainchild of a group most recently employed as a manage­ of executives of the Four Wheel Drive ment consultant. Carr was young and Co., Clintonville, Wis. In the early became a dynamic president. By his 1940s they decided that an airplane was second month in office the airline show­ needed to serve the upper Midwest, and ed a profit. For the year, it showed a got C.A.B. approval in 1947, provided profit of over $100,000. that they would divest themselves of How did Carr do it? His first act as control of the line. A Milwaukee invest- president was to meet with all the em­ ment firm underwrote the new venture ployees in a hangar and tell them exactly to the tune of $352,000. With this shoe- how bad their situation was. However, string start, the officers invested in he so impressed them with his optim­ three small, nine-passenger Lockheed ism for future prosperity that one group 10-As and hired 112 employees. Their of employees offered to work without planes flew from Chicago's Midway air- pay for one month, an offer which he port through several cities and towns declined. He promised to keep them in­ of Wisconsin and on into Minnesota, all formed on company progress and took the area permitted by their certificate. them into his confidence. Flying conditions were not the best The new president changed the name in those days. Many airports of of the airline to North Central and with­ medium and smaller cities were nothing drew a C.A.B. application to discontinue more than dirt strips which turned into 20% of the line's route. "The idea was quagmires when it rained. Most fields ridiculous," says Carr. "Most of the were too small even for a DC-3 to land. fixed costs would have remained the Also, Wisconsin Central could operate same, hut revenues would have de­ only during daylight hours because creased." New applications were filed, these airports had no landing lights. requesting about 12,000 miles of new Losses were the rule and profits the routes. 1. exception right from the start. North Central Airlines began to be a With the coming of the 1950s, airport going concern. Carr installed a suggestion conditions improved. Wisconsin Central box and still personally studies the sug­ began buying DC-3s, six in 1950 and an gestions. Many of these contributions equal number the next year. The route have brought payment to their origin­ mileage had increased from slightly over ators. To keep everyone up to date on THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 57 NOB TB CENTRAL AIBLINES company changes, Carr makes sure that nearly twice that of its nearest com­ employees get news stories before they petitor. It also led in the third cate­ are released to the public. The com- gory, cargo. Route miles since those pany paper, The Northliner, is crammed dismal days have increased to over full of information on every department. 7,100. In 1960, NOR started service Incidentally, NOR has never had a to Canada, adding Port Arthur/Fort work stoppage due to labor problems. William and Regina to its 91 cities. The Carr says, "We have been blessed with most recent extension of service was unusually good labor relations." 2. How- into Cleveland, Ohio. "Our people want ever, it is more than luck. The line offers to work for a good airline - they like a fair days pay for a fair day's work, it that way. They have made it a good in addition to which the workers are airline, and they deserve the credit." 3. given responsibility and the power to The future looks bright, if not brill­ settle most of their own difficulties. NOR iant. North Central will soon replace its also has innovations as an advanced remaining 26-passenger DC3s with 40- communications system so that main- passenger Convairs and new jets. It is tenance men know ahead of time any presently waiting for C.A.B. approval of problems and can act quickly. its purchase of 1,376 route miles from On short stops, the airline conserves Frontier Airlines. In addition to these fuel and time by turning off only the added cities in Montana, the line plans propeller on the side where embarking to expand westward into Wyoming, and debarking take place. The result south to Missouri and Kansas, and fur­ of such measures is that North Central ther into Indiana and Ohio, plus ser­ has the lowest rate of service delay and vice to Toronto. work stoppage in the industry, plus There is a great future in store for on-time dependability. the line which uses the "Herman, the NOR is also justly proud of their Mallard." This is due to a combination perfect safety record, another point of sound business technique and con­ emphasized by Carr. The line has flown fidence in the individual. over one billion passenger miles v.rithout injury or death to passengers or crew. l. "From Famine to Feast," The Upper North Central has come a long way Midwest Investor, June, 1962. with its new practices. It now carries 2. Ibid. over one million passengers annually, 3. "What Happens When Management tops in the local service industry. In Believes in Its People," Public Service 1961, NOR had 6,444,012 lbs. of mail, Magazine, April, 1962, p. 19. 58 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 NEW U.S. Sc AIR MAIL STAMP Rir Post

The new airmail rate of Be, to go into Stamps effect January 7, 1963 has led to the Are Frequently Offered coming issue of a new Be stamp, to be printed in the now famous "five red." In Our General Sales This is illustrated here. Philatelic data Fully Accurately includes these items: illustrated described Dimensions: 0.75 x O.B7, issued in auction catawgues, gratis panes of 100. Printed on Cottrell press. A11d when you come to sell . . . Designed by Henry K. Bencsath of New write .for our booklet, York City. Modeled by Charles R. Chick­ "MODERN METHODS OF ering. Vignette by Charles A. Brooks. PHILATELIC SELLING" Lettering and numerical by William R. explaining clearly all the advantages Burnell. of selling through . . . Date and place of issue will be an­ H. R. HARMER, INC nounced later: The stamp will undoubt­ The Caspary Auctioneers edly be issued in coils and booklet panes 6 West 4Bth St., New York 36, N.Y. of six. Also expected are the new Be airmail envelopes and ne\.v airmail post card. • Informed Collectors Read NEW AIRMAIL ENVELOPE The Airmail Entire Truth A new embossed 8-cent Air Mail Stamped Envelope was first placed on The only existing newsletter sale at Chantilly, Virginia, on Novem­ pertaining to aereograms, airmail ·, ber 17, 1962, to coincide with the dedi­ envelopes & airmail .postal cards. cation of the Dulles International Air­ port. EXCLUSIVE This new envelope is being provided to meet the increase in the postal rates INFORMATIVE which becomes effective January 7, 1963. INDISPENSABLE For the convenience of patrons who wish to purchase them prior to this date, the new envelope will be available at other It appears 3 times per year and post offices after the first day sale as is sent against a supply of 8 cent fast as manufacturing conditions permit. stamped and addressed legal size · envelopes. The 8-cent embossed stamp on the en­ velope depicts a modern jet air-liner in Pricelist 50 cents, deductible. flight, above which is the wording "AIR MAIL." Across the bottom of the stamp is "U.S. Be." Alternate red and blue LAVA The Distributor of the BarbadM Error parallelograms appear around the edges Box 1, Fort George Statton of the envelope. The background of the New York 40, N. Y. tamp is red. THE AIRPOST .JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 59 Aviation Pioneer Honored By Special Plaque

Visitors and air travelers to Lambert • In October, a big aviation meet was Field, St. Louis can now view a hand­ held at Kinloch Field. Among others some bronze memorial tablet at the base there were Arch Hoxsey, Ralph John­ of the airport flagpole, recently dedicated stone, and LeBiano from . By mid through the efforts of R.D. Woodcock, October, Benoist had flown down to Haverford, Pa., aviation historian and Texas to give exhibitions there. Robert W. Murch, past-president of He always had a clear head and ability both the American Air Mail Society and to reason things satisfactorily. His fair the Rotary Club of St. Louis. dealing, honesty, integrity and devotion Collectors of pioneer aviation memen­ to his friends are still mentioned by his tos and early pioneer air mail flight former students. cards and covers are quite familiar with In January 1911, Benoist opened his reference to Benoist aircraft flown at the flying school at Kinloch Field, using early meets and in particular with the improved and stronger built versions of famed Benoist flying boat which was his first plane. By July of that year, flown on the pioneer Tampa-St. Peters­ Anthony H. Jannus joined his forces, and burg Florida airline in 1913. became his chief pilot and instructor. In summary of Benoist's accomplish­ Shortly B.G. Morriss joined the group. ments Mr. Woodcock furnished the fol­ From December 1910 to December 1911, lowing summary: Benoist made and sold over 40 planes. Thomas Wesley Benoist was born The famous emblem of blue letters with December 29, 1874 at Irondale, Missouri a red arrow became a real trademark. and was killed in a street car accident Captain Albert Barry is usually given June 14, 1917, at Sandusky, Ohio. credit for having made the first para­ At the World's Fair in St. Louis 1904, chute jump from a heavier-than-air he and John Berry were listed as "Aero­ machine. Likewise one of the first air­ nautical Exhibitors." His first successful mail flights was made by a Benoist plane invention was an improved type of in the St. Louis area. storage battery. He and his brother In 1912, Benoist brought out his new opened an auto supply store in 1907 in tractor plane, America's· first. On June St. Louis. In June 1908, Benoist with E. 4, Captain Lang made the first machine­ P e r c y Noel, o p e n e d the f i r s t gun test in America with Tony Jannus as supply house in America selling nothing pilot, firing from a plane to ground 'but aero material and parts at 3932 targets. Olive Street, , St. Louis, Missouri. Noel At the Chicago Air meet in 1912, sold his interest in the store to Benoist, Benoist's tractor plane won high honors. and published America's first aero In December, Benoist came out with his weekly called 'Aero' (Later changed to first flying boat, which a year later made 'Aero and Hydro'). the world's first scheduled commercial , In 1909, Benoist talked to Major Al­ flight at St. Petersburg, Florida. bert Bond Lambert about the possibility In 1916, he moved all plane oper­ of a network of airlines all over the ations, first to Chicago, Ill., then to , and eventually around the Sandusky, Ohio. After his death in 1917, world. However, Benoist realized much all activities of the company and plane progress would have to be made before manufacture soon ceased. it would be practical. In August 1910, grading began at Kinloch Field; and on September 18, Benoist made his first flight there in his own first plane. Shortly afterwards, Gill (from California) sold his Curtiss type plane to Benoist, and thus he became the first person in St. Louis to buy a plane and start manufacturing.

6Q THE AIRPOST .JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 Ca·nadian Flight Listings to January 1, 1962 By Don Amos (Concluded)

695 1949 July 2 - Winnipeg-Wadhope-Little• Grand Rapids-Ste. Theresa Point, Man.- Deer Lake-Lingman Lake, Ont. and Return. Flown by Central Northern Airways. Wadhope served previously. No covers known. July 2. Winnipeg-Little Grand Rapids-Ste. Theresa Point-Deer Lake- Lingman Lake. a. July 3. Lingman Lake-Deer Lake-Ste. Theresa Point- Little Grand Rapids­ Winnipeg 696 1949 Aug 9 - Edmonton-Desmarais and Return. Start of regular service. Flown by Associated Airways Ltd. No covers known. Aug. 9. Edmonton-Desmarais a. Aug. 10 Desmarais-Edmonton 697 1949 Sept. 17 - Parry Sound-Moon River and Return. Flown by Georgian Bay Airways Ltd. No covers known. Parry Sound-Moon River a. Moon River-Parry Sound 699 1949 Dec. 14 - Edmonton-Desmarais Route extended to Pelican Portage. Flown by Associated Airways Ltd. No covers known. Edmonton-Pelican Portage a. Pelican Portage-Edmonton 701 1950 Jan. 1 - Effective this date air service was inaugurated to points in Newfoundland from Millertown Junction. Flown by Eastern Provincial Airways Ltd., all flights returning the same day. Pilots were M. B. Jones, D. Patey, ~. Blackwood, J. Bowdrey, and E. Lawson. Additional points to those listed were added later. No covers known. Mondays - Millertown Junction-Forteau-West St. Modeste-Red Bay-Henley Harbour-Mary's Harbour-Port Hope Simpson-Cartwright and Return. a. Wednesdays - Millertown Junction-Parson's Pond-Port Saunders-Brig Bay-Flowers Cove and Return. b. Thursdays - Millertown Junction-Burlington-LaScie-Baie Verte-Western Arm and Return. c. Saturdays - Millertown Junction-Harbour Deep-Englee-Roddiction-Main Brook-St. Anthony and Return. 702 1950 Jan. 4 - Moosonee-Weenusk-Fort Severn and Return. Weenusk previously served Feb. 5, 1945. Flown by Austin Airways Ltd. No covers known. Jan. 4 - Moosonee-Fort Severn a. Jan. ? - Fort Severn-Moosonee 704 1950 April 28 - Prince Albert-Brochet and Return. Pilot J. A. Hartley of Saskatchewan Government Airways. No covers known. April 28 - Prince Albert-Brochet ...... 16 Pounds a. April 29 - Brochet-Prince Albert ...... 19 Pounds 706 1950 Aug. 1 - Winnipeg-Oxford House-God's Lake-God's Lake Narrows and Return. God's Lake previously served Jan. 14, 1935. Flown by Central Northern Airways. No covers known. Aug. 1 - Winnipeg-Oxford House-God's Lake Narrows a. Aug. 2 - God's Lake Narrows-Oxford House-Winnipeg 707 1950 Sept. 23 - -Yellowknife-Rocher River and Return . .l!'lown by Yellowknife Airways Ltd. No covers known. Sept. 23 - Yellowknife-Rocher River ...... (200 Lbs.) a. Sept. 23 - Rocher River-Yellowknife ...... (10 Lbes.) 708 1950 Oct. 1 - Prince Rupert-Greenville-Aiyansh and Return. Flown by Queen Charlotte Airlines Ltd. No covers known. Oct. 1 - Prince Rupert-Greenville-A1yansh a. Oct. ? - Aiyansh-Greenville-Prince Rupert 710 1950 Dec. 10 - Start of annual R.C.A.F. service to air-drop Christmas mail and supplies to Dept. of Transport personnel located at isolated marine stations in the far north. No covers known. Additional points were served later from other bases, also.

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 61 Winnipeg-Churchill-Coral Harbour-Resolution Island-Cape Hope's Advance-Nottingham Island a. Ottawa-Resolute Bay-Arctic Bay b. Goose Bay-Clyde River 712 1951 Feb. 20 - Churchill-Baker Lake and Return. Flown by Arctic Wings Ltd. No covers known. Feb. 20 - Churchill-Baker Lake a. Feb. ? - -Baker Lake-Churchill 714 1951 June 11 - Rimouski-Baie Comeau- Sept Iles and Return. Sept Iles pre­ viously served Dec. 17, 1936. Flown by Rimouski Air Lines. No covers known. June 11 - Rimouski-Baie Comeau a. June ? - Baie Comeau-Rimouski 715 1951 June 22 - Edmonton-Goldfields and Return. Flown by Canadian Pacific Airlines. No covers known. June 22 - Edmonton-Goldfields a. June ? - Goldfields-Edmonton 717 1951 Sept. 14 - Churchill-York Factory-Shamattawa and Return. Flown by Arctic Wings Ltd. No covers known. Sept. 14 - Churchill-York Factory-Shamattawa a. Sept. ? - Shamattawa-York Factory-Churchill 718 1951 Oct. 1 - Sherridon-Lynn Lake and Return. Flown by Central Northern Airways. No covers known. Oct. 1 - Sherridon-Lynn Lake a. Oct. ? - Lynn Lake-Sherridon 719 1951 Nov. 20 - Peace River-Habay and Return. Flown by Associated Airways Ltd. No covers known. Nov. 20 - Peace River-Habay a. Nov. 21 - Habay-Peace River 721 1952 Jan. 25 - Pukatawagan added to Sherridon-Lynn Lake Route. Flown by Central Northern Airways. No covers known. Jan. 25 - Sherridon-Pukatawagan a. Jan. ? - Pukatawagan-Sherridon 722 1952 Feb. 15 - The Pas-Moose Lake and Return. Pilot T. Lamb of Lamb Air­ ways Ltd. 500-1000 Lbs. of all classes of mail carried. No covers known. The Pas-Moose Lake a. Moose Lake-The Pas 724 1952 May 1 - Algoma Mills-Cockburn Island and Return. Pilot Carl Mattani of Lau-Goma Airways. No covers known. May 1 - Ali:oma Mills-Cockburn Island ...... (500 Pounds) a. May ? - Cockburn Island-Algoma Mills ...... (500 Pounds) 725 1952 May ? - Alert added to R.C.A.F. far north route, the last base being Churchill, Man. See No. 684. No covers known. Churchill-Alert, NWT. a. Alert-Churchill 726 1952 May 30 - Red Sucker Lake added to Winnipeg-God's Lake route. Flown by Central Northern Airways. No covers known. May 30 - Winnipeg-Red Sucker Lake a. May 31 - Red Sucker Lake-Winnipeg 727 1952 June 3 - Riverton-Hecla-Manigotagan and Return. Flown by Riverton Airways Ltd. No covers known. June 3 - Riverton-Hecla-Manigotagan a. June 4 - Manigotagan-Hecla-Riverton 728 1952 July 4 - Uranium City-Camsell Portage and Return. Flown by McMurray Air Service Ltd. No covers known. July 4 - Uranium City-Camsell Portage a. July ? - Camsell Portage-Uranium City 734 1953 Jan. 7 - Effective this date air service was inaugurated from Gander to points in Newfoundland. Flown by Eastern Provincial Airways Ltd., all flights returning the same day. Pilots M. B. Jones, G. McPherson, and W. Eaton. Additional points were added later. No covers known. Mondays: - Gander-Summerford-Moreton's Harbour-Twillingate and Return. 62 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 a. Tuesdays: - Gander-Change Islands-Fogo-Stag Harbour and Return. b. Wednesdays: - Gander-Gander Bay-Carmenville-Ladle Cove-Musgrave Harbour and Return 740 1953 July 17 - Sioux Lookout-Osnaburgh House-Pickle Lake and Return. Flown by Central Northern Airways. No covers known. July 17 - Sioux Lookout-Osnaburgh House-Pickle Lake a. July ? - Pickle Lake-Osnaburgh House-Sioux Lookout 743 1953 Oct. 2 - Pikangikum, Ont. added to Winnipeg-God's Lake Route. Flown by Central Northern Airways. No covers known. Oct. 2 - Winnipeg-Pikangikum a. Oct. 3 - Pikangikum-Winnipeg 744 1953 Oct. 15 - Nakina-Lansdowne House and Return. Flown by Austin Airways Ltd. No covers known. Oct. 15 - Nakina-Lansdowne House a. Oct. ? - Lansdowne House-Nakina 745 1953 Nov. 14 - Parry Sound-Moon River Route extended to Wah Wah Taysee and Sans Souci. Flown by Georgian Bay Airways Ltd. Return flight same day. No covers known. Parry Sound-Wah Wah Taysee-Sans Souci a. Sans Souci-Wah Wah Taysee-Parry Sound • 746 1953 Dec. 21 - Eabamet Lake added to Nakina-Lansdowne House Route. Flown by Austin Airways Ltd. Return flight same day. One cover each way known. The cover to Eabamet Lake was mailed in Winnipeg, Man., backstamped at Nakina and Eabamet Lake Dec. 21. The return cover is postmarked Eabamet Lake and backstamped Nakina Dec. 21. Nakina-Eabamet Lake ...... (1 Known) a. Eabamet Lake-Nakina ...... (1 Known) 747 1953 Dec. 23 - Assumption added to Peace River-Habay Route. Flown by Associated Airways Ltd. No covers known. Dec. 23 - Peace River-Assumption a. Dec. 24 - Assumption-Peace River 748 1954 Jan. 19 - Negginan added to Winnipeg-God's Lake Route. Flown by Central Northern Airways. No covers known. Jan. 19 - Winnipeg-Negginan a. Jan. 20 - Negginan-Winnipeg 750 1924 March 4 - Prince Albert-Dillon and Return. Dillon added to Prince Albert-Northern Saskatchewan Route. Pilots S. H. Millar of Saskatchewan Government Airways. No covers known. March 4 - Prince Albert-Dillon ...... (16 Pounds) a. March 5 - Dillon-Prince Albert ...... ( 4 Pounds) ALL - UP SERVICE APRIL 1, 1954 Effective this date ALL UP service was inaugurated in Canada. All First Class mail originating in Canada, up to 8 oz. in weight, will be carried by available air service provided air transmission will expedite delivery. This means that mail will be flown to and between the larger cities where necessary and, in the case of smaller points, distributed from those centers. Mail leaving the East or West coasts by boat would be flown to the dispatching ports. Air Mail for overseas, for which special air rates are still in effect, would, of course, travel entirely by air as usual. In serving the North country, in addition to the regular air routes, advantage is also taken of courtesy and auxiliary filghts to the north by R.C.A.F., U.S.A.F., Commercial and other available planes, and includes both civilian and military points. Ship to Shore service is often necessary by Helicopter from military and government patrol boats in Arctic waters, serving outlying points, weather stations, etc., with mail and supplies, and mail is also air-dropped to military craft operating in the Arctic. In addition to the above there are, of course, the regular official First Flights which take place when new air routes are inaugurated. With no notice being given re. Canadian air filghts very few will produce covers. From here on ONLY those filghts in which covers are known will be

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 63 listed. 1954 (After April 1). No Covers. 1955 No covers. 1956 No covers. 1957 No covers. • 827 1958 Aug. 13 - Resolute Bay, N.W.T. - Ice Island. Flight by U.S. Navy Blimp "Snow Goose." Very few covers carried, mostly pilot signed. Aug. 13 - Resolute Bay-Ice Island. • 833 1959 Feb. 23 - Replica of the Silver Dart in flight from Baddeck, N.S. com­ memorating the 50th anniversary of the first powered aircraft flight in Canada by J.A.D. Mccurdy. A replica of this plane, the Silver Dart, was built by the R.C.A.F. to restage this flight. The pilot was Wing Commander Paul Hartman. In descending, he could not bring the plane into the wind for fear of hitting the crowd and the plane crashed, the pilot being unhurt. The mail was trans­ ferred to a helicopter and taken to Sydney, N.S., and there placed in the regular mails. Covers are postmarked Baddeck, N.S., Feb. 23, 1959. Some covers are signed by Pilot Hartman and some are also signed by J.A.D. Mc­ curdy, the original pilot and who was present at this event. 225-250 covers were carried, a large number which were from the Canadian Government addressed to Heads of State in a number of countries. Feb. 23 - "Silver Dart" flight from Baddeck, N.S. * 834 1959 Feb. 25 - Dawson-Old Crow, Y.T. and Return. Special flight to take in P.O. equipment and available mails for opening of new post office at Old Crow. (Regular service started March 2). Old Crow was formerly served by air from Fort Yukon, Alaska. Pilot John Wakefield of Connelly-Dawson· Airways Ltd. No covers known from Dawson to Old Crow but a few covers are known from the return flight, postmarked Old Crow Feb. 25, 1959. No special markings. Dawson-Old Crow ...... (159 Lbs.) Old Crow-Dawson (A Few Known) ...... (30 Lbs.) • 839 1959 June 1 - Calgary-Great Falls, Mont., U.S.A.. S. Air Route CAM 52. Pilot Capt. Farmer of \Vestern Air Lines. 243 covers carried. Backstamped Great Falls, June 1, 8.30 PM. Cachet in red supplied by Western Air Lines showing Jack Canuck, map of route, and wording at top "FIRST FLIGHT CAM 52," and at bottom "WESTERN AIR LINES." Calgary-Great Falls, Montana, U.S.A ...... (243 Pieces) • 843 1960 May 27 - Calgary-Spokane, Wash., U.S.A. Flown by West· Coast Airlines. Pilot Patrick O'Grady; Co-Pilot Spencer Wessling. Less than 500 covers carried. Cachet supplied by West Coast Airlines of U.S.A. showing Bronco Buster with wording at top "FIRST FLIGHT - WEST COAST AIRLINES" and at bottom "CALGARY TO SPOKANE - MAY 27th 1960." A few covers were dispatched from Calgary air mail field. Calgary-Spokane, Wash., U.S.A...... (450-500 Pieces) a. Calgary A.M.F. - Spokane, Wash., U.S.A...... (Very Few) • 853 1961 May 1 - Regina-Minot, N.D., U.S.A. U.S. Air Mail Route No. 86. Flown by North Central Airlines, Inc. Pilot Capt. John K. Thompson. No cachet. Back­ stamped at Minot May l, 5.30 PM. 74 covers carried. Regina-Minot, N.D., U.S.A...... (74 Pieces)

Happy Holidays! In these troubled times, how wonderful it is to forget the cares of the world for a short time! May your collecting be fruitful and lead to happiness and satisfaction. May the rarities and errors come your way and may that elusive item you so wistfully sought find its way into your collection. Be healthy and prosperous, too! The Editorial Staff of the Airpost Journal and Joseph Eisendrath, Editor.

64 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 EXCLUSIVE SCHIRRA COVERS SHOWPIECES WITH OFFICIAL CACHETS OCTOBER 3 HARRIS USS Kearsarge, R escue ship, official cachet ...... $4.50 U.S. A. USS O'Bannon, Renshaw, La ke Cham­ plain, Antietam, (Recovery Fleet) official cachet ...... $2 .00 CATALOG USS Nuclear Carrier Enterprise, of- ficial cachet ...... $2.00 HUNDREDS OF USS Constellation with official cach- et ...... $2 .00 PRICE CHANGES! Spacecraft T racking Ship Sunny - 160 PAGES • NEARLY 2000 ILLUSTRATIONS vale ...... $2.50 Brand new edition of America 's most widely used U. S. & Cover with Project Mercury illust. B.N.A. cata log - containing hundreds of important price Meter postmark ...... $1.50 chan ges - published by world 's largest stamp firm . Com­ plete illustrated listing of al l major U. S. is sues, U. S. Above all with Oct. 3 postmark .. $15 .00 Possessions and Briti sh No rth America. Also spec ialties, Rare Polar: Atom Subs Skate & Sea- Confederate States, United Nations, "Americana" PLUS dragon ...... $13 .00 U. S. Stamp Identifier - comprehensive illustrated North Pole Rendezvous w.off. cachet, booklet. Tells you how to distinguish between rare and common " look-alike" stamps. All this and more in ~ !::) ~~ BELHAM EXCHANGE ou r BIG interesting catalog. , ~.._..""" Box 119, Ridgewood 27, N. Y. H. E. HARRIS & CO. Largest Sto<;k Pioneer Rockets and Space Covers Catalog Dept., Boston 17, Mass.

W e are philatelic auctioneers The Largest and specialize And Most Comprehensive Stock Of in providing Aerogrammes a competitive market In The World for stamp collections and other philatelic properties --0- A NEW ISSUE SERVICE Q ver 35 year s' experience SECOND TO ROHE A.tk For Detail. Today assures the maximum --0- in results Up-To-Date Check List Your inquiry is welcomed Free On Request IRWIN REIMAN, --0- Inc. WALTER R. GUTHRIE Serving American Philately Since 1926 P. 0. BOX 390 2 West 46th Street New York, N.Y. Telephone: JUdson 2-2393 Suite 708 TUSCON, ARIZONA A

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 65 BOOK REVIEW- Ford Tri-Motor to Smithsonian As a contribution to the Smithsonian sanabria 1963 the World Airmail Institution's program of acquiring air­ Catalogue, published by Nicolas Sana­ planes of significant historical value, bria Co., Inc., 521 Fifth Avenue, New American Airlines has repurchased a York, 17, N.Y. pp. 738, price $12.50, Ford Tri-Motor operated by a predeces­ available from the publishers and your sor company three decades ago. favorite dealer. The "Tin Goose," as the Fords often The biannual Catalogue of aerophi­ were called, will be fully restored to its latelic material, now in its 28th year has 1929 elegance and given to the Smith­ once again made its appearanc~ and sonian when the Institution's new Air once again has made numerous pnce re­ Museum is ready for occupancy. visions, and has added several pages. In the meantime, the famous old air­ Listings include for all countries, re­ line workhorse of the late 20s and early cognized varieties of adhesi~e ~~ ma~l 30s is making a series of airport visits. stamps, mint and used, Sem1-off1cial arr First official stop was Dulles Interna­ mail stamps, military overprints, dates tional Airport on Nov. 17 to take part in of first issue, rocket labels, first day of the dedication of the new jet field serv­ use on cover, proofs, essays and speci­ ing Washington, U. C. mens, local surtax stamps, consular over­ The Tri-Motor, registered as NC9683, prints, errors, varieties (but no postal was part of the original fleet of Ameri­ stationery). can Airways, immediate predecessor of We'd estimate that this catalogue lists American Airlines. Retired and sold by well over 5000 more varieties than any American in 1935, it has since flown in similar catalogue. Printed on enamel various parts of the W estem Hemisphere. stock, profuse with illustrations, it has The airline purchased it last month from become the "Bible" for aerophilatelists. Aircraft Hydro-Forming, a California in­ We note that most price changes, al­ dustrial firm. The aircraft was the 39th though generally upward, are moderate manufactured in Ford's 5-AT series. and more in keeping with general mar­ This model, powered by three Pratt & ket quotations. This catalogue was at Whitney Wasp engines, was flown at one one time noted for its somewhat inflated time by 15 of the world's airlines. valuations, but in recent years, this seems The restoration is being accomplished to have been corrected - and in this by American in three phases. First, an edition, prices seem to be more realistic. intensive airworthiness program has put One reason we like this catalogue is it in shape for its Uulles visit. During that it is kept up-to-date by periodical the winter, experts at American's Jet supplements listed in Sanabria's Airpost Maintenance Base at Tulsa will re-equip News. the airplane with exact replicas of 1929 If you've never had this catalogue, seats, landing lights, and other vintage you should get it. If you have a pre­ items. As the final phase, the Ford will vious edition, remember that the old be returned to its original configuration one is not correct and listings of the past with less powerful engines than it now two years aren't there. The new edition has, with fixed instead of variable pro­ has all. pellers, fewer instruments and an absence We recommend it for every aerophi­ of modem radio equipment for the pre­ latelist. sentation to the Smithsonian .

A NICE GESTURE• Transoceanic Airplane Recent life member Sidney K. Stein­ Mail Flown - Attempted feld, reports Secretary Ruth Smi0, h~s Intended Flights made a contribution to the Society m Bought - Sold - Exchanged memory of George W. Angers. This is KRINSKY much appreciated by all of us, and we 250 £. 96th SL Brooklyn 12, N.Y. hope, will set an example for other such gifts. 66 THE AIRPOST .JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 OFFICIAL S~CTI ON AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY

MONTHLY REPORT From the Secretary Ruth T. Smith, 102 Arbor Road, Riverton, New Jersey DECEMBER 1962 NEW MEMBERS 4948 Hite, Nola E., (Mr.), 219 W. Michigan St., Evansville, Ind. 4949 Greer, Hazel C., (Mrs.), 600 N. 23rd St., Waco, Texas. 4950 Ibsen, Henry G., 4143 Park Ave., Bronx 57, N. Y. 4951 Kerst, Herman, 310 Woodbridge Rd., Des Plaines, Ill. 4952 Bechberger, Karl, PO Box 276, Donnelsville, Ohio. 4953 Reggel, Emanuel M., 690 Ft. Washington Ave., New York 40, N. Y. 4954 Glassey, William H., M.D. 26, Lacey Field, Newburgh, N.Y. 4955 Sass, Charles H., Jr., 1821 Colden Ave., New York, N.Y. 4956 Rosenblat, Daniel G., 660 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo, Calif. NEW APPLICATIONS Hamilton, John M., 212 Northview St., Aurora, Ill. Age: 15 Student By: R.T. Smith APS X Hein, Richard F., 36 El Paso Pl., Salinas, Calif. Age: 21 Student By: R.T. Smith AM AU PC HC CC X - US airs especially C23, CE-2 Jeffus, John H., Box 36, Cascade, Colo. Age: 50 Farmer By: R.T. Smith PC PA GF Lazarus, Sydney A., 68 Forest Ave., Glen Ridge, N.J. Age: 61 Publisher AM AU Z X By. S. Goldsticker Gmahle, William T., 2000 E. New Orleans Ave., Tampa 10, Fla. Age: 56 Realtor JF HF FF GF CAM FAM RP CC OF DC Z CF ID APS X By: R.T. Smith RE-INSTATEMENTS 2741 Kent, Thaddeus F., 32 S. 26th St., Camp Hill, Pa. Age: 52 Civ. Serv. By: R.T. Smith AU SC X NEW LIFE MEMBER #112 - Sidney K. Steinfeld, New Orleans, La. RESIGNATIONS 4334 Palmer, Emma R., Annapolis, Md. 3778 Koehn, Reginald, Exeter, Neb. 4791 VanGorder, Laurence, Oakland, Cal. 2396 Johnson, Blaine, Chicago, Ill. 4529 Frankel, Harold, New York, N.Y. CHANGE OF ADDRESS 4458 Vidaurri, R. J., Casilla de Correo 3860, Correo Central, Buenos Aires, . 4852 Halmstad, David G., 1709 Lamont St., NW, Washington 10, D.C. 4743 Kuhnle, Allen N., 120 Rodney Ave., Buffalo 14, N.Y. 4809 Rahmacher, Egon J., 1383 Northampton, Holyoke, Mass. 4636 Russell, Thomas E., 13520 Casper Rd., Cleveland 10, Ohio. 4435 Winchell, Charles L., 611 Indian River Park, Cocoa, Fla. 481 Witmer, A. F., 819 N. Duke St., Lancaster, Pa. 4110 Weiss, Julius, 2588 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland 6, Ohio. 525 Rosen, Isadore, 514 N. Genesee Ave., Los Angeles 36 Calif. 3586 Small, Maryan (Mr.), 2165 Trask Lake Rd., Lincoln, Mich. 4828 Augustin, Erwin C., 39640 Mary Lane, Oconomowoc, Wisc.

Since putting our new remittance envelopes in effect several months ago quite a few members have been generous enough to send contributions. We feel it is fitting to list their names because they have realized the need of these extra funds to enlarge our Publications moneys - a need of which most members are unaware. AAMS and Aerophilately thanks these members: ]. C. Manchester, Wm. R. Alley, Hans Sandholm, Henry Markhoff, Chester W. Reid and Special donation in memory of George Angers by Sidney Steinfeld. REMEMBER! Ifs Deductible

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 67 LONG ON SERVICE At Your Serviee Delp at Anetion

Regardless of whether you are buying or Each month you may acquire fine phila-

selling, you will likely find The Depart­ telic properties in our Mail Auction Sales. ment Store of Philately able and willing The current sale includes numerous air- to help you. mail stamps as well as covers which may Your inquiries coupled with your A.A.M.S. be of interest to you. membership number will be welcomed. A large and varied stock of stamps, seals If you receive catalogs regularly, he sure and covers will he found as close to you as to scan the offers and mail your bid sheet your mailbox. A complete line of albums, today! If you do not have the current catalogs and supplements is maintained in catalog, ask for your Free Auction Catalog the Elbe, Scott, Minkus and White Ace and look it over! line. You may send your orders for prompt attention: all orders of $2.00 or more sent Postfree anywhere in The U.S.A. All bidding is done by mail and you have Interesting covers are always available on equal opportunity to obtain these stamps, approval. As you know, you can't buy covers and collections! covers from a price list! You'll find un­

usual and even unique covers in Long's We have held more than 350 monthly stock, available to you on approval on sales over the past thirty years. Let me request. Write today! know how I can be of help to YOU!

Life Member: 22 ~OR.1fHH 2~ID> S'Ir o 9 AAMS EILMIER Ro IL ~ G APS IHIA\R.R.IlSimIDR.G9 IP A\o SPA

68 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 69 Foreign Pioneer Airpost Flights 1909-1914 C. Special Postal Cancella:tions of the Pioneer Period VI. THE FIRST PIONEE'R AIRPOST FLIGHTS IN SOUTH WEST AFRICA By Dr. Max Kronstein

INTRODUCTION • After an extensive search for facts on pioneer events at the Congressional Library in Washington, D.C. and the New York Public Library it had become evident that a full story would require a search in the newspapers abroad as well as inquiries to some of those people who had taken an active part nearly half a cenh1ry ago. It was through cooperation of the U.S.Consulate at Johannesburg and of the City Librarian of Johannesburg, Miss Anna H. Smith, that contact was made with the Town Clerk of the harbor town of Swakopmund, South West Africa, where these mail flights had originated. Through the clerk, we contacted Mr. H. Kleye of that town, by profession a farmer and a man closely interested in the historical background of the area, connected with the scientific and historical museums of Swakopmund and Windhoek. The Swakopmund museum is in a beautiful new building under the leadership of Dr. A. Weber, a dentist. It contains a complete collection of the news­ papers of the colony since 1904. There were three newspapers being issued before the first world war: at the time of the airpost flight at Swakopmund the "German South West Zeitung" (D.S.W.A.Z.), was published twice weekly. From the terminal of the flight at Windhoek, there was the "Sudwest" ( SWZ), also published twice a week, each issue having two pages. A third paper, published weekly at the town, where the civilian plane which carried mail made its last demonstration flights before leaving the area was the "Luderitzbuchter Zeitung" ( L.Z.). Mr. Kleye search­ ed these papers for answers to all our questions. Photos were prepared from available material. Other material was entrusted on loan to this author for study. Personal contact was made with Willy Truck, the first aviator to fly in this former German colony who later organized the first post war civilian air flights there. He lives presently with his family in Capetown, S.A. and is now 74 years old. He and his wife cooperated actively with our efforts. Also the former mechanic, Mr. Rubner, now 82 years old, of the first SWA airplane was contacted and interviewed. To all these people go our sincere thanks and appreciation for making possible this section in our series. THE "GERMAN SOUTH WEST AFRICA" OF 1914 In 1914 South West Africa was perhaps the most successful German colony. It had an area of 835,000 sq. kilometers ( 322,310 sq. miles) with 260,000 inhabitants among them 14,800 Europeans. In 1960 the census showed 240,681 inhabitants including 72,207 Europeans. To give an additional idea of the country's strucrure; In 1932, of all the inhabitants only 9093 lived in towns and cities, against 41,776 in 1960. There were only 5,971 farms recorded in 1960. The main sea harbor of the area is at Swakopmund, the starting point of the 1914 airpost event. At that time the town was still under development; in 1932 it had 1,125 inhabitants, and in 1960 this number had increased to 2,800. The destination of the flight was the capital at Windhoek, headquarters of the colonial governor, Dr. Theodor Seitz. This city is situated at an altitude of 1,650 meters or about 5700 feet above sea level. To give historical background to the 1914 flight, in 1899 it would have taken three weeks to bring a letter from Swakopmund to Windhoek. In 1897 work had 70 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 begun on a railroad covering 380 km ( 236 miles). This went from the harbor of Swakopmund to Karibib in the South East corner of the Erongo Mountains. (In 1932 this town had 290 inhabitants, in 1960 only 232). This was the most northern part of the railroad. Even with the train a letter from Swakopmund to Windhoek still required three days. In 1912 the railroad was extended to Keetman­ shoep. (altitude about 6000 ft. above sea level). This place in 1932 had about 1150 and in 1960 about 3600 inhabitants. THE FIRST AIRPLANES OF 1914 Airplane flights in North Africa has been discussed in earlier chapters of this series. The first reported flight in Central Africa has been credited to the Belgian aviator Lescart ( Deperdussin), who flew in Katanga, Belgian Congo in March 1913. At that time about $20,000 had been allocated to encourage aviation in the Congo area. The early airplane flights in the Union of were also discussed in the Airpost Journal of April, 1961. The first report about establishing a flying ground in German South West Africa came from Karibib in April, 1914, it also was mentioned that tests would soon be made to transport medical men and mail in the colony. Early in 1914 the South West African Aviation Club contacted the administration of the colony and requested allocation of about $25,000 for the development of aviation in the area. After extensive negotiations the German National Collection for the Development of Aviation promised to send an airplane early in May 1914 to South West Africa. Soon afterwards the German Colonial Secretary extended to two airplane companies permission to send airplanes under the National Collection program, with a budget of $13,000 per year per airplane. The steamship companies cooperated by carrying the planes without charge. The two official planes were: ( 1) a lumber-built of the Automobile and Aviatik Corporation of Muhl­ gausen (Alsace) with a 130 HP Argus Motor. The chief pilot was Willy Truck, who remained in South West Africa long after this expedition and became one of the area's active pioneers in the field of aviation. This plane was to be stationed at Karibib. ( 2) a steel-pipe constructed ">Roland" biplane of the Luftfahrt-Gesellschaft of Berlin-Adlers-hof with a 100 HP Daimler-Mercedes Motor. Its pilot was L' l'aul Fiedler. This plane was to be stationed at Keetmannshoop. The official aviation expedition was under leadership of First Lieutenant von Scheele, who became attached to the Colonial Forces in South West Africa. Several pilots, and mechanics were members of the group. Willy Truck was the first to arrive at Swakopmund on May 5, 1914 arriving on the S.S. General. As soon as his Aviatik plane, together with a reserve plane and spare parts, had arrived on May 18, it was sent to the new plane base of Karibib by rail. By May 27 Truck made his first test flights, followed on May 28 by a two hour test flight up to an altitude of 7000 or 8000 feet, and on June 9/10 by the first overland round trip to Okahandja. The Roland biplane arrived in Keetmannshoop; late in June Lt. Fiedler made his first flight with the president of the local aviation club as passenger. However, this plane was less successful, for on July 24 a crash landing occurred. T.lie plane was not returned into service until after outbreak of the First World War. THE FIRST CIVILIAN AIRPLANE OF 1914 On May 29 to June 4, a Colonial "Landes" Exhibition at Windhoek, S.W.A. was scheduled on the thirtieth anniversary of the first German colonial settlement at

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEl\7.IBER, 1962 71 Luderitzbay, SWA. It was hoped to have an airplane participate. Willy Truck succeeded in making the 165 mile flight from Karibib to Windhoek in one hour and 40 minutes, following a small handdrawn route-sketch. On his arrival he was greeted by the local authorities. He made a number of demonstration and passenger flights before he returned by air to Karibib on June 5. Since this plane was under military authority, no mail was carried . During the whole period of the Truck flights, he carried only "private" despatches as part of his military flights and no actual airmail. The first airmail in South West Africa was flown by a civilian plane, sent over as a part of an advertising campaign of a Berlin department store and mail order house, Rudolph Hertzog. According to preliminary announcements it had been expected to ship the plane ·to Swakopmund, to fly to the exhibition at \Yindhoek and to continue the flight to Keetmanshop, to Luderitzbay and to Capetown, South Africa. Then the plane would go from Cape Town by rail to Tanganyika Lake and would fly across another German colony, German East Africa, to tl1e capital of that colony, where another "Landes" Exhibition was to be opened on August 24 and then to continue the tour to Cairo, Egypt. For this project the company had acquired a military biplane of the Pfalz airplane company of Speyer on Rhine. It is surprising that this particular kind had been selected, as it was less known in that period. A similar plane had been used for carrying the Speyer-Mannheim Airmail on May 17, 1914, almost at the same time as the postal despatch in South ·west Africa. These planes had llO HP motors. The company secured the services of pilot Bruno Buchner, who had successfully participated in the German Circuit of 19ll and other competitions. He arrived at Swakopmund on the S.S. General accompanied by a journalist, Ewald Baeker of the Berlin newspaper "Berliner Lokalanzeiger." According to the South African newspaper, "Cape Argus," Buchner made several demonstration flights at Swakop­ mund on May 15, but owing to heavy fog h e could not make his scheduled flight to Karibib. He left Swakopmund on May 18 at 6:34 A.M., made an interim stop at Namib (due to heavy winds) and a second stop at Ankas (due to lack of fuel). Here he broke one of the steel-pipe supports of tl1e left wing and did not continue the flight until late in the afternoon. He arrived at Usakos, his first destination, at 5:31 P.M., landing in the middle of the village in front of the local hotel. On this flight he carried South W es t Africa's first airmail.

72 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 The idea to experiment with aerial mail in South West Africa had been suggested earlier in the year. With Truck's and Fiedler's planes at least partially under a military status, Buchner's plane was actually the first airplane available for these postal trials. A repeated search in the local papers gave no indication that these Buchner airposts had been generally pre-annow1ced by the postal authorities . Flown cards have the regular 5 pfennig postage stamp and letters the regular 10 pfennig postage stamp, representing the surface rate without any surtax for aerial b·ansportation. No special cards or covers were issued or sold. It appears that these despatches were flown without special fee and that they were accepted after per­ sonal announcement to the local people by the aviator and Baecker, his "public relations man." He did carry small airposts with local postal cancellations and special cachets on each of the four laps of his tour to Windhoek.

On the first lap to Usakos these were covers from Swakopmund with the postal cancellation "Swakopmund - 18.5.14 - (hour) - Deutsch Sudwestafrika" and a one-line cachet in gothic letters "Erster Flugpostversuch in D .S.W.A." in violet. These items are very rare. If the information in the Champion airpost catalogue of 1924 is correct, only 60 pieces were flown from Swakopmund. Buchner stayed in Usakos overnight and continued his flight the next morning at 6:45 A.M., arriving at the airfield of Karibib without difficulties at 7 :10, with a passenger, Mr. von Schutz. For this flight he had accepted more cards and covers at Usakos, bearing a violet cachet in gothic letters (three lines ): "Luftpost Usakos-Karibib - 1. Flugzeug in Sudwest-Befordert." No quantities for this Usakos despatch are established. He had planned to undertake passenger flights from Karibib, but heavy winds made this impossible and delayed him until May 22, when he made the 80 miles to Okahandja in about 90 minutes, leaving at 6:15 and arriving at 7 :48 A.M. His wife followed him in a small car on the railroadtrucks, a so called "draisine." On this route Buchner flew at 1900 ft above sea level and 1200 ft above the land. At Karibib he picked up more covers. These show the Karibib postal cancellation and a tlu·ee lines cachet in Roman letters "Erste Flugpost -Swakopmund-Karibib - V\Tindhuk - Deutschsudwestafrika."

THE AIRPOST .JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 73 · .et..fJ~o~t ~~~(~'" -~1: iGif;

l . i'.f~g~~:u, 9 _ i"t'l SuC1(1.e~ .t~fci-3.i it ~

The last sector of the trip from Okahandja to Windhuk was started on May 24, at 6:45 A.M. The covers had a three line cachet in Roman letters "Erste Flugpost - Deutsch Sudwes tafrika - Okahandja-Windhuk." He was forced to make his first emergency landing at Teufelsbach, because the wind was too strong to continue. In resuming the flight the plane was forced down a second time at the small town of Brackwater, still about 13 miles from his destination. Since th e plane required more ex tensive repairs, the aviator left it there and arrived in Windhoek by horse car. If he took the mail with him, it is not reported. But the fact that the Sieger Catalogue and other catalogues have reported that the mail arrived in Windhoek on that date, indicates a probable horse transport of th e mail m·er the last 13 miles to Windhoek. The aviator returned to his plane and early on May 28, flew to Windhoek for a few demonstration flights. Compared with Truck's brilliant 100-minute flight from Kari.bib to Windhoek on May 30, this Buchner flight had been somewhat disappointing. The local aviators explained it by the fact that Buchner's plane had been too "antique," having the center of gravity too far back, due to the position of the motor. However, the plane ,,vas actually a 1914 model. AFTE-R THE AIRPOST FLIGHT Initially Buchner's plane was to proceed from Windhoek by air to Keetmanshop and Luderitzbay, both in SWA and then to Capetown in South Africa, to be despatched from there for further flights in German East Africa. But the only moderate success of the flight and the lack of a permit was from the Union of South Africa to fly over South African territory caused the plane to be sent by rail to Luderitzbay. Once more Buchner made a few d emonstration flights-without airmail­ late in June. He sent his plane by boat, by the SS Khalif, directly to Daressalam in German East Africa, where it arrived just at the start of the first world war. It was taken over by the Army, with an officer as a new pilot. But very soon it suffered a crash landing. Buchner had to stay in East Africa all through the war perioa without undertaking any flights. After .the war he reh1med to Germany, where he died soon afterwards. Truck's Aviatik biplane, as well as his spare plane, was taken over by the

74 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 military services. He served as a pilot for First Lt. von Scheele. The Aviatik planes as well as Lt. Fiedler' s Roland plane were based on the landing field of Kalkfontein. Late in November and in December, 1914 they made bombing raids on allied camps. This kind of operation continued early in 191.5, until Lt. Fiedler crashed near Karibib on April 17 and Lt. von Scheele crashed near Omamuru on May 25. Both aviators were badly wounded. At that time the allied forces had six planes in the fi eld in this area. After the war, the colony had become a "mandate area" under the Union of South Africa. On August 16, 1929 two airpost stamps of South Africa, a 4 pence stamp and a 1 shilling stamp of South Africa were overprinted in black with the letters S.W.A., but the mail at that time had to be forwarded to South African airports by ordinary means. Early in October, 1929 Truck brought to the area the first post war airplane, a Klemm ZS-AAJ, which he called the "Windhoek." At that time he was one of the owners of a S.W.A. trading company and had the idea to use the plane for combined passenger and freight flights between the major towns of the area. On October 13, 1929 he arrived with his plane at Windhoek after a flight from Wal­ fishbay via Usakos, Karibib and Okahandja. This was the first flight to Windhoek since the pioneer flights of 1914. In November, 1930 the Mandate Administration made a five-year contract with the German Company to establish a regular air service between Windhoek and Keetmanshop and Upington to the great South African airport at Kimberley where connection was to be ma.de with the Cape Town-London air service of the Imperial Airways. The service was operated as the South West African Airways, using at least three airplanes, including the Junkers F 13 model, and was planned primarily as an airmail service. Passengers were to be accepted as space would permit. In November, 1930 a first flight was made by Captain Frey of the Junkers Works. In December the air stamps for 4 pence and 1 shilling were reissued, now with the overprint S.W.A. in larger letters. However, reguiar services were not inaugurated before August 1, 1931. This was the beginning of a speedy development. By February 15, 1932 there were twelve airfields in operation throughout the area. THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 75 A Biographical and Philatelic Study - Charles A. Lindbergh By Walter Curley, Librarian-Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum, Inc.

During this period, other countries • time. This is an indication of the poss- issued stamps whose designs definitely ibility }or air lines south of the United show the influence of Lindbergh and the States . Spirit of St. Louis. For a discussion of The Santo Domingo - to- Port-au­ the e stamps, see: "The Influence of Prince mail carried a special rubber the Lindbergh Flight on the Art of Air stamp cadhet reading "Correo Adro Stamps," by N. Pelletier ( Airpost Journ- Especial por Lindbergh Espirito de San al, May 1934, page 8) . Luis." The covers were franked with the One of the most significant philatelic 10 cents special delivery (Sc El) and events of Lindbergh's tour of the South- th e 2 cents 1924 issue (Sc 234). The em cotmtries, was that he transported covers were back tamped "6 Fev. 28" in official mail in the Spirit of St. Louis Port-au-Prince. for the first time. When he visited The Santo Domingo-to-Havana covers Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, carried a rubber stamp cachet reading: during F ebruary 4-6, 1928, he picked Primer Correo Aero, Santo Domingo­ up some ma.il destined for Port-au- Havana Vuelo especial "Lindbergh con Prince, Haiti, and Havana, Cuba. When el 'S pirit of St. Louis."' The covers were he arrived at Port-au-Prince on February backstamped "Havana, Cuba, Feb. 9, 6, he received another sack of mail des- 1928, 11 a. m." Most of the mail was tined fo r Havana, Cuba. He delivered given an additional backstamp of Feb. this mail to Havana on Februarv 8, 1928. 8, 1928, 4 p.m. to commemorate the In an article written by Lindber c:rh hour Lindbergh arrived. which appeared in National Geographic The Port-au-Prince-Havana mail car­ Magazine he mentions this mail! "I am ri ed a cachet with the following words: carrying with me three sacks of mail for "Premier Courrier Aerien, Port-au-Prince Havana, the first mail ever carried in Raid Special 'Lindbergh ~ a Bord du the Spirit of St. Louis. One of th ese 'Spirit of St. Louis."' See Figure 13. bags came from Santo Domingo, and These covers also carried an air mail although it remained in the plane for marker and special Lindbergh market. two days ·while I was at Port-au-Prince, The mail was postmarked on February it will arrive in Havana days ahead of 7, at Port-au-Prince. Like the Santo Do-

Figure 13

76 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 a major role in the establishment of several United States foreign contract air mail routes in Central and South ~ erica. and the West Indies. During this penod, he was technical consultant to Pan American Airways which was the contractor of these routes. Lindbergh was involved .in the establishment of the following routes: 1. F AM-5 - Miami to Cristobal, Canal Zone. Figure 14 2. F AM-6 Extension - Miami to Par­ mingo-to-Havana covers, they were back­ amaribo, Dutch Guiana (Surinam). stamped February 9, 1928, and most of 3. FAM-8 - Brownsville, Texas to the covers were additionally backstamp­ . ed February 8, 1928, the day of Lind­ On February 4, 1929, the United bergh's arrival in Havana. States established ·an air mail route After a stay of three days in Havana between Miami, Florida, and Cristobal Lindbergh took off on the last leg of in the Canal Zone, a distance of 2407 of the tour. He landed in St. Louis on mile . (See Figure 15). Lindbergh was February 13, 1928. the pilot on the inaugural flight from "Lindbergh Again Flies the Air Mail" Miami with Raymond J. Merritt as co­ Shortly after the completion of his pilot. Also accompanying Lindbergh was tour of the southern countries, Lind­ Colonel John A. Hambelton, vice-pres­ ident of Pan American Airways. During bergh, at his. own request, returned to his old air mail route CAM-2. On Feb­ the southward flight to Cristobal, stops were made at Havana, Cuba; Belize, ruary 20, 1928, Llndbergh made a British Honduras; Tela, Honduras; Man­ special flight northward from St. Louis to Chicago. On the next day, he made agua, Nicaragua; Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and David, Panama with the final stop the return trip to St. Louis. On both at Cristobal on February 6, 1929. Mail flig~1ts .he made the regular stops at service was not available to the inter­ Spnngfield and Peoria. It took four mediary stops. The return flight was planes to carry all the mail prepared for made on February 10, 1929, the same these special flights. Lindbergh flew stops being made with the exception of each plane part of the way (the Spirit Tela which was omitted from the itiner­ of St. ~ouis was not one of these planes). ary. The round trip ended in Miami on A special cachet was issued on all this February 13, 1929. Figure 16 shows a mail, the words "Lindbergh Again Flies cover autographed' by Lindbergh flown the Air Mail" inscribed in a horseshoe. The Foreign Air Mail (FAM> Activ- on the F AM-5 inaugural flight. The ities of Lindbergh Miami cancellation date on the front is February 4, 1929, with a February 6, During 1929 - 31, Lindbergh played 1929, backstamp at Cristobal. On the return flight, mail was cancelled at Cristobal on February 10 and back­ stamped at Miami on February 13, 1929. Later, mail service was extended to the intermediary points as well as to other citie in Central and South America. Lindbergh inaugurated three of these extensions: In 1930, a faster service was estab­ lished between Miami and Cristobal. A more direct route was used with stops at Havana, Cuba, and Puerto Cabezas Nicaragua. (See Figure 15). T•his ne~ Figure 15 route did not replace the initial route THE AIRPOST .JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 77 Figure 16 de cribed above, but was an additional boat "The American Clipper," which once-a-week service. Lindbergh was was capable of carrying 50 passengers. again the inaugural pilot for Pan Amer- Lindbergh took off from Miami on No­ ican Airways. The southward flight be- vember 18, 1931, and landed in Cris­ gan in Miami on April 26, 1930, and tobal on November 22. The return flight ended at Cristobal on April 27. The was made on November 25-26, 1931. stops at Havana and Puerto Cabezas 2. F AM-6 Extension were made on April 26 and 27, respec­ tively. Air Mail service was available to Air mail route F AM-6 originally ex­ these two intermediary points, and in­ tended from Miami to San Juan, Puerto augural flight covers exist from both Rico, and was established on January 9, points in both directions although Puerto 1929. Lindbergh was not involved in the Cabezas covers are quite rare. The re­ inaugural flight. However, in September turn flight from Cristobal began on May 1929, when this route was extended be­ 1, 1930, and terminated in Miami on yond San Juan to Paramaribo, Surinam, May 2, with stops being made again at Lindbergh was the pilot on the inaugural Puerto Cabezas (May 1) and Havana flight. The extension flight began in (May 2). The cover shown in Figure 17 Miami on September 20, 1929, where was carried on the northward flight to Lindbergh took off in a tri-motored Fok­ Miami from Cristobal on May 1, 1930. ker plane. He was accompanied by Mrs. It was backstamped in Puerto Cabezas Lindbergh; Mr. J. T. Trippe, president on May l, and returned to Cristobal on of Pan American Airways; a crew of May 4 and forwarded to the addressee three including Ed Musick, co-pilot, and at Coco Solo in the Canal zone on May seven passengers. The plane landed at 5. The new route on CAM-5 reduced Paramaribo three days later, on Septem­ the flying time between Miami and be 23. Mail was picked up at Port-au­ Cristobal from over two days to 33 hours. Prince, Haiti (Sept. 21 ) ; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Sept. 21); San Another extension of F AM-5 was in­ Juan, Puerto Rico (Sept. 22); St. Thom­ augurated by Lindbergh in l-931. In as, Virgin Islands (Sept. 22); St. John's, November, 1931, a route was established Antigua (Sept. 22); Castries, St. Lucia between Miami and Cristobal which (Sept. 22); Port of , Trinidad service~ Cienfuegos, Cuba; K!ingston, (Sept. 22); Georgetown, British Guiana Jamaca, and Barranqui1la, Colum~a. (Sept. 23); and Paramaribo, Surinam (See Figure 15). For the inaugural ( Sept. 23). See Figure 19. flight, Lindbergh piloted the new flying Lindbergh and his party made an un- 78 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 Figure 17 scheduled stop (Sept. 22) at Basseterre, St. Kitts, to pay his respects to the Gov­ ernor of the Leeward Islands, T. R. St. Johnston. While at St. Kitts, Lindbergh took on a small batch of mail destined fo r other points along the route, as well as fo r Miami. Figure 20 shows a cover carried on the inaugural flight of the F AM-6 Ex­ tension. Figure 21 shows one of the covers Lindbergh picked up at the un­ scheduled stop at St. Kitts. The return flight, Paramaribo to Mi­ ami, was made during September 25-28, 1929. Lindbergh made the northbound air-mail flight only as far as Port of Figure 19 Spain. T1he mail was transferred to

Figure 20

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 79 Figure 21 another plane which was flown north one of the covers carried by Lindbergh to San Juan by Jack Tilton. Lindbergh on the F AM-8 inaugural flight. and his party returned to the United CTo be continued) States by way of Cri tobal, Central America, and Yucatan. • ABOUT OUR COVER - 3. FAM-8 The painting on our cover is the re­ FAM route 8 ex tended from Browns­ ville, Texas, to Mexico City, Mexico, production of the latest work of rioted (Se Figure 15) and was inaugurated on Australian artist William A. Dargie, a March 10, 1929, by Lindbergh as pilot portrait of Capt. C. T. P. ·Ulm and Sir and technical advisor for Pan American Charles King fird Smith. It was com­ Airways. Lindbergh, at this time, was in missioned by Atlantic Union Oil Co. Pty. Mexico City visiting at the home of Mi 'S Anne Morrow, his fiancee and daughter Ltd., to coincide with the unveiling of of Dwight Morrow, United States am­ th e Brisbane Memorial. These intrepid bassador to Mexico. airmen were among the pioneers of long On March 9, 1929, Lindbergh flew distance flying between England and to Brownsville, Texas, and the next day, "Down Under" and made many of the March 10, flew the inaugural flight earliest flights over the Indian Ocean and back to Mexico City. Figure 22 shows Tasman Sea.

INCREASED POSTAL RATES MEAN NEW POSTAL STATIONERY ITEMS .. , . orders being taken on these: FIRST DAYS... UNCACHETED CACHETED "ARTCRAFT" NEW 4c Post C a rd .25 .30 .50 NE\Y 5c Envelope .25 .30 .50 NEW Sc Envelope .25 .30 .50 SINGLES BLOCKS PL.# BLKS . NEW 5c Regular .30 .50 $1.50 NEW 5c Coil .30 Pair .40 Line P a ir .75 NEW 5c BOOKLET .30 Full P a ne of 6 .75 NEW Sc Air m ail .40 .75 $2.50 NEW Sc COIL .40 P air .50 Line ·Pair .95 NEW Sc B OOKLE T .40 Full Pane of 6 $1.00 Please check w h at is wanted & r emit with a ll order s. H. DOLIN & CO. 31 PARK Row NEW YORK CITY 38, N. Y.

80 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL, DECEMBER, 1962 AAMS EXCHANGE DEPABTMEBT APJ ADS BUY SELL - WAHT LISTS

RATES: WANT PIONEER's #9 and #59. Govern­ FOUR CENTS PER WORD per insertion. mental #l15's. First Flights, Misc. covers Minimum charge one dollar. Remittance from . Lindberghiana material of must accompany order and copy. The various kinds. Buy or trade. Horace West­ AIRPOST JOURNAL. 350 No. Deere Park brooks, Griffin, Georgia. *393 Drive, Highland Park, Ill. WANTED: Old Scott H. P. Air Post pages for issues up to 1928. E. P. Beachum, 1814 PHILATELIC SUPPLIES Eastman Ave., Bethlehem, Pa. *392 AIRMAIL ENVELOPES: Finest Quality. Distributed Thirty Years by Carl Becken. EXCHANGE - U. S. mint plate blocks Send ten cents for Samples. Cornelius precancels, cancellations, mint and used Stamp Co. 315 Kresge Bldg., Minneapolis, singles. Send want list and basis of ex­ Minn. *396 change preferred. Parker, Rt. 1 Box 363, Hot Springs, Ark.

WANTED and EXCHANGE WANTED: Mint plate blocks of U. S. Air­ mail - (C-1 thru C-36). Will exchange or AIRLETTERS,. AEROGRAMMES: Have buy positions needed. Send offers to: over 1000 different for exchange or sale. Parker, Rt. 1 Box 363, Hot Springs, Ark. Both mint and used. What's your interest? Richard P. Heffner, 2012 Spring St., West Lawn, Pa. *391 HAVE RECOVERY. SHIPS, US.S. Noa, Intrepid and Kearsarge· to· exchange for WANTEd: Nat'! Air Mail Wk. covers of other space mdse. Make offers. Dolin, 31 May 1938 - will buy or swap. Don Lussky Park Row, N.Y.C. 38. 466 Oak Ave. Aurora, Ill. *391 SWAP U.S.S. Noa - 2/20/62 cancel for USED air mail stamps exchange wanted. 100 different Mercury Cities or best cash Scott basis. Have also mint new issues offer. Dolin, 31 Park Row, N.Y.C., 38. service. Very serious. Sarni Kanafani P. 0. B. 701, Beirut, Lebanon. *392 NEED OFFICIAL U.S. Govt. Flight. Early CAM's and F AM's. Have all types air EXCHANGE Canadian military air letters covers and mint and used U.S. Airmail cancelled at Canadian European bases Stamos to swap. Pesin 2 Ellington pl. and UNEF bases in Gaza Strip & Congo · Englewood Cliffs N. J. for Can9.dian airmail covers. F /L R.K. Malott, RCAF Air Weapons Unit, CAPO HAVE MANY airmail covers to exchange 5047, Montreal, Canada. *391 on a fair basis. L. Staub. 16 Sutton Terr. Jericho, L. I. N.Y. WILL TRADE Airpost Journal 1947 to date for US coil pairs mint or used. E. Schust­ WANTED: Wholesale offers of used air­ er, Sr. 215 La Salle Ave. Kenmore, 17. N.Y. mail stamps. Joseph J. Figuccio 8705 - 19th Ave. Bklyn., 14, New York.

AMERICAN AIR MAIL Catalog Volume AIRMAILS USED - WANTED: Collect­ III. New never used, in shipping case as ions, job lots, better sets at market prices. received. Exchange for what have you .Toseph J. Figuccio 8705 - 19 Ave. Bklyn., to offer. Nicholas Rieger, 5323 Baccich St., 14, New York. New Orleans 22, La. WANTED: First Day of issue covers - WANT AAMS membership lists December Scott C2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 1942 and March 1934. Other AAMS mem­ 19. Aero Books, Medals, Cards. Have orabilia. Have extra bound volume of ~tamps and fancy cancellations to trade. AIRPOST JOURNAL 1929-31 Westbrooks, J. L. Kanney 1808 Pacific Ave. Manhattan 252, Griffin, Georgia. Beach, California.

WANTED COVERS: Lisbon-New York via WANTED: Aeronautical Medals, Post Bolama 1941 (AAMS F18-22); ATC Round Cards, Picturing Airplanes, Balloons. the World service 1945 (AAMS 1365); Hin­ Books, Posters, AAM Cat. Vol II 1947. denburg, Friedrichshafen-Lakehurst, 1936, J. L. Kanney 1808 Pacific Ave. Manhattan pictorial envelope, postmarked Friedrich­ Beach California. shafen Hindenburg stamps, as illustrated AAMS Cat. p. 829. Clear markings. H. L. URGENTLY WANTED: Germany and Chisholm, The Age, Melbourne, Australia. Colonies, Philippines, China, Netherlands, *392 France. Will buy or exchange USA or Foreign Countries. Send stamps to Yand U. S. - FD Covers, Blx's and Plate Block L. Chung, 2 E. 24th St.. Wilmington 2, collection, mounted. European F.F.C. and Delaware, U.S.A. *392 postal stationery, to dispose of. Corres­ pondence invited. I need AUSTRIAN WANTED: San Marino Zeppelin covers USED BLOCKS, any issue. BUSH, 4601 from 1930-39. Sebastiao Amaral, Caixa N.E. 3rd. Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. *393 postal 367. Belo Horizonte, . *401 now ready!

. 1963

NICOLAS SANABRIA CO., INC. 521 Fifth Avenue New York 17, N.Y.