Airmail

1941 6¢ Twin-Motor Transport
June 25, 1941

Twin-Motored Transport Plane Airmails

On June 25, 1941, the US Post Office Department issued the first in a new series of Airmail stamps picturing a twin-motored transport plane.  These stamps would carry mail across the US and around the globe throughout World War II.

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1928 Canada's first airmail
June 24, 1918

Canada’s First Airmail Flight

On June 24, 1918, Captain Brian Peck made the first airmail flight in Canada. It would be another decade before the service became official and Canada would issue its first Airmail stamps.

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1918 24¢ Curtiss Jenny
June 23, 1938

The Civil Aeronautics Act 

On June 23, 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Civil Aeronautics Act, creating the Civil Aeronautics Authority. The CAA was tasked with investigating accidents, recommending ways to prevent future accidents, and setting airline fares and routes. It eventually became the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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1980 35¢ Glenn Curtiss
May 21, 1878

Happy Birthday to Glenn Curtiss

Glenn Hammond Curtiss was born on May 21, 1878, in Hammondsport, New York.  He designed the planes flown by most American WWI pilots, which were also used to carry the first airmail deliveries.

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1939 30¢ Winged Globe Transatlantic Airmail
May 20, 1939

Trans-Atlantic Airmail Service

On May 20, 1939, the US Post Office inaugurated its official trans-Atlantic airmail service to Europe. The new Yankee Clipper service flew from New York to France in 26 hours.

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1918 24¢ Curtiss Jenny
May 13, 1918

America Issues First Airmail Stamp

On May 13, 1918, the United States issued its first airmail stamp – US #C3. It carried America’s first airmail two days later, and sparked one of the world’s most famous stamp rarities.

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1918 6¢ Curtiss Jenny
February 22, 1921

Transcontinental Airmail 

On February 22, 1921, experimental overnight transcontinental airmail flights between San Francisco and New York were launched. Despite a rocky start, the flights were a resounding success, earning support and funding for expanded service.

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1998 32¢ Celebrate the Century - 1920s: Lindbergh
February 4, 1902

Happy Birthday Lucky Lindy! 

Charles Augustus Lindbergh was born on February 4, 1902, in Detroit, Michigan. An aviation pioneer, he made the first successful non-stop flight across the Atlantic and contributed to the war effort in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

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2005 37¢ Advances in Aviation: Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star
June 22, 1946

First Airmail Carried by Jet

On June 22, 1946, US Airmail was carried by jet for the first time.  The flight was part of an event to showcase how GE’s aviation products could positively impact people’s lives and the future.

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