First U.S. Express Mail Stamp
On August 12, 1983, the USPS issued its first Express mail stamp, though the service, and those like it, had been available for several years.
Flight
Astronauts Take Lunar Rover for First Drive on the Moon
On July 31, 1971, US Astronauts David Scott and James Irwin became the first humans to drive on the Moon. Their Apollo 15 mission was the first of three in which the lunar rovers were driven on the Moon’s surface.
Happy Birthday, Amelia Earhart!
Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas. Earhart advanced the role of women in aviation during the early days of flight. She was the first woman to fly the Atlantic Ocean solo (and the first person to do it twice), receive the Distinguished Flying Cross, and fly nonstop coast-to-coast across the US.
The Berlin Airlift
On June 26, 1948, the first supply-filled planes departed bases in England and Western Germany as part of the Berlin Airlift.
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.
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).
First Public Hot Air Balloon Demonstration
On June 4, 1783, the Montgolfier brothers staged the first successful public hot air balloon demonstration, sparking interest and rapid advancements.
Birth of Sally Ride
Sally Ride was born on May 26, 1951, in Encino, Los Angeles, California. In 1983, she became the first American woman in space, and the third woman overall, after two Soviet cosmonauts.
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.