This Date in Postal History: Airmail

The first official flight of the United States Airmail Service was done 101 years ago today. There were flights before that time, (some by balloon), but they aren't considered part of the official airmail service that was offered by the Post Office Department (precursor to the USPS).

Above is pictured a cover that was carried on that first trip sporting the 24 cent Jenny stamp. This first trip was between Washington D.C., Philadelphia and NY. George L. Boyle, a pilot with the US Army was selected to fly the first northbound leg which did not end as anticipated. After takeoff he got disoriented and ended up flying south. Eventually he landed in Waldorf, Maryland and busted a prop on his plane. The mail from that trip had to be trucked back to Washington. Torrey Webb and James C Edgerton were successful in their flights south and flew Boyle's mail to Philadelphia on May 16th (the next day).

Domestic Airmail service in the United States ran until 1975 when it was officially ended by the Post Office dept. After those first few dodgy flights Airmail hung around for 57 years giving us lots of neat stamps, envelopes and labels that we use on our mail art today.

I suppose this just goes to show that sometimes things don't start off how we would like them, but through perseverance they can be something good.