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SCDHunter
SCDHunter Posts: 686 ✭✭✭
in Stamps Forum
I would like to try something new, that will hopefully get board member involvement with solving mysteries.

Here is a cover. What can we collectively learn about it?image

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  • rolew1946
    rolew1946 Posts: 181
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    Ok, I'll start it out. It is an airmail cover and an event cover. Definitely not a commercial usage. The airmail rate was 6 cents. I am retired Navy and probably have an unfair advantage so I will let others chime in for now.
  • Twogun
    Twogun Posts: 44
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    The cover was transported by at least three different US ships, The USS Avocet, USS Pelican, and the USS Wright.
  • Twogun
    Twogun Posts: 44
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    The USS Wright supported planes photographing Palmyra Island and served as "home" for the survey party that was sent ashore. On 2 November 1935, the USS Wright set course for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She later embarked men for transport to French Frigate Shoals. She then tended three squadrons of seaplanes off East Island while her diving party engaged in reef-blasting operations for the seaplane base being established there. On 12 Nov 1935, the day prior to handling this cover, the USS Wright terminated support for the seabase operation and headed for San Diego, CA, arriving there on 28 Nov 1935.
  • rolew1946
    rolew1946 Posts: 181
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    Time to think outside the box. In the corner card it is stated Hawaii to French Frigate Shoals - VP 6. VP stands for patrol squadrons of aircraft that were flying sea planes at the time. The cover is airmail.
  • SCDHunter
    SCDHunter Posts: 686 ✭✭✭
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    Great contributions!

    The cover is a round trip airmail cover, commemorating advance base operations during the 1935 Pacific naval maneuvers. It was flown in one of the aircraft of the designated squadron, on each leg of the trip. The three ships were all seaplane tenders, responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft. The cover was stamped with the official postal stamp while the seaplanes were docked with the ship.

    Does anyone know what the letters in the Hawaii cancellation stand for?


  • Twogun
    Twogun Posts: 44
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    I cannot make out all of the letters, but it appears to indicate a particular squadron at the Army Airfield in Hawaii.
  • SCDHunter
    SCDHunter Posts: 686 ✭✭✭
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    << <i>I cannot make out all of the letters, but it appears to indicate a particular squadron at the Army Airfield in Hawaii. >>



    I believe it reads": "HONOLULU, T.H. F.A.B & ATCHED SQDS, P. HARBOR BR."
  • Twogun
    Twogun Posts: 44
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    Thank you. Now I see that it refers to the Naval Air Squadrons attached at Pearl Harbor. But I do not know the letters T H F. A B may be Air Base.
  • SCDHunter
    SCDHunter Posts: 686 ✭✭✭
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    T.H. stands for "Territory of Hawaii". F.A.B. may stand for "Forward Air Base", but that is a guess on my part.
  • rolew1946
    rolew1946 Posts: 181
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    The thing I find interesting is that it was addressed to L. M. Hurtado, French Frigate Schoal. It was apparently not delivered but there are no markings of non delivery. Of course this is an event cover and I guess anything goes. Question: In 1935, did the postal regulations require that it be addressed to someone before it could be cancelled?
  • Twogun
    Twogun Posts: 44
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    Note also that regular postage was used instead of airmail stamps. It may have been delivered and not opened if the receiver knew it to be an empty envelope. Question, Is there anything inside?
  • SCDHunter
    SCDHunter Posts: 686 ✭✭✭
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    << <i>The thing I find interesting is that it was addressed to L. M. Hurtado, French Frigate Schoal. It was apparently not delivered but there are no markings of non delivery. Of course this is an event cover and I guess anything goes. Question: In 1935, did the postal regulations require that it be addressed to someone before it could be cancelled? >>



    I believe that the addressee had some sort of arrangement with the Postmaster for handling. There were probably handling instructions for each leg. They would ultimately reach the addressee.
  • SCDHunter
    SCDHunter Posts: 686 ✭✭✭
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    << <i>Note also that regular postage was used instead of airmail stamps. It may have been delivered and not opened if the receiver knew it to be an empty envelope. Question, Is there anything inside? >>



    If my understanding is correct, regular postage was allowed for airmail delivery and vice-versa. The covers sometimes contained blank sheets of paper or cardboard for stiffening the envelope. The addressee was the creator of the event cover.
  • MStarks
    MStarks Posts: 2
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    cool
  • ColinCMR
    ColinCMR Posts: 1,482 ✭✭✭
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    this is an awesome cover!
  • SCDHunter
    SCDHunter Posts: 686 ✭✭✭
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    Thanks for all of the comments.

    To me, the attraction to this and similar covers, is that Pacific air mail was in its infancy. Covers such as this, were carried outside of the normal mail, because regular mail did not exist to these locations. Although some postal historians may frown upon such covers as being contrived, in my opinion, they have their place in the history of the development of the air mail service and aviation itself.

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