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- 1927 Boeing Model 40-B2 Biplane - Subsidies from the federal government for air mail encouraged the development of improved long-distance aircraft like the Boeing 40. The key to the Boeing's success was the use of a lightweight air-cooled radial engine which allowed it to carry the mail and two paying passengers. This plane flew between Chicago and San Francisco, making 12 fuel stops along the way.
- 1927
- Collections - Artifact
1927 Boeing Model 40-B2 Biplane
Subsidies from the federal government for air mail encouraged the development of improved long-distance aircraft like the Boeing 40. The key to the Boeing's success was the use of a lightweight air-cooled radial engine which allowed it to carry the mail and two paying passengers. This plane flew between Chicago and San Francisco, making 12 fuel stops along the way.
- Mail Delivery from the First Contract Air Mail Flight (CAM-6), Detroit to Cleveland, February 15, 1926 - After operating air mail flights itself for eight years, the U.S. Post Office Department contracted with commercial air carriers in 1926. The first two contract routes, connecting Detroit with Cleveland and Chicago, were awarded to Ford Air Transport, Ford Motor Company's airline subsidiary. Ford planes carried more than 32,000 pounds of mail before the contract ended in July 1928.
- February 15, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Mail Delivery from the First Contract Air Mail Flight (CAM-6), Detroit to Cleveland, February 15, 1926
After operating air mail flights itself for eight years, the U.S. Post Office Department contracted with commercial air carriers in 1926. The first two contract routes, connecting Detroit with Cleveland and Chicago, were awarded to Ford Air Transport, Ford Motor Company's airline subsidiary. Ford planes carried more than 32,000 pounds of mail before the contract ended in July 1928.
- Stout Air Transport 2AT-5 before First Contract Air Mail Flight (CAM-6), Detroit to Cleveland, February 15, 1926 - After operating air mail flights itself for eight years, the U.S. Post Office Department contracted with commercial air carriers in 1926. The first two contract routes, connecting Detroit with Cleveland and Chicago, were awarded to Ford Air Transport, Ford Motor Company's airline subsidiary. Ford planes carried more than 32,000 pounds of mail before the contract ended in July 1928.
- Collections - Artifact
Stout Air Transport 2AT-5 before First Contract Air Mail Flight (CAM-6), Detroit to Cleveland, February 15, 1926
After operating air mail flights itself for eight years, the U.S. Post Office Department contracted with commercial air carriers in 1926. The first two contract routes, connecting Detroit with Cleveland and Chicago, were awarded to Ford Air Transport, Ford Motor Company's airline subsidiary. Ford planes carried more than 32,000 pounds of mail before the contract ended in July 1928.
- Ford Motor Company Report on Contract Air Mail Service Flights during November 1926 - After operating air mail flights itself for eight years, the U.S. Post Office Department contracted with commercial air carriers in 1926. The first two contract routes, connecting Detroit with Cleveland and Chicago, were awarded to Ford Air Transport, Ford Motor Company's airline subsidiary. Ford planes carried more than 32,000 pounds of mail before the contract ended in July 1928.
- November 01, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Report on Contract Air Mail Service Flights during November 1926
After operating air mail flights itself for eight years, the U.S. Post Office Department contracted with commercial air carriers in 1926. The first two contract routes, connecting Detroit with Cleveland and Chicago, were awarded to Ford Air Transport, Ford Motor Company's airline subsidiary. Ford planes carried more than 32,000 pounds of mail before the contract ended in July 1928.
- Letter from Ford Motor Company Cleveland Branch Manager A.B. Pease regarding the First Commercial Air Mail Flight (CAM-6), February 1926 - After operating air mail flights itself for eight years, the U.S. Post Office Department contracted with commercial air carriers in 1926. The first two contract routes, connecting Detroit with Cleveland and Chicago, were awarded to Ford Air Transport, Ford Motor Company's airline subsidiary. Ford planes carried more than 32,000 pounds of mail before the contract ended in July 1928.
- February 15, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Letter from Ford Motor Company Cleveland Branch Manager A.B. Pease regarding the First Commercial Air Mail Flight (CAM-6), February 1926
After operating air mail flights itself for eight years, the U.S. Post Office Department contracted with commercial air carriers in 1926. The first two contract routes, connecting Detroit with Cleveland and Chicago, were awarded to Ford Air Transport, Ford Motor Company's airline subsidiary. Ford planes carried more than 32,000 pounds of mail before the contract ended in July 1928.
- Envelope Sent by Air Mail to Henry Ford from Plymouth, Michigan for National Air Mail Week, May 1938 - Twenty years after the first regularly scheduled U.S. air mail service was established, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Postmaster General James A. Farley sponsored National Air Mail Week in 1938. Part celebration and part advertising, the event promoted the pricier service during the Great Depression. Cities throughout the country created their own special mail cachets and cancellations to mark the occasion.
- May 01, 1938
- Collections - Artifact
Envelope Sent by Air Mail to Henry Ford from Plymouth, Michigan for National Air Mail Week, May 1938
Twenty years after the first regularly scheduled U.S. air mail service was established, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Postmaster General James A. Farley sponsored National Air Mail Week in 1938. Part celebration and part advertising, the event promoted the pricier service during the Great Depression. Cities throughout the country created their own special mail cachets and cancellations to mark the occasion.
- "Couriers of the Clouds. The Romance of the Air Mail," 1930 - Published in 1930, <em>Couriers of the Clouds</em> by Edward Shenton told the story of air mail through vivid illustrations. Regular service started in 1918, with flights operated directly by the U.S. Post Office Department. Eight years later, the Post Office began contracting with commercial air carriers. Air mail subsidized the growth of America's airline network.
- 1870-1930
- Collections - Artifact
"Couriers of the Clouds. The Romance of the Air Mail," 1930
Published in 1930, Couriers of the Clouds by Edward Shenton told the story of air mail through vivid illustrations. Regular service started in 1918, with flights operated directly by the U.S. Post Office Department. Eight years later, the Post Office began contracting with commercial air carriers. Air mail subsidized the growth of America's airline network.
- Henry Ford Commemorating Early Air Mail Flights during National Air Mail Week, May 18, 1938 - Twenty years after the first regularly scheduled U.S. air mail service was established, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Postmaster General James A. Farley sponsored National Air Mail Week in 1938. Part celebration and part advertising, the event promoted the pricier service during the Great Depression. Cities throughout the country created their own special mail cachets and cancellations to mark the occasion.
- May 18, 1938
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford Commemorating Early Air Mail Flights during National Air Mail Week, May 18, 1938
Twenty years after the first regularly scheduled U.S. air mail service was established, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Postmaster General James A. Farley sponsored National Air Mail Week in 1938. Part celebration and part advertising, the event promoted the pricier service during the Great Depression. Cities throughout the country created their own special mail cachets and cancellations to mark the occasion.
- Handstamp for First Commercial Contract Air Mail, February 15, 1926 - When regularly scheduled air mail service began in 1918, the United States Post Office operated the various routes itself. These flights were intended to prove the safety and reliability of air service, and ultimately to encourage private contractors to take over the operations. Henry Ford was an early contract bidder and, in January 1926, he was awarded the Detroit-Chicago route.
- February 15, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Handstamp for First Commercial Contract Air Mail, February 15, 1926
When regularly scheduled air mail service began in 1918, the United States Post Office operated the various routes itself. These flights were intended to prove the safety and reliability of air service, and ultimately to encourage private contractors to take over the operations. Henry Ford was an early contract bidder and, in January 1926, he was awarded the Detroit-Chicago route.
- First Regular Flight on Overnight Air Mail Route from New York to Chicago, July 1, 1925 - In 1924, with the success of experimental night operations and increasing business interest in next-day mail, the U.S. Air Mail Service announced plans to establish regular overnight flights between New York and Chicago. Preparations included mounting floodlights and searchlights at airfields and constructing a series of routing beacons and emergency landing fields along the route. The first official flights departed from both terminal cities on July 1, 1925.
- July 01, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
First Regular Flight on Overnight Air Mail Route from New York to Chicago, July 1, 1925
In 1924, with the success of experimental night operations and increasing business interest in next-day mail, the U.S. Air Mail Service announced plans to establish regular overnight flights between New York and Chicago. Preparations included mounting floodlights and searchlights at airfields and constructing a series of routing beacons and emergency landing fields along the route. The first official flights departed from both terminal cities on July 1, 1925.