Catapult Mail
Seventy-fifth anniversary of world airmail service.
AVIATION 11035/1
In the late 1920s the SS Bremen's mail plane was catapulted into the air en route to New York, gwtting mail across the North Atlantic a day or two faster. This photo from the airmail service's early days marks the 75th anniversary of a pioneered in Frankfurt am Main in 1912.
Photo: DaD/Lufthansa Photo
GERMAN FEATURES - 26 June 1987 (05)
In the late 1920s the SS Bremen's mail plane was catapulted into the air en route to New York, gwtting mail across the North Atlantic a day or two faster. This photo from the airmail service's early days marks the 75th anniversary of a pioneered in Frankfurt am Main in 1912.
Photo: DaD/Lufthansa Photo
GERMAN FEATURES - 26 June 1987 (05)
Intended for, but not flown on, the Fifth South American Flight
(5-8 August 1934). Flew by Catapult Mail instead.
(5-8 August 1934). Flew by Catapult Mail instead.
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A cover addressed to Albert Thasler, Pernambuco, Brazil posted in Kuwait.
Perhaps wrongly described by Cherrystone. "1934 (30 July) registered cover addressed to Pernambuco, intended for the 4th SAF to Brazil, sent instead by airmail, label "By Airship Graf Zeppelin" crossed-out, with arrival pmk.” I think the cover was intended for the 5th SAF departing Friedrichshafen on 5 August 1934, but arrived late.
Franked with 12 as Indian Airmail stamps overprinted KUWAIT, and cancelled KUWAIT, REG, 30 JUL 34, and also with KUWAIT R 45registration label, and light blue etiquette BY AIRSHIP Graf Zeppelin, which is cancelled out by pen. Also on front another blue etiquette with a white border BY AIR MAIL, PAR AVION. A hand written endorsement By Airmail to London! and Airship Germany (indistinguishable word) with all but By Airmail struck out by pen. Also handwritten on the front is! Printed matter!.
On the reverse we see three round postal marks KUWAIT, REG, 30 JUL 34, then we have an indistinguishable mark dated 8.8.34, and finally an arrival mark at PERMANBUCO 20 VIII 34.
From 21 July 1934 through 3 November 1934 a weekly service was operated from Germany to South America. This alternated between a bi-weekly Zeppelin service and a bi-weekly Katapult flight service.
So, the cover missed the 5th SAF service which left on 5 August. Instead it would have flown on the DLH Katapult Air-Mail service which left on 11 August 1934 and used the Dornier-Wal flying boat the catapult ship Westfalen. The Westfalen and the flying boat waited at Bathurst off Gambia for the incoming mail, and then sailed in the direction of Natal. After 36 hours, the flying boat was catapulted in the direction of Brazil, and the Westfalen moved to a pre-determined position nearby to await the return flight to take the flying boat and the mail back to Europe.
Provenance: Cherrystone Auctions Sale 1216, November 2016, lot #742.
Perhaps wrongly described by Cherrystone. "1934 (30 July) registered cover addressed to Pernambuco, intended for the 4th SAF to Brazil, sent instead by airmail, label "By Airship Graf Zeppelin" crossed-out, with arrival pmk.” I think the cover was intended for the 5th SAF departing Friedrichshafen on 5 August 1934, but arrived late.
Franked with 12 as Indian Airmail stamps overprinted KUWAIT, and cancelled KUWAIT, REG, 30 JUL 34, and also with KUWAIT R 45registration label, and light blue etiquette BY AIRSHIP Graf Zeppelin, which is cancelled out by pen. Also on front another blue etiquette with a white border BY AIR MAIL, PAR AVION. A hand written endorsement By Airmail to London! and Airship Germany (indistinguishable word) with all but By Airmail struck out by pen. Also handwritten on the front is! Printed matter!.
On the reverse we see three round postal marks KUWAIT, REG, 30 JUL 34, then we have an indistinguishable mark dated 8.8.34, and finally an arrival mark at PERMANBUCO 20 VIII 34.
From 21 July 1934 through 3 November 1934 a weekly service was operated from Germany to South America. This alternated between a bi-weekly Zeppelin service and a bi-weekly Katapult flight service.
So, the cover missed the 5th SAF service which left on 5 August. Instead it would have flown on the DLH Katapult Air-Mail service which left on 11 August 1934 and used the Dornier-Wal flying boat the catapult ship Westfalen. The Westfalen and the flying boat waited at Bathurst off Gambia for the incoming mail, and then sailed in the direction of Natal. After 36 hours, the flying boat was catapulted in the direction of Brazil, and the Westfalen moved to a pre-determined position nearby to await the return flight to take the flying boat and the mail back to Europe.
Provenance: Cherrystone Auctions Sale 1216, November 2016, lot #742.
Katapult Mail
Returned to Sender I USA-INDIA-USA
Via Germany-England (Southampton) Flight K-186
23 June 1934
3 Month's Story
Only Know to India
Returned to Sender I USA-INDIA-USA
Via Germany-England (Southampton) Flight K-186
23 June 1934
3 Month's Story
Only Know to India
USA - GERMANY by Zeppelin
Reg. No. 1543-USA
18 Jun 34: Newyork to Kalimpong
23 Jun 34: German Steamer Ship to Shore Southampton arrival.
24/25 Jun 34: Farnham/Surrey transit overland
15July 34: Kalimpong Arrival
20 July 34: Return to sender Kalimpong to USA
6 Aug 34: Newyork Foreign Arrival
7 Aug 34: Newyork PO Internal IN/OUT ward marks
Reg. No. 1543-USA
18 Jun 34: Newyork to Kalimpong
23 Jun 34: German Steamer Ship to Shore Southampton arrival.
24/25 Jun 34: Farnham/Surrey transit overland
15July 34: Kalimpong Arrival
20 July 34: Return to sender Kalimpong to USA
6 Aug 34: Newyork Foreign Arrival
7 Aug 34: Newyork PO Internal IN/OUT ward marks
Lufthansa Catapult Ship - The Schwabenland
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Lufthansa Catapult Ship - The Schwabenland (1937)
Lufthansa Catapult Ship - The Westfalen (1934)
Catapult Mail service to South America by DLHFlight # L 119
From Stuttgart to Pernambuco.
Cover mailed at Aden
31 October - 2 November 1935
From Stuttgart to Pernambuco.
Cover mailed at Aden
31 October - 2 November 1935
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Read the full story of this cover in my article published in
India Post, Vol. 49/1 (Jan – Mar 2015) No. 194. Catalogue References Frost Item 1). 127 - 204 A, Confirmation Mark 127 - 204 con, violet Michel Item 370) a Confirmation Stamp 370 |
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Catapult Mail
Calcutta to Pernambuco by air
1-2 April 1937 on DLH
Calcutta to Pernambuco by air
1-2 April 1937 on DLH
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Cover with embossed crown on verso and franked with 48a 9p value addressed to Permanbuco. Cancelled CALCUTTA G.P.O. / 22 MAR 37 / 6.15 P.M. and arrival mark on reverse CORREIO AERO / PERNAMBUCO / 8.IV.37. Also on the front is the DLH staging cachet in red with the character ‘b’ on the right side indicating it was applied at Frankfurt/Main.
The cover left Calcutta by IW 532 at 05.30 on Tuesday, 23 March and arrived Southampton at 15.03 on Sunday, 28 March, travelling on the Artemis upto Karachi and then on the Helena and then the Capella. It continued the journey by rail to London arriving at 18.11 the same evening. Then by air to Frankfurt and connected by the DLH service L 231 departing Frankfurt at 04.27 on Thursday, 1 April and arriving Natal at 23.46 on Friday, 2 April. This was first on the Mistral and then by Seaplane (Catapult flight). It may be noted that theoretically the cover may have left Calcutta by IW 533 departing at 05.30 on Friday, 26 March and reaching London at 20.15 on Wednesday, 31 March, but this is less likely as there would have been a really tight connection to Frankfurt, but it is possible. (IAL timings are from the schedule)
Another interesting aspect to note is that the visible franking on the cover is 3R and 9p (48a and 9p). The airmail rate to Brazil was 46a + ordinary letter rate of 3a 6p. This means the letter was understamped by 9p. Closer examination of the cover reveals that there is a faint gumming mark visible to the left of the 9p stamp of about the same size, but no part of a cancellation mark. It is possible that there was an additional 9p value stamp affixed that escaped cancellation as Calcutta G.P.O. tool great care to obliterate the 1R and 2R values. This 9p stamp either fell off, or was carefully removed by someone for later use.
The cover left Calcutta by IW 532 at 05.30 on Tuesday, 23 March and arrived Southampton at 15.03 on Sunday, 28 March, travelling on the Artemis upto Karachi and then on the Helena and then the Capella. It continued the journey by rail to London arriving at 18.11 the same evening. Then by air to Frankfurt and connected by the DLH service L 231 departing Frankfurt at 04.27 on Thursday, 1 April and arriving Natal at 23.46 on Friday, 2 April. This was first on the Mistral and then by Seaplane (Catapult flight). It may be noted that theoretically the cover may have left Calcutta by IW 533 departing at 05.30 on Friday, 26 March and reaching London at 20.15 on Wednesday, 31 March, but this is less likely as there would have been a really tight connection to Frankfurt, but it is possible. (IAL timings are from the schedule)
Another interesting aspect to note is that the visible franking on the cover is 3R and 9p (48a and 9p). The airmail rate to Brazil was 46a + ordinary letter rate of 3a 6p. This means the letter was understamped by 9p. Closer examination of the cover reveals that there is a faint gumming mark visible to the left of the 9p stamp of about the same size, but no part of a cancellation mark. It is possible that there was an additional 9p value stamp affixed that escaped cancellation as Calcutta G.P.O. tool great care to obliterate the 1R and 2R values. This 9p stamp either fell off, or was carefully removed by someone for later use.
Catapult Mail by Lufthansa to Brazil
And onwards to Uruguay by Condor
6 - 10 May 1937
And onwards to Uruguay by Condor
6 - 10 May 1937
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1937 cover from Willowbund:
April 28, Wednesday, dispatch at Willowbund, surface transportation (railway) to Madras
April 29, Thursday, 2pm, Tata Sons (Tata Air Service) departure from Madras
April 29, Thursday, 5 pm, Tata Sons (Tata Air Service) arrival at Hyderabad
April 30, Friday, 6.30 am Tata Sons (Tata Air Service) departure Hyderabad, flight went via Bombay and Ahmedabad to Karachi
April 30, Friday, 7 pm, Tata Sons (Tata Air Service) arrival at Karachi
May 1, Saturday, 9 am, Imperial Airways departure Karachi for Europe. This was the flight coming from Brisbane, Singapore and Calcutta. This flight went via Iraq, Egypt to Europe (Athens, Brindisi, Rome, Marseille, Southampton to London)
May 5, Wednesday, 12.17 pm, Imperial Airways arrival at Marseille
May 6, Thursday, 9 am, Lufthansa stop at Marseille, flight was coming from Frankfurt and continued via Seville and Las Palmas to Bathurst, then Atlantic crossing to Natal, Brazil
May 7, Friday, 7 pm, Lufthansa arrival at Natal, Condor took over the mail, flight went via Bahia, and Rio southwards via Buenos Aires to Santiago
May 9, Sunday, about 7 pm, Condor arrival at Montevideo
May 10, Monday, Montevideo arrival postmark, cover was delivered to the addressee
April 28, Wednesday, dispatch at Willowbund, surface transportation (railway) to Madras
April 29, Thursday, 2pm, Tata Sons (Tata Air Service) departure from Madras
April 29, Thursday, 5 pm, Tata Sons (Tata Air Service) arrival at Hyderabad
April 30, Friday, 6.30 am Tata Sons (Tata Air Service) departure Hyderabad, flight went via Bombay and Ahmedabad to Karachi
April 30, Friday, 7 pm, Tata Sons (Tata Air Service) arrival at Karachi
May 1, Saturday, 9 am, Imperial Airways departure Karachi for Europe. This was the flight coming from Brisbane, Singapore and Calcutta. This flight went via Iraq, Egypt to Europe (Athens, Brindisi, Rome, Marseille, Southampton to London)
May 5, Wednesday, 12.17 pm, Imperial Airways arrival at Marseille
May 6, Thursday, 9 am, Lufthansa stop at Marseille, flight was coming from Frankfurt and continued via Seville and Las Palmas to Bathurst, then Atlantic crossing to Natal, Brazil
May 7, Friday, 7 pm, Lufthansa arrival at Natal, Condor took over the mail, flight went via Bahia, and Rio southwards via Buenos Aires to Santiago
May 9, Sunday, about 7 pm, Condor arrival at Montevideo
May 10, Monday, Montevideo arrival postmark, cover was delivered to the addressee
Catapult Mail by Imperial Airways, Calcutta to Marseilles and,
By Air France from Marseilles to Buenos Aires
28-Jun-1937
By Air France from Marseilles to Buenos Aires
28-Jun-1937
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Cover from Calcutta to Buenos Aires. Cancelled CALCUTTA G.P.O. / 28 JUN 37, franked 9a 6p airmail rate.
From Calcutta to Marseilles by Imperial Airways and from Marseilles to Buenos Aires arrival on 8-Jun-37 by Air France,.
Dep - Calcutta Tuesday on 29th June (By Imperial Airways)
Arr - Marseilles, Sunday 4th July (By Imperial Airways)
Dep - Marseilles, Sunday 4th July (By Air France)
Arr - Buenos Aires, Wednesday 7th July (by Air France)
Transatlantic Flight - Ville de Montevideo
The Postal guide of April 1936 mentions the Air France Service on Sundays to Argentina and a rate of 3 1/2a + 54a air fee. However this letter went by air all the way on the older air rate to Europe (6a + 3 1/2a)
From Calcutta to Marseilles by Imperial Airways and from Marseilles to Buenos Aires arrival on 8-Jun-37 by Air France,.
Dep - Calcutta Tuesday on 29th June (By Imperial Airways)
Arr - Marseilles, Sunday 4th July (By Imperial Airways)
Dep - Marseilles, Sunday 4th July (By Air France)
Arr - Buenos Aires, Wednesday 7th July (by Air France)
Transatlantic Flight - Ville de Montevideo
The Postal guide of April 1936 mentions the Air France Service on Sundays to Argentina and a rate of 3 1/2a + 54a air fee. However this letter went by air all the way on the older air rate to Europe (6a + 3 1/2a)
Catapult Mail by Lufthansa to Brazil
And onwards to Argentina by Condor
13 - 16 January 1938
And onwards to Argentina by Condor
13 - 16 January 1938
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1938 cover from Bamwadi:
January 6, Thursday, dispatch at Bamwadi, Bombay
January 7, Friday Tata Sons (Tata Air Service) flight from Bombay to Karachi, departure 9.45am, arrival 4.45pm
January 8, Saturday, Imperial Airways departed Karachi at 8.45am for Europe, this flight was coming from Brisbane, Australia
January 9, Sunday
January 10, Monday
January 11, Tuesday
January 12, Wednesday Imperial Airways late afternoon arrival at Marseille, France
January 13, Thursday 9 am Lufthansa mail pick up at Marseille
January 14, Friday, 10.48 pm Lufthansa at Bathurst (Gambia), Atlantic crossing/catapult flight
January 15, Saturday, 7.36 pm Lufthansa at Natal (Brazil), Condor took over the mail
January 16, Sunday 8.10 am Condor at Rio, 9.42 pm Condor at Buenos Aires, arrival postmark
January 6, Thursday, dispatch at Bamwadi, Bombay
January 7, Friday Tata Sons (Tata Air Service) flight from Bombay to Karachi, departure 9.45am, arrival 4.45pm
January 8, Saturday, Imperial Airways departed Karachi at 8.45am for Europe, this flight was coming from Brisbane, Australia
January 9, Sunday
January 10, Monday
January 11, Tuesday
January 12, Wednesday Imperial Airways late afternoon arrival at Marseille, France
January 13, Thursday 9 am Lufthansa mail pick up at Marseille
January 14, Friday, 10.48 pm Lufthansa at Bathurst (Gambia), Atlantic crossing/catapult flight
January 15, Saturday, 7.36 pm Lufthansa at Natal (Brazil), Condor took over the mail
January 16, Sunday 8.10 am Condor at Rio, 9.42 pm Condor at Buenos Aires, arrival postmark
Catapult mail to South America by DLH
From Frankfurt to Natal, and onwards to Buenos Aires by Condor
13 - 16 January 1938
From Frankfurt to Natal, and onwards to Buenos Aires by Condor
13 - 16 January 1938
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The 1938 cover went by air from India to Europe and was offloaded at Italy. From Italy, the cover went by surface (train) to Germany. The rectangular postmark on the back side of the cover reads Kufstein - Mumchen, Bahnpost, Zug 68, this is the Kuftstein - Munich railway postal service and Zug 68 means train number 68. The cover then continued to Frankfurt and went by Deutsche Lufthansa catapult service towards South America. The flight depart January 13 at 5.28 am and went via Marseille, Lisbon and Las Palmas to Bathurst for almost 15 hours and at Bathurst then the flight continued to Natal on Brazil, from there Condor Airline connection via Recife, Rio to Buenos Aires, arrival there January 16, 1938 at 9.42 pm.
(Comment: Dieter Leder)
(Comment: Dieter Leder)
Catapult Mail by Lufthansa to Brazil
And onwards by Condor
23 - 25 June 1938
And onwards by Condor
23 - 25 June 1938
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June 1938 cover from Calcutta (6 stamps):
June 16, Thursday, dispatch at Calcutta
June 17, Friday, Imperial Airways departure from Calcutta
June 18, Saturday
June 19, Sunday,
June 20, Monday, scheduled arrival of Imperial Airways at Marseille
June 21, Tuesday
June 22, Wednesday
June 23, Thursday, 9 am Lufthansa mail pick up at Marseille
June 24, Friday, 1.06 am Lufthansa at Bathurst (Gambia), Atlantic crossing/catapult flight, 6.06 pm Lufthansa at Natal (Brazil), Condor took over the mail
June 25, Saturday, about 1 pm, Condor at Santos, surface to Sao Paulo, arrival postmark
June 16, Thursday, dispatch at Calcutta
June 17, Friday, Imperial Airways departure from Calcutta
June 18, Saturday
June 19, Sunday,
June 20, Monday, scheduled arrival of Imperial Airways at Marseille
June 21, Tuesday
June 22, Wednesday
June 23, Thursday, 9 am Lufthansa mail pick up at Marseille
June 24, Friday, 1.06 am Lufthansa at Bathurst (Gambia), Atlantic crossing/catapult flight, 6.06 pm Lufthansa at Natal (Brazil), Condor took over the mail
June 25, Saturday, about 1 pm, Condor at Santos, surface to Sao Paulo, arrival postmark
Catapult Mail by Lufthansa to Brazil
And Onwards by Condor
9 - 13 August 1938
And Onwards by Condor
9 - 13 August 1938
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August 1938 cover from Calcutta (3 stamps):
August 4, Thursday, dispatch at Calcutta
August 5, Friday, Imperial Airways departure from Calcutta
August 6, Saturday
August 7, Sunday, scheduled arrival of Imperial Airways at Brindisi, however, flight was 1 day behind schedule (delay at Karachi)
August 8, Monday, late pm, actual arrival at Brindisi, cover remained onboard
August 9, Tuesday, late pm, actual arrival of Imperial Airways at Marseille
August 10, Wednesday
August 11, Thursday, 9 am Lufthansa mail pick up at Marseille
August 12, Friday, Lufthansa at Bathurst (Gambia), Atlantic crossing/catapult flight, 10.21 pm Lufthansa at Natal (Brazil), Condor took over the mail
August 13, Saturday, about 3.30 pm, Condor at Santos, surface to Sao Paulo, arrival postmark
August 4, Thursday, dispatch at Calcutta
August 5, Friday, Imperial Airways departure from Calcutta
August 6, Saturday
August 7, Sunday, scheduled arrival of Imperial Airways at Brindisi, however, flight was 1 day behind schedule (delay at Karachi)
August 8, Monday, late pm, actual arrival at Brindisi, cover remained onboard
August 9, Tuesday, late pm, actual arrival of Imperial Airways at Marseille
August 10, Wednesday
August 11, Thursday, 9 am Lufthansa mail pick up at Marseille
August 12, Friday, Lufthansa at Bathurst (Gambia), Atlantic crossing/catapult flight, 10.21 pm Lufthansa at Natal (Brazil), Condor took over the mail
August 13, Saturday, about 3.30 pm, Condor at Santos, surface to Sao Paulo, arrival postmark
Catapult Mail to South America by DCH
From Frankfurt to Natal, and onwards to Buenos Aires by Condor
Departure on 12 January 1939.
From Frankfurt to Natal, and onwards to Buenos Aires by Condor
Departure on 12 January 1939.
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Similar is the 1939 cover, will tell you in July about the routing between India and Europe, again air to Italy surface to Germany, This time train number 64 which was the Brenner Pass - Munich train service. From there to Frankfurt. Flight to South America Started on January 12 but after 1.15 hours the flight returned to Frankfurt due to bad weather. Flight was grounded until next morning, restart of Deutsche Lufthansa flight at 6.20 am via Marseille, Lisbon, Las Palmas and Bathurst to susNatal. from there Condor connection via Recife and Rio to Buenos Aires.
Munich was the mail exchange post office for German Mail to Far East, therefore also inbound mail from Far East was hanled at Munich.
Despite the Zeppelin flight cachet, but since the crash of the Hindenberg on 6 May, 1937, all commecial zeppelin flights were suspended and mail to South America.
This is the regular routing which most of the mail from Far to East South America took. The much rarer route is Far East - Marsielle with Deutsche Lufthansa connection at Marseille. (Comments: Dieter Leder)
Munich was the mail exchange post office for German Mail to Far East, therefore also inbound mail from Far East was hanled at Munich.
Despite the Zeppelin flight cachet, but since the crash of the Hindenberg on 6 May, 1937, all commecial zeppelin flights were suspended and mail to South America.
This is the regular routing which most of the mail from Far to East South America took. The much rarer route is Far East - Marsielle with Deutsche Lufthansa connection at Marseille. (Comments: Dieter Leder)
Airmail Cover from Calcutta to Argentina on 26th Jan 1939.
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Airmail cover from Calcutta to Bueno Aris. franked 57a 6p and cancelled
PARK STREET CALCUTTA / 26 JAN 39. Verso, arrival mark BUENO ARIS / ARGENTINA / 5 FEB 1939.
PARK STREET CALCUTTA / 26 JAN 39. Verso, arrival mark BUENO ARIS / ARGENTINA / 5 FEB 1939.