Report of the meeting of July 2, 2005
JOINT MEETING WITH BAeF
British Aerophilatelic Federation
See images below
With some 25 members from both societies we had an excellent day, marred only by confusion over room bookings which meant we were more cramped than expected. The morning session started with static displays until 11am refreshments and then we had the usual displays with a short talk - now a plea for future meetings and those displaying: please do not talk about every mark on every cover on every sheet! Provided the display is written up all that is required is an overview of the material displayed with maybe a specific reference to a very small number of special items.
The static displays covered mail to/from Cyprus, the AV2 marks, Malayan airmails; British Empire routes to Africa, Asia and Australasia, including the horseshoe route; UK internal airmails; services in northern Europe and airmail services by the Axis Powers amongst other topics.
Dave Tarry from the Indian Ocean Study Circle started the displays with items from Mauritius - airgraphs, including the only known pictorial issue from the island; EA APO 73 items including first flight from the island on 28 Dec 1943 and lastly a selection of items that related to his service with No 6 Mobile Oxygen Production Unit RAF in Mauritius - he told a lively tale on how, as a young National Serviceman, he was "selected" for MOPU training and ended up in Mauritius.
Michael Crux (BAeF) concentrated on Switzerland with Swiss airmails to various parts of the world and the ever changing scene as a result of the changing face of the war; it also included returned mail as a result of wartime conditions. Keith Fitton (a member of both societies) displayed Seychelles - inward mail from Egypt; squadrons that provided the air mail service to the islands; local censor handstamps and labels; a small run of correspondence from an individual with RAF Seychelles; civil mail to the UK (some flown, but the normal route was by sea) and censored civilian mail.
Peter Burrows showed special covers with the 1936 cachets "British Royal Air Force Flying Boat" during its world tour; bomber mail - the first Atlantic flight by a Lancaster during August 1942; Canadian Army Air Letter Sheets and various Prisoner of War Letter Sheet (from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, etc).
Brian Asquith (BAeF) had a Chinese flavour with his exhibit: Boxer Rebellion 1900 - a cover to 4 Balloon Section RE, China Field Force with a back stamp of FPO No 1 dated 2 JA 01; 1921 first flight covers; damaged mail, addressee reported missing in action, OAT markings on Chinese mail and a variety of Chinese airmails 1921-43.
Bill Colley (BAeF) showed a variety of East African airmails, including salvaged and recovered mail from air crashes. Chris Cruttwell displayed Cypriot mail including airgraphs and item from Indian FPO 6 dated 4 DEC 42, believed used in Cyprus for troop concentrations before the Sicily landings.
John Daynes showed miscellaneous wartime post cards - a selection sent by airmail including an item from Palestine to Poland on 29 Aug 1939, the last day of peace.
Keith Elliott put up a wide variety of Malayan airmails including items postmarked FPO SP.501 and 504 and Australian FPOs postmarking Malayan stamps showing a range of routes and rates.
Alistair Kennedy displayed his usual mixture of material including several items flown from Cairo to Baghdad (and in the opposite direction) as well a British Forces Palestine to UK 1940-45.
Peter Lister showed items from Malaya, including a unique commercial item of $1.95 rate to UK from Malaya ($1.45 Singapore to US and 50c from US to UK). This was the inaugural flight of the Pan-American Clipper service; there are plenty of souvenir covers, but commercial mail is scarce.
Michael Goodman showed a selection of Airmail Letter Cards, with various designs including Christmas issues, with FREE cachets, Malta green labels, salvaged mail covers with either "salvaged" or "damaged by sea water" and AV2 cachets as well as the machine and handstamp slogans "AIR MAIL" which emanated from Glasgow 1935/36.
Keith Tranmer displayed items from the 1912 International flying meeting in Austria as well as items from an air mail service for official mail for the Austrian fleet strung out along the Mediterranean coast. Lastly he showed privately flown mail from the Siege of Przemysl which is fully described in his book "Przemysl 1914-15" still available from the author.
Nick Colley showed a selection of WW2 naval airmails, including postage paid marks from Gibraltar and "air mail by safe hand of pilot" covers.
Neil Russell produced a study on air mail letter cards (AMLCs) used by the Australian Forces from when they were introduced in July 1941; the first and second printings took place in Australia - the second printing had the word "Australia" removed from the address line; later printings took place in the Middle East with the first printing putting back the word "Australia" !. Also included were special 1941/42 Christmas issues. The letter rate was 9d but a concession rate of 3d applied if an AMLC was used. Also shown were ALMCs used in Malaya and Papua New Guinea. Keith Elliott displayed Clipper covers - part of an extensive collection of air mail from Malaya. The Clipper route stopped on 29 November.
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