airmail. airmail. United States - postal history

United States -- Two 1946 PanAmerican Test Flight Covers On one day only, November 1, 1946, collectors and other interested parties were invited to test the speed and efficiency of the new, cheaper airmail service in cooperation with Pan Am Airways by sending covers to the Pan Am offices in 28 Latin American and Caribbean cities at the new 10c rate which took effect that day. Officials in the various Pan Am offices would mark the date the covers were received (generally with a dated handstamp), apply local postage to the front of the cover (at Pan Am's expense), mark the cover "Return to Sender" and hand the cover back to the local post office for airmail transmission back to the sender in the United States. This was an opportunity for the sender to receive documented proof of the rapid turn-around time for airmail service, and marked a milestone in the rapid development in post-war air transport. Because of short notice, not many covers were serviced. (Image1)

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