Pacific Clipper Postal History During World War II



GREECE



Posted : Feb 13, 1941 at Athens

Probable Route : By ship to Alexandria and by train to Cairo; BOAC Horseshoe route from Cairo to Singapore; Surface to Hong Kong; FAM 14 to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to Wilkinsburg, PA.

Notes : Rare trans-pacific airmail cover from Greece. For a period of about 6 or 7 months, from October of 1940 to April of 1941, airmail from Greece to the USA could be sent via Egypt, for transmission via the Horseshoe route and trans-pacific service. This cover went via Singapore, verified by the distinctive D 12 small violet circular markings applied only at Singapore. Censored in Greece and Egypt.

Rate : 73 drachma

Greece to USA

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Posted : March 17,1941 at Athens

Probable Route : By ship to Alexandria and by train to Cairo; BOAC Horseshoe route from Cairo to Singapore; Surface to Hong Kong; FAM 14 to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to Cleveland, OH.

Notes : Rare trans-pacific Airmail cover from Greece. The cover is endorsed "Via Egypt", and has a Cairo transit marking dated Apr 2 . There is a Censor tape from India over the top of the Greek Censor tape. There is also a Boxed 36 marking on reverse, applied in India. This boxed 36 marking is also seen on another Pacific Clipper cover from India to Switzerland. The censor tape and the boxed handstamp proves that the cover was carried by BOAC eastward to connect with Pan Am's Pacific Clipper service. The rate of 73 drachmas must have been the trans-pacific rate via Egypt.

Rate : 73 drachma

Greece to USA



Posted : Apr 3, 1941 at Field Post Office 368

Probable Route : From FPO 368 somewhere in the mountains in Greece to a port city, then probably by ship to Alexandria and by train to Cairo; BOAC Horseshoe route from Cairo to either Singapore or Sydney, Australia; Pan American Airways FAM 14 or FAM 19 to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to New York.

Notes : Rare use of British stamps in Greece on a trans-pacific Airmail cover from a British Officer - Capt J, Pyle, of the Middle East Forces. There is a 4 page letter enclosed, dated March 30, 1941, in Egypt. However, it is clear from the letter, that the group was being moved to a new location, with mountains, and villages with oxen. The Guide to British Army Field Post Offices, lists FPO 368 in Egypt in March of 1941, but in Greece in April of 1941. This cover is postmarked Apr 3, 1941, and has a Cairo transit cds on reverse dated Apr 22, 19 days later. This supports the fact that this cover was posted in Greece, and took 19 days to get to Egypt.

Rate : 7sh6p

FPO 368 in Greece to USA

Click here to see the back of the cover.


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