Posted : March 9, 1941 at Basrah

Probable Route : KLM from Baghdad to Singapore; Singapore to Hong Kong probably by surface ; Pan American Airways FAM 14 to San Francisco ; USA domestic airlines to New York.

Notes : This is the only picture postcard I have ever seen that was carried on the Pacific Clipper Service. There is no question the franking of 125 fils paid for airmail service. Note that 155 fils was the registered airmail rate for a cover. The card has a Singapore Censor 22 handstamp, as well as the B 24 in small circles which was also applied at Singapore. The picture side of the card shows the airport at Basrah. A wonderful item of Pacific Clipper Postal History.

Rate : 125 fils

Posted : July 26, 1941 at Basrah

Probable Route : BOAC Horseshoe Route from Basrah to Rangoon; CNAC from Rangoon to Hong Kong ; Pan American Airways FAM 14 China Clipper departed Hong Kong on Aug 19, arriving Honolulu Aug 23 and San Francisco Aug 26 ; USA domestic airlines to New York.

Notes : In may of 1941, Pan Am extended the FAM 14 route to Singapore. From May 3 to October 1, the clippers terminated on alternate weeks at either Hong Kong or Singapore. Because of the Honolulu backstamp of Aug 23, we know that this cover was flown from Hong Kong on the China Clipper. Did the Postal personnel along the Horseshoe route know the Clipper schedules, to be able to direct the mail to the correct destination, either Hong Kong or Singapore, depending on where the Clipper would terminate that specific week? Note the absence of any Singapore markings on this cover, definitely supporting the BOAC to Hong Kong route, and not KLM.

Rate : 155 fils

Posted : Sep 9, 1941 at Habbaniya

Probable Route : BOAC Horseshoe Route from Habbaniya through India to either Singapore or Sydney, to connect with Pan American Airways Pacific Clipper service to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to New York; Pan Am Atlantic Clipper service to Lisbon; BOAC or KLM to England; domestic transport to Northants.

Notes : The brown and red India censor label at left confirms that this cover traveled eastward on the Horseshoe route through India, to either Singapore or Sydney to connect with Pan American's Pacific Clipper service. The cover has an RAF Censor 9 handstamp which ties the label to the cover. Habbaniya was a regular overnight stop on the Horseshoe route. The franking is 100 fils, but there is a manuscript "T" in blue indicating Postage Due, and "230 c" (230 centimes) handwritten in red below the "T". This is the only two-ocean airmail cover from Iraq that I have ever seen.

Rate : 100 fils - Short Paid with Postage Due indicated.

Posted : Nov 15, 1941 at Baghdad

Route : KLM or BOAC from Baghdad to Singapore ; Pan American Airways FAM 14 China Clipper departed Singapore Nov 30, arrived San Francisco, Dec 6, 1941 ; USA domestic airlines to Akron, Ohio. Backstamped Baghdad, San Francisco, Akron.

Notes : On Nov 19, 1941 the China Clipper departed San Francisco on what would be it's Last Pre-war Flight. After crossing the International Dateline, the Clipper arrived in Singapore on Nov 29. It departed the next day, Nov 30, for the return trip to the USA, arriving in San Francisco on Dec 6. This registered cover shows Singapore Censor markings, and is backstamped San Francisco Dec 6, 1941, verifying that it was carried on this flight. Due to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, and the US entry into World War II, this was the Last Flight of the China Clipper.

Rate : 1490 fils, the highest franking I have seen from Iraq, includes the rare use of the 1 Dinar King Ghazi issue, the highest face value stamp issued by Iraq during this period.