Posted : July 28, 1940 at FPO 122

Probable Route : Field Post Office 122 located in Palestine in 1940, to Tiberias probably by surface; from Tiberias to Singapore by BOAC or KLM; from Singapore to Sydney by BOAC Horseshoe route; by TEAL to Auckland; Pan Am FAM 19 from Auckland to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to New York; FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to Lisbon; from Lisbon to London by BOAC; domestic transport to destination.

Notes : One of the longest all-airmail routes in history - two-ocean airmail cover from Palestine to England, one of only two covers seen franked with Geroge VI stamps of Great Britain and only 5 covers previously reported known from Palestine to England by the two-ocean route. A V 2 handstamp in red was applied at Singapore, along with the triangle censor 49 hand stamp. The absence of any Hong Kong markings suggests that this cover was flown to Sydney, Australia by BOAC to connect with Pan Am's Pacific Clipper service at Auckland. There is a British Crown Censor 1064 boxed hand stamp. The cover was originally sent to Lancing, Sussex, with arrival date stamp of Sep 4, 1940, and was forwarded from there to Chippenham.

Rate : 3sh - two-ocean rate

Posted : August 10, 1940 at FPO 121

Probable Route : Field Post Office 121 to Lydda by surface; from Lydda to Singapore by KLM; from Singapore to Sydney by BOAC Horseshoe route; by TEAL to Auckland; Pan Am FAM 19 Auckland to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to New York; FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to Lisbon; from Lisbon to London by BOAC; domestic transport to destination.

Notes : Rare two-ocean airmail cover from Palestine;only 5 covers reported known. To Be Forwarded By Air From Singapore handstamp was applied at Singapore. This marking was normally used when a change in service from one airline to another occurred at Singapore. This suggests that the cover was carried by KLM to Singapore, and was switched to BOAC there, and carried by air to Sydney. British Crown Censor 1340; Singapore Censor 49.

Rate : 150 millimes

Posted : Feb 7, 1941 at Tel Aviv

Probable Route : Tel Aviv to Haifa to Tiberias by domestic transport; BOAC to Rangoon; CNAC to Hong Kong; Pan Am Fam 14 China Clipper departed Hong Kong on Feb 19, arrived in Honolulu on Feb 24, and San Francisco on Feb 26; USA domestic airlines to New York; backstamped Tel Aviv Feb 7, Haifa Feb 10, Honolulu Feb 24, New York Feb 28.

Notes : Registered cover, very high franking of 1 pound 140 mil.- censored in Palestine.

Rate : 1140 Millimes - the normal airmail rate was 125 mil. this cover is 9 times the normal rate.

Posted : March 10, 1941 at Affula Hospital

Probable Route : BOAC to either Hong Kong or Sydney to connect with Pan Am Pacific Clipper service to San Francisco; US domestic airlines to New York or Miami; FAM 5 or FAM 6-10 to Argentina; backstamped Cordoba Apr 8, 1941.

Notes : Uncommon airmail cover from Palestine to South America. The arrival marking in Cordoba just 28 days from posting confirms that this cover travelled the faster all airmail transpacific route to the USA, and then to Argentina. The route through South Africa was not only slower, but much more dangerous due to U-boat activity.

Rate : 125 millimes

Posted : April 20, 1941 at Tel Nordau, Tel Aviv

Probable Route : Tel Aviv to Haifa to Tiberias by domestic transport; BOAC to Sydney; Pan Am Fam 19 Honolulu Clipper departed Auckland May 19, arriving in Honolulu on May 21-22, and San Francisco on May 23; USA domestic airlines to Paterson, NJ; Forwarded from there to Cleveland, Ohio. Backstamped Tel Aviv Apr 20, Haifa Apr 21, Honolulu May 22, New York, NY May 24, May 26, and May 27.

Notes : Because of the Honolulu date stamp of May 22, we know that this cover did not go by FAM 14 from Hong Kong, but rather, went all the way to Sydney on the BOAC Horseshoe route, and then by FAM 19 Honolulu Clipper to the USA. This certainly impacts basic assumptions about the routing of Pacific Clipper mail, and also shows the value of Registered Covers be able to establish the correct route.

Rate : 140 millimes - 125m airmail + 15m Registration Fee

Posted : May 4, 1941 at Jerusalem

Possible Route : Jerusalem to Haifa by domestic transport; possibly by surface to Basra, to connect with BOAC Service to Rangoon; CNAC from Rangoon to Hong Kong; Pan Am Fam 14 China Clipper departed Hong Kong on May 19, arrived in Honolulu on May 25, and San Francisco on May 27; USA domestic airlines to New York; transit marks - Jerusalem May 4, Haifa May 8, Honolulu May 25, New York May 29.

Notes : In May and June of 1941, the Horseshoe route service through Habbaniya, Iraq was interrupted due to an outbreak of fighting termed The Iraq Rebellion. During this period, the flying boat service terminated in Cairo, and started up again in Basra, bypassing Tiberias and Habbaniya. This cover was definitely affected by the interruption. I am not certain how it was transported from Palestine to Hong Kong. It may have gone by surface from Palestine to Basra, and then connected with the Horseshoe route there. Or perhaps it went by KLM to Singapore, and then to Hong Kong. Because of the Honolulu date stamp of May 25, we know the cover arrived at Hong Kong by May 19, because it was carried on the China Clipper which left Hong Kong on that date. An interesting item which needs further research. Rare use of a registered uprated Postal Stationary Card for Pacific Clipper airmail.

Rate : 140 mil.

Posted : July 21, 1941 at FPO 120

Probable Route : FPO 120 to Tiberias, probably by surface transport. BOAC Horseshoe route to Rangoon; CNAC from Rangoon to Hong Kong; FAM 14 from Hong Kong to San Francisco; USA and Canada domestic airlines to Toronto; forwarded to Glen Bernard Camp, near Sundridge, Ont. Backstamped Toronto Aug 28.

Notes : Manuscript endorsement Pacific Clipper Airmail Service Via Hong Kong. Very nice usage of George VI issues from Field Post Office 120, which was located in Palestine from 1940 to 1943.

Rate : 5sh

Posted : Nov 11, 1941 at Tel Aviv

Probable Route : Tel Aviv to Tiberias, probably by surface transport. BOAC Horseshoe route to either Singapore or Sydney, to connect with either FAM 14 or FAM 19 to San Francisco; USA domestic transport to Pomona, CA.

Notes : Commercial cover with typed endorsement Transpacific Clipper. The date of posting - Nov 11, 1941, and the absence of any San Francisco censor tape, suggests that this cover was very likely carried on one of the Last Clipper flights, either from Singapore or Auckland. Had this cover missed the last clipper flight, it would have been delayed, and put on a ship to the USA, and there would be a San Francisco censor tape.

Rate : 500 millimes