Pacific Clipper Postal History During World War II



PHILIPPINE ISLANDS



Posted : Feb 27, 1940 at Manila

Route : FAM 14 Philippine Clipper departed Manila on March 9, arriving at San Francisco March 14; USA domestic airlines to Miami; FAM 5 to Cristobal, Canal Zone; PANAGRA from Cristobal to Quito, Ecuador; back stamped Quito March 18.

Notes : Ecuador is an uncommon destination for Pacific Clipper airmail.

Rate : 1.92 pesos

Philippines to Ecuador

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Posted : May 16, 1940 at Manila

Route : FAM 14 Philippine Clipper departed Manila on May 19, arriving at San Francisco May 24; USA domestic airlines to Miami; FAM 5 to Cristobal, Canal Zone.

Notes : The Canal Zone is an uncommon destination for Pacific Clipper airmail. The cover took only 12 days to go across the Pacific, across the continental US, and then to the Canal Zone. The cover was sent by Lt Colonel Robert M. Littlejohn, at the time, stationed in the Philippines, who later was promoted to Major General and in June of 1942, became the Chief Quartermaster, ETO - European Theater of Operations. The cover is addressed to General Jacob Devers, who was a classmate of George S. Patton at the Military Academy, and was best known for commanding the 6th Army Group. Devers cleared Alsace, crossed the Rhine River and accepted the surrender of German forces in western Austria on 6 May 1945.

Rate : 1.56 pesos

Philippines to Canal Zone

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Posted : July 29, 1940 at Manila

Route : FAM 14 China Clipper departed Manila on July 31, arrived Hong Kong Aug 1.

Notes : This item has the boxed marking AIR MAIL /- o - / VIA "CLIPPER", used only on covers carried on the Manila to Hong Kong extension. Hong Kong triangle Censor 9 handstamp in blue green.

Rate : 52 centavos

Philippines to Hong Kong

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Posted : Jan 18, 1941 at Baguio

Route : Domestic transport to Manila; FAM 14 China Clipper departed Manila Jan 20, arriving in San Francisco on Jan 26; USA domestic airlines to New York; FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to Lisbon; DLH (Deutsche Lufthansa) probably to Frankfurt; censored in Frankfurt; DLH to Copenhagen; surface to Aalborg.

Notes : Uncommon two-ocean cover to German occupied Denmark, endorsed By Clipper to America then to Europe.

Rate : 1.72 pesos two-ocean rate

Philippines to Denmark (German Occupied)

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Posted : Nov 21, 1941 at San Pablo City

Route : Domestic transport to Manila; FAM 14 ANZAC Clipper departed Manila Nov 22 arriving Honolulu Nov 27 and San Francisco Dec 1. USA domestic airlines to New York; FAM 18 Yankee Clipper departed New York on Dec 6, stopped in Bermuda, and proceeded on to Lisbon, arriving Dec 7; from Lisbon either by rail or by European airlines to Switzerland; backstamped Manila, Honolulu Nov 27, New York Dec 3, and Thur, Switzerland Dec 20.

Notes : Registered two-ocean air cover carried on the Last Complete Flight of the ANZAC Clipper. The ANZAC made one more flight after this one, arriving in Hawaii on Dec 7 during the Japanese attack, and immediately returned to San Francisco. Bermuda PC 90 Censor tape, few known on covers originating in the Philippines.

Rate : 1.92 p = 1.72p two-ocean rate to Europe + .20p Registration Fee.

Philippines to Switzerland

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Posted : Nov 22, 1941 at Baguio

Route : Domestic transport from Baguio to Manila; FAM 14 China Clipper departed Manila Dec 2 arriving in Honolulu Dec 4, and San Francisco Dec 6. USA domestic airlines to Buffalo, NY.

Notes : The last pre war flight of the China Clipper departed San Francisco on Nov 19, 1941, and after crossing the International Dateline, arrived in Singapore on Nov 29. It departed the next day, Nov 30, for the return trip to the USA, arriving in Manila on Nov 30. It departed on Dec 2, arriving in Honolulu Dec 4. After a one day delay, it departed for San Francisco arriving on Dec 6. 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. This registered cover is back stamped Honolulu Dec 4, and Buffalo, NY Dec 8, verifying that it was carried on the last inbound pre-war flight of the China Clipper.

Rate : 1.20p - 1.00p Clipper rate + .20p Registration Fee

Philippines to USA

(Last Flight CHINA Clipper - Inbound)


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