Round-the-World Flights

First Eastward RTW Mail Flight via Southern TransAtlantic Air Service

Page 2r (rev: 1000)

Flown Cover	Cachet	Round-the-World	Hong Kong Cancel	Yankee Clipper

	During the spring of 1939 a number of countries were competing for the honor of 
establishing the first regular air service across the Atlantic Ocean linking the new 
world with the old.  The US won this distinction when Pan American flew its "Yankee 
Clipper" inaugurating the "Southern Route" air service on May 20, 1939. Pan Am flew from 
New York via Horta, Azores and Lisbon, Portugal to Marseilles, France (FAM-18). 
	A few days before this flight, on May 16, 1939 a special 30-cent transatlantic 
air mail stamp (C-24) was issued for use on Pan Am's first flight covers.
	Mail from the US to points beyond Marseilles was dispatched by regular connecting 
air service via Imperial Airways from Europe to Hong Kong.  Pan Am then provided 
air service across the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco, CA (FAM-14) and US transcontinental 
domestic air service completed the round-the-world air routing of mail back to New York 
(TO-1322). 
	William Van Dusen, as Pan Am's public relations chief, wrote glowing press releases 
flaunting Pan Am's flight accomplishments.  May 20, 1939 was the 12th anniversary of 
Lindbergh's solo flight between NY and Paris.  This date was celebrated at the New York 
World's Fair, then in progress, with an elaborate "Aviation Day" program. Pan Am's "Yankee 
Clipper" (Boeing B-314 flying boat) piloted by Captain Arthur E. LaPorte made the 
US's first scheduled commercial transatlantic mail flight (Southern Route) and completed 
the first leg of round-the-world mail routing on scheduled flights.  
		
Itinerary:

New York, NY            Pan American Airways          05/20/39
Marseilles, France      Imperial Airways              05/22/39
London, England         Imperial Airways/KLM          05/26/39
Hong Kong               Pan American Airways          06/07/39
San Francisco, CA       US Domestic Carrier           06/12/39 
New York, NY                                          06/13/39

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