The establishment of a formal airmail service in the United States was a pivotal moment in the nation's postal and aviation history. While intermittent experimental flights occurred between 1911 and 1918, it was the official launch of scheduled service that truly marked the beginning of a new era for mail delivery. This ambitious undertaking faced numerous challenges, from developing reliable aircraft and navigation techniques to training pilots and establishing
a robust operational infrastructure. The story of early U.S. airmail is one of pioneering spirit, governmental foresight, and the determination to harness the nascent power of flight for the public good, ultimately laying the groundwork for a transcontinental network.
The Genesis of U.S. Airmail Service
The idea of using aircraft for mail transport in the United States gained momentum in the early 20th century. An unofficial, yet significant, early delivery occurred on February 18, 1911, when Fred J. Wiseman transported two letters between Petaluma and Santa Rosa, California, a feat later sanctioned by a U.S. postal authority. However, the formal establishment of domestic U.S. Air Mail as a new class of service by the Post Office Department took place on May 15, 1918. This momentous occasion inaugurated the Washington–Philadelphia–New York route, for which the first special Air Mail stamps were issued, signaling a serious commitment to aerial postal delivery.
The design of this initial 218-mile route was spearheaded by Augustus Post, the Secretary of the Aero Club of America. Post, who had previously assisted Alexander Graham Bell's Aerial Experiment Association and trained aviators in Britain and France, envisioned this route as the crucial first step toward establishing a transcontinental air service. The ultimate goal was to provide faster service at a lower cost than the existing railroad system, especially for long distances. While routes like College Park, Maryland, to New York offered only a slight speed advantage over railroads, they served as vital laboratories for developing safe and reliable airmail operations, proving the concept before wider expansion.
Overcoming Early Obstacles: The Washington-New York Route
The inaugural scheduled U.S. Air Mail service on May 15, 1918, utilized six converted United States Army Air Service Curtiss JN-4HM "Jenny" biplanes. These aircraft were flown by Army pilots under the command of Major Reuben H. Fleet, operating between Washington, D.C.'s Washington Polo Grounds and New York City's Belmont Park, with an intermediate stop in Philadelphia at Bustleton Field. The departure of the first flight from Washington, D.C., was a high-profile event, attended by dignitaries including President Woodrow Wilson, U.S. Postmaster General Albert S. Burleson, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Despite the fanfare, the very first northbound flight encountered immediate difficulties. Army 2nd Lt. George L. Boyle, selected to pilot aircraft #38262, became disoriented almost immediately after taking off at 11:47 AM. Following the wrong set of railroad tracks out of the city, he started flying south. Realizing he was lost, Boyle made an unscheduled landing just 18 minutes later, at 12:05 PM, in Waldorf, Maryland, approximately 25 miles south of the city. Unfortunately, he broke the propeller on his airplane during the hard landing, necessitating that the 140 pounds of mail he was carrying be trucked back to Washington. Despite this initial setback, aviators 1st Lt. Torrey H. Webb and 2nd Lt. James C. Edgerton successfully completed the scheduled southbound relay with 144 pounds of mail, and Edgerton subsequently flew Boyle's mail to Philadelphia the following day, demonstrating the resilience of the nascent service. The route was further extended to Boston just three weeks later, on June 4.
Building a Network: From Army to Civilian Control
After four months of the mail being flown by the Army, all flight operations transitioned to the United States Post Office Department's (USPOD) Aerial Mail Service on August 12, 1918. This shift marked a significant step towards civilian control and professionalization of airmail. The USPOD employed a fleet of six purpose-built JR-1B mail biplanes, designed and constructed by the Standard Aero Corporation of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and flown by civilian pilots hired by the department. This change allowed the Army to focus on its military objectives, while the Post Office could develop a dedicated airmail infrastructure.
Following a series of "pathfinder" flights conducted in September, November, and early December, the first flight providing scheduled east-west service between New York and Chicago took place on December 17, 1918. This expansion was crucial for the long-term success of airmail, as the economic and speed advantages were most pronounced over longer distances. Flight operations for the Washington-New York route eventually moved to College Park Air Field, which was already a proven airfield for military pilot training and active civilian flights. In 1919, the Post Office built a new hangar and a "compass rose" at College Park, the latter being a concrete compass in the ground used to calibrate airplane compasses before flights. Although the College Park airmail station was closed in 1921 to focus on routes where airmail offered clear superiority over railroads, its role in developing early airmail operations and navigation techniques was invaluable, contributing significantly to the eventual establishment of a robust national airmail network.
