A flight that marked a turning point in aviation history was recalled at last week’s United States Air Mail stamp dedication ceremony.
The journey from College Park, MD, to New York City occurred Aug. 12, 1918, and marked the transition of airmail service from the Army to the U.S. Post Office Department.
“Under the department’s watch, U.S. airmail became part of the fabric of the American economy and culture,” said Chief Operating Officer David Williams, who led the Aug. 11 ceremony at the College Park Aviation Museum.
The flight is commemorated on the new stamp, which is printed in red and features an image of a Curtiss JN-4H biplane, the model of aircraft used for early airmail flights.
This is the second of two United States Air Mail stamps that USPS released this year. The first stamp, featuring the same image but printed in blue, was released in the spring and honors the first airmail flights in May 1918.
Both stamps are intaglio-printed, meaning they’re transferred to paper from an engraved plate.
USPS released the stamps to honor the 100th anniversary of airmail service and the role it played in the innovation of mail delivery, as well as the courage of the pilots who helped make the service a success.
Both the blue and red United States Air Mail stamps are available at Post Offices and usps.com.
