Calbraith Perry Rogers (aka the Pioneer Aerial Postman) flying his Wright Model FX aircraft (aka Vin Fiz Flyer) made the first transcontinental flight westward across the US. His flight was financed by the Armour Company who made the Vin Fiz soft drink. Cal's wife, Mabel acquired postmaster status for mail carried by Cal on various legs of his trip. Cal's flight took 14 legs, 50 days (September 17 ~ December 10, 1911) and was plagued with accidents and injury. Sadly, Cal died in a plane accident while on the west coast in a flight over Long Beach CA.

P-0002

110917

Sheepshead Bay NY-Long Beach CA

Cal Rodgers

$75,000.00

Unused Vin Fiz Stamp

P-0002a

110917

Sheepshead Bay NY-Long Beach CA

Cal Rodgers

$45,000.00

Flown mail ~ Dallas TX

P-0002b

111019

Dallas TX-Westward

Cal Rodgers

$3,750.00

Flown mail ~ Pasadena to Long Beach CA ~ Crashed in Compton CA

P-0002c

111116

Pasadena CA-Long Beach CA

Cal Rodgers

$7,500.00

Souvenir Card ~ Not Flown

P-0002d

110917

Sheepshead Bay NY-Long Beach CA

Cal Rodgers

$225.00

Crew Souvenir Card ~ Not Flown

P-0002e

110925/111006

Sheepshead Bay NY-Long Beach CA

Cal Rodgers

$1,125.00

INTERNATIONAL AVIATION TOURNAMENT        Garden City NY         

Between September 23 and October 1, 1911 an International Aviation Meet was held at the Aerodrome in Garden City Estates in Mineola Long Island NY. Postmaster General Frank H Hitchcock authorized mail to be flown at this meet. Earle L Ovington was sworn in as the first official air mail pilot. He flew mail in his Bleriot aircraft on the opening day of the Meet. TOM Sopwith and Paul W Beck also flew mail during this event.

Flown Mail

P-0003	110923	Garden City Long Island NY-Mineola Long Island NY		Earl L Ovington	$750.00
P-0003a	110924/28 & 110930	Garden City Long Island NY-Mineola Long Island NY		Earl L Ovington	$265.00

Mail Not Flown

P-0003b

110929 & 111001

Garden City Long Island NY-Mineola Long Island NY

Earl L Ovington

$190.00

Error Cover ~ Not Flown

P-0003c

111001

Garden City Long Island NY-Mineola Long Island NY

Earl L Ovington

$190.00

Advertising Card

P-0003d

110923-111001

Garden City Long Island NY-Mineola Long Island NY

Earl L Ovington

$525.00

Souvenir Post Card ~ Special Aerial Despatch (used)

P-0003e

110923-111001

Garden City Long Island NY-Mineola Long Island NY

Earl L Ovington

$450.00

Souvenir Post Card ~ Special Aerial Despatch (unused)

P-0003f

110923-111001

Garden City Long Island NY-Mineola Long Island NY

Earl L Ovington

$75.00

Flown Mail with Special Show Label

P-0003g

110923-111001

Garden City Long Island NY-Mineola Long Island NY

Earl L Ovington

$3,750.00

Flown Mail without Aerial Special Dispatch Cachet

P-0003h

110923-111001

Garden City Long Island NY-Mineola Long Island NY

Earl L Ovington

+ $100.00

COAST-to-COAST FLIGHT ATTEMPT        Governors Island NY/Los Angeles CA

Postmaster General Frank H Hitchcock authorized mail to be flown coast-to-coast with Earl L Ovington as pilot. On October 11, 1911 Ovington departed the Aerodrome in Garden City Estates in Mineola Long Island NY heading for the airport on Governor's Island NY. Unforturnately on his way to Governor's Island, his Bleriot plane was damaged in a forced landing terminating his transcontinental flight attempt.

Prepared Mail ~ Not Flown

P-0004

111005

Governors Island NY-Los Angeles CA

Earl L Ovington

$3,000.00

AVIATION MEET        Saint Louis MO

The postmaster of Saint Louis established a postal sub-station at this Aviation Meet. On the opening day of the Meet, aviator Brookings carried mail twelve miles from Klintock Field to the Fair Grounds. Demand for mail souvenirs carried by air was so great that on the following days of the Meet, mail was only carried the length of the field before it was put into the normal mail delivery system.
On the last day of the Aviation Meet, aviator Robinson flew a Curtiss hydro-plane from the Mississippi River at Saint Louis MO across the river to East Saint Louis IL. This became the first time mail was transported by hydro-plane.

P-0005	111004	Saint Louis MO-Fairgrounds Park		Walter Brookins	$225.00
P-0005a	111005	Saint Louis MO-Fairgrounds Park		Walter Brookins	$225.00
P-0005b	111006	Saint Louis MO-Fairgrounds Park		Walter Brookins	$225.00
P-0005c	111007	Saint Louis MO-Fairgrounds Park		Walter Brookins	$375.00
P-0005d	111008	Saint Louis MO-East Saint Louis IL		Hugh Robinson	$750.00

INTER-STATE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLIGHT        Minneapolis MN/New Orleans LA

Aviator Robinson's successful flight across the Mississippi on October 8, 1911 brought him much publicity. Accordingly, the Aero Club of Saint Louis together with some backers from Minneapolis sponsored Robinson on an intended hydro-plane flight down the Mississippi River from Minneapolis MN to New Orleans LA. Robinson departed Minneapolis on October 17, 1911 carrying mail for delivery to cities along his route. He picked up additional mail en route but lacking sufficient financial resources, terminated his flight attempt at Rock Island IL.

P-0006	111011-111017	Minneapolis MN-Southward		Hugh Robinson	$3,000.00
P-0006a	111019	Winona MN-Southward		Hugh Robinson	$3,000.00
P-0006b	111017	Red Wing MN-Southward		Hugh Robinson	$3,000.00
P-0006c	111019	La Crosse WI-Southward		Hugh Robinson	$3,000.00
P-0006d	111019	Prairie du Chien WI-Southward		Hugh Robinson	$3,000.00
P-0006e	111021	Rock Island IL-Southward		Hugh Robinson	$3,000.00

FLYING EXHIBITION        Rochester NY

The postmaster of Rochester NY established a postal sub-station at Crittenden Park Rochester. Aviator Linclon Beachey flew from Crittenden about two miles to Genesee Valley Park where he dropped the mail from the plane. It was retrieved and delivered by car to the post office.

P-0007

111021

Crittenden Park Station-Genessee Valley Park

Lincoln Beachey

$265.00

AERO MILITARY TOURNAMENT        Louisville KY

The Postmaster established a postal sub-station at the Aero Military Tournament held on the Kentucky State Fair Grounds. Aviator Clifford Turpin flew mail circling above the fair grounds dropping it from the plane for car delivery to the post office.

P-0008

111103-111105

Kentucky State Fair Grounds-Local

Clifford Turpin

$6,000.00

LEAGUE PARK STATION AVIATION MEET        Fort Smith AR

The Postmaster of Fort Smith AR established a postal sub-station at the League Park Station Aviation Meet. Aviators Beckwith Havens and Lincoln Beachey each flew the mail from League Park dropping it from the plane while circling the Federal Building.

P-0009	111105	League Park Station-Federal Building		Beckwith Havens or Lincoln Beachey	$190.00
P-0009a	111106	League Park Station-Federal Building		Beckwith Havens or Lincoln Beachey	$190.00

ATLANTA SPEEDWAY AVIATION MEET        Atlanta GA

The Postmaster of Atlanta GA established a postal sub-station known as the Speedway Aerial Substation. Aviators from the Curtiss Flying School participated in this aviation meet alternating carrying mail on one or more days of the meet. They flew from the Speedway site about three miles to Stewart Avenue where they dropped the mail from the plane. The mail was then retrieved and driven by car to the post office.

P-0010	111116	Speedway-Stewart Avenue		Lincoln Beachey Charles C Witmer Thornwell H Andrews	$750.00
P-0010a	111117	Speedway-Stewart Avenue			$750.00
P-0010b	111118	Speedway-Stewart Avenue			$750.00

Souvenir "Aero Post" Card

P-0010c

111116-111118

Speedway-Stewart Avenue

$1,125.00

ATHLETIC PARK AVIATION MEET        Savannah GA

The Postmaster of Savannah GA established a postal sub-station known as the Atlletic Park Aerial Substation. Aviator Beckwith Havens flew from the Athletic Park about a mile to Walters Road where he dropped the mail from the plane. The mail was then retrieved and driven by car to the post office.

P-0011	111125	Athletic Park-Local		Beckwith Havens	$225.00
P-0011A	111128	Athletic Park-Local		Beckwith Havens	$225.00

DRIVING PARK AVIATION MEET        Columbus GA

The Postmaster of Columbus GA established a postal sub-station known as the Driving Park Aerial Substation. Aviators Charles F Walsh and M Godet flew from the Driving Park about two miles where the mail was dropped from the plane. The mail was then retrieved and driven by car to the post office. The event was sponsored by the local newspaper, The Columbus Ledger.

P-0012	111212	Driving Park-Local		Charles F Walsh or M Godet	$450.00
P-0012a	111213	Driving Park-Local		Charles F Walsh or M Godet	$600.00

Error (Wrong Year-1912)

P-0012b	121212	Driving Park-Local		Charles F Walsh or M Godet	$675.00
P-0012c	121213	Driving Park-Local		Charles F Walsh or M Godet	$675.00

PUTNEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FLIGHT EXHIBITION        Albany GA

The Postmaster of Albany GA established a postal sub-station at the Albany Fair Grounds. Aviator Thornwell H Andrews flew a Curtiss Pusher from the Fair Grounds about ten miles where the mail was dropped from the plane. The mail was then retrieved and driven by car to the post office. On his return to the Fair Grounds, Andrews crashed, breaking his arm and demolishing his aircraft.

P-0013

111228

League Park Station-Local

Thornwell H Andrews

$300.00

INDEX: PIONEER First Flights by year

1910

1911

1912

1913

1914

1915

1916

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