aerodacious
web-catalog        CAM Contract Air Mail First Flights CAM-12

Aerodacious

(Aviation + Audacious = Aerodacious)
eMail: Aerodacious
Page ccCAM012 (Revised 01/20/2008)

Background: The Air Mail Act of 1925 (Kelly Act) authorized the postmaster general to contract for domestic airmail service with commercial air carriers. It also set airmail rates and the level of cash subsidies to be paid to companies that carried the mail. By transferring airmail operations to private companies, the government effectively would help create the commercial aviation industry. Various routes were designated and contracts for carrying the mail over these routes were then awarded to many different private air service companies. The Contract Air Mail routes became known as CAM's.
CAM-12: CAM-12 was awarded to Colorado Airways. Colorado was founded in 1926 by Anthony F Joseph. CAM-12 air service was inaugurated with both north and south flights on May 31, 1926 between Cheyenne Wyoming and Pueblo Colorado with interim stops in Denver & Colorado Springs Colorado.
CA
        Colorado Airways used Standard JR-1B bi-planes with Hispano Suiza engines for this initial May 31, 1926 air service. The Standard bi-plane was built by Standard Aircraft Corporation of Elizabeth New Jersey.
        Pilots flying different legs of this May 31st CAM-12 inaugural air service included, C L Braukman, Edward Brooks, J H Cordner and E L Curtis.

12S1 260531 Cheyenne WY CA EL Curtis $9.00
12S1F 260531 Cheyenne WY CA EL Curtis $39.00
12S2 260531 Denver CO CA Edward Brooks $15.00
12S3 260531 Colorado Springs CO CA JH Cordner $30.00
12N4 260531 Pueblo CO CA JH Cordner $7.50
12N3 260531 Colorado Springs CO CA JH Cordner $15.00
12N2 260531 Denver CO CA CL Braukman & EL Curtis $15.00

12S5 310801 Pueblo CO-Albuquerque NM CA LL Willey $15.00
12S6 310801 Santa Fe NM CA LL Willey $4.50
12N7 310801 Albuquerque NM CA LR McGehee $4.50
12N6 310801 Santa Fe NM CA LR MeGehee $7.50
12S8 310801 Pueblo CO-Amarillo TX CA JD Hissong $6.00
12N9 310801 Amarillo TX CA Earl M Campbell $4.50

R12N11 310901 to Trinidad CO CA $6.00
12S10 310901 Trinidad CO CA CH Chidlaw $4.50
R12S11 310901 to Trinidad CO CA $6.00
12N10 310901 Trinidad CO CA AE Cabana $9.00

R12N13 331111 to Las Vegas NM CA $6.00
12S12 331111 Las Vegas NM CA LR MeGehee $9.00
R12S13 331111 to Las Vegas NM CA $6.00
12N12 331111 Las Vegas NM CA LL Willey $5.25

CAM-12: On February 9, 1934 the Post Office Department canceled all contracts of operators flying mail on routes within the US to become effective on February 19, 1934. The reason given by the Post Office was that there was suspicion that the mail carrying contracts had been awarded through collusion during the previous Administration.
        Cancellation of the air mail contracts held by established pioneer airline companies was accompanied by an executive order from President Franklin D Roosevelt stating that the Army Air Corps should now carry the mail. Three territorial zones were established for the Air Corps mail operations, Newark NJ, Chicago IL and Salt Lake City UT. The eastern, central and western zones each had branch routes to other feeder cities. It was a difficult assignment for the Army Air Corps as they did not have enough planes and the ones they had, did not have the latest instruments, landing, navigation, or cockpit lights. One of the aircraft they used was the Keystone B-4 bi-plane.
Army Air Corps

        New commercial air mail carrying contracts were made in May 1934 and the mail was again flown by private contractors over re-designated revised Post Office Department routes in late June 1934.

CAM-12: After the February 1934 cancellation and reinstatement of new commercial air mail carrying contracts over re-designed revised Post Office routes in late June 1934, Wyoming Air Service which had been formed on May 9, 1930 began flying CAM-12 air mail between Great Falls MT and Denver CO.
WAS
12N14 340620 Cheyenne WY WAS Hanley G Cohn $3.75
12N14F 340620 Cheyenne WY WAS Hanley G Cohn $22.50
12N15 340620 Casper WY WAS Hanley G Cohn $15.00
12N16 340620 Sheridan WY WAS Hanley G Cohn $4.50
12S17 340620 Billings MT WAS Al Lucas $4.50
12S16 340620 Sheridan WY WAS Al Lucas $12.00
12S15 340620 Casper WY WAS Al Lucas $4.50

12N18 370802 Billings MT WAS Sam Moser $12.00
12N18f 370802 Billings MT WAS Sam Moser $22.50
12S19 370802 Great Falls MT WAS Joseph Leferink $3.00

R12N21 371224 to Lewistown MT WAS $3.75
12S20 371224 Lewistown MT WAS Joseph Leferink $3.00
R12S21 371224 to Lewistown MT WAS $3.75
12N20 371224 Lewistown MT WAS RV Garrett $22.50

        WAS (aka Wyoming-Montana Air Service) sold various route legs to other airlines and in April 1938 was re-organized as Inland Air Lines. Shortly thereafter on July 1, 1938 IAL was absorbed by Western Air Express. On April 17, 1941 WAE was renamed Western Airlines. The day after Pearl Harbor (December 8, 1941) Western's aircraft were requisitioned by the military to fly ammunition to the west coast as the US mobilized for war.
        Continental Air Lines had been awarded the balance of CAM-12 routes. CAL had been formed in Ohio on October 10, 1927. CAL was not affiliated with today's Continental, but was rather part of Universal Aviation Corporation, a predecessor of today's American Airlines.

CAL
Douglas DC-3
12S22 400511 Albuquerque NM CAL Alvin P Shelly $3.00
12S22f 400511 Albuquerque NM CAL Alvin P Shelly $16.50
12S23 400511 Roswell NM CAL Alvin P Shelly $3.75
12S24 400511 Hobbs NM CAL Alvin P Shelly $3.00
12S25 400511 Carlsbad NM CAL Alvin P Shelly $3.75
12N26 400511 El Paso TX CAL Jesse E Hart $3.75
12N25 400511 Carlsbad NM CAL Jesse E Hart $3.00
12N24 400511 Hobbs NM CAL Jesse E Hart $3.00
12N23 400511 Roswell NM CAL Jesse E Hart $3.00

12S27 440501 El Paso TX - San Antonio TX CAL OR Haueter $18.00
12NW29 440501 San Antonio TX - El Paso TX CAL OR Haueter $6.00
12S28 440501 Hobbs NM - San Antonio TX CAL OR Haueter $7.50
12NE29 440501 San Antonio TX - Hobbs NM CAL HS Houghton $3.00

12S30 440520 Big Spring TX CAL EA Oliver $6.00
12N30 440520 Big Spring TX CAL EA Oliver $4.50

R12N32 440612 to Midland TX CAL $15.00
12S31 440612 Midland TX CAL CH Collins $3.75
R12S32 440612 to Midland TX CAL $12.00
12N31 440612 Midland TX CAL EA Oliver $6.00
R12N34 440612 to San Angelo TX CAL $12.00
12S33 440612 San Angelo TX CAL CH Collins $12.00
R12S34 440612 to San Angelo TX CAL $15.00
12N33 440612 San Angelo TX CAL EA Oliver $3.00

12S35 440612 El Paso TX - San Angelo TX CAL IR Olson $30.00
12N36 440612 San Angelo TX - El Paso TX CAL DF Burns $30.00

12S37 450210 El Paso TX - Midland TX CAL Robert M Powers $5.25
12N38 450210 Midland TX - El Paso TX CAL Robert M Powers $30.00

12E39 460305 Hobbs NM CAL Jack F Weiler $4.50
12E40 460305 Lubbock TX CAL Jack F Weiler $6.00
12E41 460305 Wichita Falls TX CAL Jack F Weiler $4.50
12E42 460305 Oklahoma City OK CAL Jack F Weiler $4.50
12W43 460305 Tulsa OK CAL OR Haueter $2.25
12W42 460305 Oklahoma City OK CAL OR Haueter $3.75
12W41 460305 Wichita Falls TX CAL OR Haueter $3.75
12W40 460305 Lubbock TX CAL OR Haueter $3.75

12E44 480416 Lawton OK CAL Harry M Kirchner $3.00
12E45 480416 Fort Sill OK CAL Harry M Kirchner $4.50
12W45 480416 Fort Sill OK CAL William F Stewart $2.25
12W44 480416 Lawton OK CAL William F Stewart $2.25

CAL
Douglas DC-3
12S46 500331 Albuquerque NM CAL GW Johnson $3.00
12S46f 500331 Albuquerque NM CAL GW Johnson $2.25
12S47 500331 Socorro NM CAL GW Johnson $2.25
12S48 500331 Hot Springs NM CAL GW Johnson $2.25
12S49 500331 Las Cruces NM CAL SR Buchanan $3.75
12N50 500331 El Paso TX CAL SR Buchanan $2.25
12N49 500331 Las Cruces NM CAL SR Buchanan $2.25
12N48 500331 Hot Springs NM CAL SR Buchanen $3.75
12N47 500331 Socorro NM CAL SR Buchanen $4.50

12S51 500331 Raton NM CAL GW Johnson $2.25
12N51 500401 Raton NM CAL SR Buchanen $3.75

12E52 510601 Great Bend KS CAL Jack F Weiler $2.25
12W52 510601 Great Bend KS CAL ZR Bullock $3.75

12E53 510727 San Antonio TX CAL $187.50
12W54 510727 Houston TX CAL $120.00
12W54f 510727 Houston TX CAL $225.00

12E55 530406 Manhattan KS CAL Evans W Ferris $2.25
12E56 530406 Junction City KS CAL Evans W Ferris $2.25
12E57 530406 Fort Riley KS CAL Evans W Ferris $2.25
12W57 530406 Fort Riley KS CAL Paul Davis $4.50
12W56 530406 Junction City KS CAL Paul Davis $4.50
12W55 530406 Manhattan KS CAL Paul Davis $3.75

CAL
Convair 240
12N58 540901 Alamogordo NM CAL Charles E Hersche $2.25
12N59 540901 Holloman NM CAL Charles E Hersche $19.50
12S59 540901 Holloman NM CAL Gordon Smith $27.00
12S58 540901 Alamogordo NM CAL Gordon Smith $2.25

CAL
Convair 340
12W60 570428 Chicago IL CAL RL Current $13.50
12W60f 570428 Chicago IL CAL RL Current $3.00
12W61 570428 Denver CO CAL AP Shelly $13.50
12W61f 570428 Denver CO CAL AP Shelly $3.75
12E62f 570428 Los Angeles CA CAL FR Gray $3.00
12E61 570428 Denver CO CAL EH Campbell $22.50
12E61f 570428 Denver CO CAL EH Campbell $3.75

CAL
Vickers Viscount II
12NE63 590401 Midland TX CAL Stanley Lee $22.50
12NE64 590401 Odessa TX CAL Stanley Lee $22.50
12SW65 590401 Dallas TX CAL Stanley Lee $22.50
12SW65f 590401 Dallas TX CAL Stanley Lee $22.50

12NW65 590401 Dallas TX CAL Charles E Hersche $22.50
12NW65f 590401 Dallas TX CAL Charles E Hersche $22.50
12SE66 590401 Lubbock TX CAL Charles E Hersche $22.50

12W67 610611 San Antonio TX CAL Robert W Gray $3.00
12W68 610611 Tucson AZ CAL Jack D Alley $3.75
12W69 610611 Phoenix AZ CAL Jack D Alley $3.75
12E70 610611 Los Angeles CA CAL Stanley Lee $3.00
12E70f 610611 Los Angeles CA CAL Stanley Lee $3.00
12E69 610611 Phoenix AZ CAL Robert W Gray $3.00
12E68 610611 Tucson AZ CAL Stanley Lee $3.75

CAL
Boeing 707
12E72 670613 Houston TX CAL WW Phelan $37.50
12E72f 670613 Houston TX CAL WW Phelan $4.50
12W71 670613 New Orleans LA CAL WW Phelan $3.00
12W71f 670613 New Orleans LA CAL WW Phelan $3.00
12NW73 670613 Wichita KS CAL HT Anderson $6.00
12N74 670613 Portland OR CAL HT Anderson $82.50
12S75 670613 Seattle WA CAL RE Shupe $3.00
12S75f 670613 Seattle WA CAL RE Shupe $3.75
12SE74 670613 Portland OR CAL RE Shupe $3.00

12W76 680428 Austin TX CAL LN Johnson $3.00

12E77 690602 Ontario CA CAL AA Rippy $3.00

12W78 690909 Los Angeles CA CAL HD Taneyhill $22.50
12W78f 690909 Los Angeles CA CAL HD Taneyhill $10.50
12E79 690909 Hilo HI CAL TE Green $3.00
12E80 690909 Honolulu HI CAL HD Taneyhill $2.25

12W81 691025 Albuquerque NM CAL WR Bynum $52.50
12W81f 691025 Albuquerque NM CAL WR Bynum $7.50
12E82 691025 San Francisco CA CAL WR Bynum $3.00
12E82f 691025 San Francisco CA CAL WR Bynum $3.00

CAL
Boeing 720
12N83 700829 San Jose CA CAL Carl L Rogers $3.00
12S83 700829 San Jose CA CAL Raymond P Miller $10.50
12N84 700829 Burbank CA CAL Jerry Dixon $2.25

CAL
Boeing 727
12E85 740201 Houston TX CAL Gary D Wilsey $3.75
12E85f 740201 Houston TX CAL Gary D Wilsey $3.00
12W86 740201 Miami FL CAL Larry Hamovitz $3.75
12W86f 740201 Miami FL CAL Larry Hamovitz $3.75

12E87 750601 Burbank CA CAL James Rinella $4.50
12W88 750601 Chicago IL CAL RJ McElroy $4.50
12W88f 750601 Chicago IL CAL RJ McElroy $3.75

12E89 760913 San Diego CA - Denver CO CAL Wilmot R Carter $3.00
12E89A 760913 San Diego CA - Wichita KS CAL Wilmot R Carter $3.75
12E89B 760913 San Diego CA - Kansas City MO CAL G Lee Meyners, James W Crocker $3.75
12W90 760913 Denver CO CAL G Lee Meyners $3.75
12W90f 760913 Denver CO CAL G Lee Meyners $3.75
12W91 760913 Wichita KS CAL James W Crocker, James B Farrow Jr $3.00
12W92 760913 Kansas City MO CAL Carl M Miller, G Lee Meyners $3.75
12W93 760913 Tulsa OK CAL James W Crocker, James B Farrow Jr $3.00

12NE94 770228 Kansas City MO CAL Donald Howald $4.00
12NE94f 770228 Kansas City MO CAL Donald Howald $3.00
12NE95 770228 Peoria IL CAL Donald Howald $3.00
12SW96 770228 Chicago IL CAL William F Hill $4.00
12SW96f 770228 Chicago IL CAL William F Hill $3.00
12SW95 770228 Peoria IL CAL William F Hill $3.00

12SE97 770728 Denver CO CAL William Arcamuzi $4.00
12SE97f 770728 Denver CO CAL William Arcamuzi $3.00
12SE98 770728 Tulsa OK CAL William Arcamuzi $3.00
12SE99 770728 Tampa FL CAL William Arcamuzi $3.00
12NW100 770728 Miami FL-Tampa FL-Tulsa OK CAL Phillip Nash $3.00
12NW100f 770728 Miami FL-Tampa FL-Tulsa OK CAL Phillip Nash $3.00
12NW99 770728 Tampa FL CAL Phillip Nash $3.00
12NW101 770728 Miami FL-Denver CO CAL RF Coonley $4.00
12NW101f 770728 Miami FL-Denver CO CAL RF Coonley $4.00

12NW102 781001 Phoenix AZ CAL John Jensen $7.50
12SE103 781001 Las Vegas NV CAL HF Simpson $4.00

INDEX: First Flights by CAM Route #

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

INDEX: First Flights by AM Route #

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

INDEX: First Flights by Experimental Route #

1001 1002

INDEX: First Flights by AM Route #

49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65
66 67 68 69 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 84
86 87 88 90 91 93 94 96 97 98 99 100 101 103 105
106 107 111 119 120 121 139 140 141 143 144 148 172

INDEX: First Flights by Air Taxi Services Route #

288 289 290 291 292 293 295 296 297 298
BACK HOME NEXT

eMail: Aerodacious