AirMail100 Centennial Flights : It's a Wrap!

"It’s a wrap!" 

Famous last words when a Hollywood film completes shooting. That’s the way Stephen Tucker phrased it when he called me late yesterday afternoon my time here in Nebraska. Standing on Marina Green on Friday, Oct 16th with San Francisco Postmaster Douglas Smith, he excitedly informed me that they had pulled off the final flourish that we wanted for the Centennial last September 11th. The sky was clear and the waters in San Francisco Bay glassy smooth allowing Aaron Singer, flying SeaplaneAdventure.com's DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver floatplane, to land just offshore of Marina Green so Stephen could paddle ashore in a small, two-man rubber dingy and (again) hand the commemorative postcards our volunteer pilots collected and flew from New York to California to Postmaster Smith. Then, right on schedule, the event was capped off by a “Missing Man” flyover by the BeechBoy’s formation flying group. 

The day began where it essentially left off on September 11th when John Sawatzky, flying the Carson City-to-Sacramento segment (#14) had to overfly Mather Airport because Segment #15 pilot Steve Isaac wasn’t able to get out of his home based to rendezvous with John due to coastal fog, low clouds and a thick pall of smoke from the raging wildfires up and down the state. With beautiful weather finally giving Californians a break, Steve was waiting at Mather and flew his leg into Buchanan Airport in Concord, CA. There John and Stephen drove out to Martinez Marina where Aaron was waiting offshore (see attached photo).

So, what’s next? What happens to the much-delayed postcards and letters? Here is what Stephen told me the Postmaster told him. All the mail is being sent to a special processing facility in Kansas City where all of the postcards and letters will be cancelled with the San Francisco stamp. They will each be placed in separate envelopes to be mailed to the addressees so they will remain pristine and unbent. According to Stephen, the Post Office is doing this as a way to thank all of us for organizing this special commemorative event honoring an important piece of US Post Office history. 

As for the mailbag itself, it supposedly will be sent to the Smithsonian's US Postal Museum in Washington, DC, but not before each of the pilots who flew the segment has the opportunity to sign it. At least, that’s what I am told is the plan at the moment. I’ll communicate with everyone as I learn more.

POSTSCRIPT:

Several additional items of note:

(1) Extra Extra Large Tee Shirts: Due to order cancellations, I have three (3) 2XL (XXL) size AirMail100 tee shirts available. They are $17 each plus $7 postage. You can pay via PayPal using this email account (bmoore@evworld.com). Be sure to include your mailing address. First come, first served, as usual.

(2) Commemorative Postcards: I still have a few postcards available for most of the airfields if you’re interested in acquiring some. Cost is $2 each plus $2 postage for groups of 10. Payment via PayPal or check to the address below.

(3) Operation Sailors Christmas: One of our AirMail100 pilots contacted me this week about the possibility of helping organize an airlift of sorts for some US Navy sailors attending the Navy’s nuclear power school in Charleston, SC. Apparently, due to concerns over COVID-19, the Navy has placed strict limitations on sailors wanting to travel home for Christmas, in particular travel by public transport, presumably including commercial air travel. Because his son is a student at the school and because he has access to a private plane, he will be able to pickup his son, but this may leave other sailors whose fathers aren’t so blessed “beached” for the holidays. All this is very preliminary and may or may not develop, but I wanted to at least give everyone a heads up.

 Please everyone, please stay safe and well.