This story actually begins in the 1930s,Pan American Airways with the support of the United States Government mapped and developed airmail routes throughout the Caribbean which came to be known as "The Lindbergh Circle".Lindbergh was involved in pioneer flights preparing for the PAA route. The route started in Florida, came down the East coast of Central America , crossed the north east coast of South America and then proceeded up the various Caribbean island back to Florida . In South America there were efforts to compete with PAA. SCADTA was an early effort ,funded in large part by Germans, and LATI funded by Italians. The story gets better as WW2 approaches. I myself like cover collecting and history and there is a lot to learn in this area.
I'm fascinated — and more than a little ignorant! — by the history of South American/Latin American airmails. I think that Roy is the resident expert in this area.
"Jean Mermoz (9 December 1901, Aubenton, Aisne – 7 December 1936) was a French aviator, viewed as a hero by many in both Argentina and his native France, where many schools bear his name. In Brazil, he also is recognized as a pioneer aviator."
France has issued some stamps in his honour. Here's the earliest one; I grabbed the image from the Decampe web site, where it is currently for sale.
One of his adventures occurred when he was forced to land on a mountain peak in the Andes. His mechanic (mechanics were often taken along for emergency repairs) was able to repair the plane, and they were able to "take off," which basically meant falling off the mountain.
Here's a Lindbergh-related Cuba cover from my collection:
Bob, i am looking at the Lindbergh covers...hoping to score one for a reasonable price. I have seen the stamp of the French aviator but was not famiiar with his history.They had to be daredevils flying over the Andes.
Bob, i read an article in the American Philatelist about all the material airbases we had in French Africa...so much war material headed for Europe landed there first. Who Knew ? This Panagra covers show up every now and then and are not expensive. I have scores of Guatemala Exterior airmail covers..i will have to check and see if any are of the Interior variety. I wonder why more collectors do not do Latin America..after all they are our neighbors to the South . Either the area does not interest them or they find the good material difficult to find .
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