vintage and contemporary postcards and stamps from around the world


06 August 2017

Sunday Stamps II - 138

1928 US AIR MAIL

The US postal service started constructing airway beacons between 1923-1933 to aid navigation before there were good aviation charts for pilots. A series of lighted beacons were placed every 10 miles or so along with a brightly painted concrete arrow for navigation during inclement weather and at night. The lights would flash a code to identify each beacon's number. By 1940, when technology had improved, the beacons were torn down and the steel went towards the war effort.

for the letter A - air mail

7 comments:

Bob Scotney said...

I was expecting a country, but now this old stamp will give us other ideas.

Joy said...

Wow that text paints quite a picture of following flashing lights on a dark stormy night. Those early aviators were something else.

Joy said...

Sorry somehow I've put my link in twice while flipping between views, complete mystery as to what I've pressed. Its a good thing that I don't navigate aeroplanes.

violet s said...

no worries. is now deleted. will visit everyone later today.

FinnBadger said...

A great choice for A. I love the fact that you didn't choose a country. Looking forward to a fun A-Z trip over the next 6 months.

Heleen said...

How interesting, I never had realized before that aviation in the early years needed this type of 'air lighthouse'!

Great to see you chose a mail-related subject for the letter A!

Anonymous said...

I was expecting a country, but now this old stamp will give us other ideas.


ทางบ้าน