Article
I.J.R. Deacon Canadian Airmail Map Collection 1918-1948
The Deacon Airmail Map Collection is a collection of maps representing airmail routes in Canada from 1918 to 1948. These maps were donated to the Harry Sutherland Philatelic Library and are made available as a digital collection in their archival holdings.
I.J.R. Deacon Airmail Maps 1918-1928
I.J.R. Deacon Airmail Maps 1929-1938
I.J.R. Deacon Airmail Maps 1939-1948
Map Totals
315 maps. Route, date, company, pilot and aircraft are taken from each map’s title block and checked against The Air Mails of Canada and Newfoundland 2 (AMCN2); where the two disagree, AMCN2 is followed. Covers cites AMCN2 catalogue numbers and printed page. A dash (-) means the information could not be established.
1918–1928
88 original map PDFs in the Internet Archive upload.
| Route | Date | Map PDF | Pilot / Company / Aircraft | Covers | Notes |
| Botwood – Fogo – Botwood | 1921.03.28 | Open PDF | F.S. CottonAerial Survey Company | NFF-6, St. John’s round-trip; NFF-6a, St. John’s–Fogo. These listings do not separately identify a Botwood–Fogo cover. (AMCN2, p. 584.) | Service type: Newfoundland first flight. Outcome: completed. Seal-spotting and mail flight; Lt. David Plaistowe and a trapper named Kean also aboard. Mail sent from St. John’s to Botwood by rail; plane landed on the ice at Fogo 30 minutes after takeoff and returned to Botwood the same day. Postmarks: St. John’s, March 9–10, 1921. Backstamp: Fogo, March 28, 1921. Cachet: “Air Post Fogo” (dull violet). |
| Botwood – Grand Falls – Fogo – Musgrave Harbour – Twillingate – Botwood | 1921.04.10 | Open PDF | F.S. Cotton | NFF-7, Botwood–Grand Falls–Fogo; quantity not stated. (AMCN2, p. 585.) | Service type: Newfoundland first flight. Outcome: completed. Mail flight from Botwood to Fogo via Grand Falls, returning to Botwood via Musgrave Harbour and Twillingate the same day. Postmark(s): St. John’s, March 15, 1921. Backstamp: Fogo, April 10, 1921. Cachet: “Air Post Fogo” (dull violet). |
| Botwood – Hawkes Bay (Port Saunders) – Botwood | 1923.01.16 | Open PDF | F.S. Cotton | – | Service type: Mail flight. Outcome: completed. Mail flight to the St. Barbe district, returning with mail from Hawkes Bay. Postmarks: St. John’s, January 16, 1923; Hawkes Bay, January 13–23, 1923 (return). Backstamp: Hawkes Bay, January 16, 1923; Botwood, February 8–9, 1923. Cachet: “Aerial Mail” (two varieties noted). |
| Botwood – Hawkes Bay; Hawkes Bay – Flowers Cove – Forteau – Hawkes Bay; Hawkes Bay – Botwood | 1923.03.24 | Open PDF | F.S. Cotton, BreakellAerial Survey CompanyMartinsyde and Bristol aircraft | NFF-25 and sublistings a–d describe the March 27 continuation, not a separately listed Botwood–Hawkes Bay cover for the March 24 start. (AMCN2, p. 588.) | Service type: Newfoundland first flight. Outcome: completed. The March 27 continuation began at Botwood on March 24. Cotton carried mail and passengers to Flowers Cove and Forteau, then returned to Hawke Harbour. Postmarks: St. John’s, February 8–10, 1923. Backstamps: St. Anthony, April 4, 1923; Flowers Cove, February 24, 1923; Forteau, March 27, 1923. Cachet: “Per Aerial Mail” (violet). AMCN2 also records an April 7 return flight from Labrador to Botwood and St. John’s. Postmark: Hawke Harbour, March 30, 1923. Backstamp: St. John’s, April 12, 1923. Cachet: “Aerial Mail”. The map dates the continuation March 27 and the return to Botwood in April, with the day uncertain. |
| Botwood – St. Anthony – Battle Harbour; Battle Harbour – Cartwright; Cartwright – St. Anthony; Cartwright – St. John’s | 1922.03.03–12 | Open PDF | F.S. Cotton | NFF-13, St. John’s–St. Anthony; the listing does not identify a separate Botwood-origin cover. Quantity not stated. (AMCN2, p. 586.) | Service type: Newfoundland first flight. Outcome: completed. Major Cotton’s first flight to Labrador. Cotton flew to St. Anthony and then Battle Harbour on March 3. Plane repairs delayed the flight to Cartwright until March 6; after a damaged ski was repaired and an attempt on March 5 was aborted, Cotton continued to Cartwright the next day. On March 12, Cotton left Cartwright at 10 a.m., made three stops, and arrived at Quidi Vidi Lake at 5:05 p.m. Postmarks: St. John’s, January 14–February 27, 1922. Backstamps: St. Anthony, March 3, 1922; Battle Harbour, March 3, 1922. Cachet: None. Postmarks: St. John’s, January 14–February 27, 1922. Backstamp: Cartwright, March 6, 1922. Cachet: None. Postmarks: Cartwright, March 3–12, 1922. Backstamp: St. John’s, March 12, 1922. Cachet: “Per Aerial Mail” (violet). |
| Botwood – St. John’s | 1923.02.08 | Open PDF | F.S. Cotton, BasedonAerial Survey CompanyMartinsyde (Cotton), Westland-Napier (Basedon) | NFF-24, Botwood–St. John’s; quantity not stated. (AMCN2, pp. 587, 588.) | Service type: Newfoundland first flight. Outcome: completed; Basedon’s Westland crashed near Quidi Vidi Lake; Cotton landed safely. Flight to St. John’s with mail from Labrador. Basedon’s Westland crashed near Quidi Vidi Lake, where Cotton later landed safely. Postmarks: Hawke Harbour, January 23–26, 1923. Backstamp: St. John’s, February 8, 1923. Cachet: “Aerial Mail” (two varieties noted). |
| Botwood – Twillingate – Fogo – Botwood | 1922.03.20 | Open PDF | F.S. CottonWestland | NFF-18, St. John’s–Botwood–Fogo; quantity not stated. No separate Botwood–Twillingate–Fogo cover listing is given. (AMCN2, pp. 586, 587.) | Service type: Newfoundland mail flight. Outcome: completed; forced down at Charles Brook and resumed the next day. The aircraft was forced down at Charles Brook, 12 miles from Botwood, and towed to Botwood by a team of horses. Repairs were completed and the flight resumed the next day. Postmarks: St. John’s, March 16–20, 1922. Backstamps: Fogo, March 20, 1922; Twillingate, March 21, 1922. Cachet: “Per Aerial Mail” (violet). |
| Calgary – Edmonton | 1918.07.09 | Open PDF | Katherine StinsonCurtis Special biplane | PF-7, Calgary–Edmonton: regular envelope, O.H.M.S. cover, oil-soaked cover, and Calgary Industrial Exhibition folded letter; 259 pieces estimated carried, 23 known to have survived. (AMCN2, pp. 23, 24.) | Service type: Pioneer airmail flight. Outcome: completed; forced down by a broken oil line, repaired, and resumed. Stinson made one stop en route because of engine problems and arrived in Edmonton at 8 p.m. Letters were backstamped Edmonton, July 9, 1918, 9 PM. Cachet: “Aeroplane Mail Service / July 9, 1918 / Calgary, Alberta.” AAMS 7. |
| Windsor – Hamilton; Windsor – London – Hamilton – Toronto; Quebec – Montreal – Ottawa; Ottawa – Kingston – Toronto | 1928.08.24 | Open PDF | E.M. Hand; A.S. Schneider; Roméo Vachon; Irénée Vachon; J. Caldwell (Hamilton – Toronto)Canadian Transcontinental Airways; National Air Transport Ltd.Loening amphibian aircraft; Buhl Air-sedan, G-CATO (Windsor – Hamilton) | 2837: Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Windsor, London and Hamilton–Toronto, Aug. 24 (5,200; 6,000; 5,000; 3,400; 4,000; 4,502; and 4,335 pieces, respectively). Intermediate legs 2837g–o: Quebec–Montreal, Quebec–Ottawa, Quebec–Kingston, Montreal–Ottawa, Montreal–Kingston, Ottawa–Kingston, Windsor–London, London–Hamilton and Windsor–Hamilton. (AMCN2, pp. 162, 163, 164.) | Service type: Special event flight. Outcome: completed. The flights demonstrated the feasibility of regular air mail service. Mail was charged at 5¢ per ounce, the first time in Canada a special air mail rate had been regularly established. This was also the first time the Canadian Post Office applied pictorial cachets to mail. Postmarks: Quebec, 1; Montreal, 3; Ottawa, 3; Kingston, 2; Windsor, 2; London, 2; Hamilton, 2. Backstamps: Toronto, 12; others, 1 only. Cachet: pictorial cachets (rectangular); intermediate-point cachets were shield-shaped. All cachets were applied in green and were in English, except as noted. Return flights took place August 29. AAMS 215/6. |
| Charlottetown – Grindstone, Magdalen Islands | 1928.03.11 | Open PDF | Edward J. CooperCanadian Transcontinental Airways | 2807d: Charlottetown–Grindstone Island, first direct flight, March 11; the listing also includes other Magdalen Islands post offices. No piece count stated. (AMCN2, p. 159.) | Service type: First direct flight. Outcome: completed. Mail was placed aboard the regular Moncton–Grindstone aircraft, which stopped at Charlottetown. The mail plane en route from Moncton was forced to land at Charlottetown, and mail from there was added. AAMS 508. |
| Clarke City – Quebec | 1928.04.18 | Open PDF | C.A. SchillerFairchild G-CA10 | 2817: Clarke City–Quebec rescue-flight covers (3 pieces). (AMCN2, pp. 159, 160.) | Service type: Rescue flight. Outcome: completed. Commander James Fitzmaurice was carried to Quebec after Schiller located the German trans-Atlantic flyers at Greenly Island. Postmark(s): Clarke City, April 18. Backstamp: Quebec. Source: S.A.C. 1000 p239. |
| Cryderman Mine – Sioux Lookout – Cryderman Mine | 1926.08.17 | Open PDF | F.J.StevensonPatricia Airways & Exploration Ltd. | PE2659-CL13, Cryderman Mine–Sioux Lookout, Aug. 17, 1926 (35 pieces); (a), Sioux Lookout–Cryderman Mine, Aug. 25 (3 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 86.) | Service type: Semi-official airmail flight. Outcome: completed. The return flight was made about a week later, but its actual date is uncertain; August 25 was the date of posting, and the flight was unlikely to have been later. Some covers had Stevenson’s red-ink notation, “First airmail from Cryderman Mine to Sioux Lookout.” Others had the same notation typed and a company-applied double-circle datestamp reading “Cryderman Lake Manitoba Aug 17.” Return mail was not backstamped. AAMS 83. |
| Dartmouth – Grindstone Harbour | 1923.08.23 | Open PDF | R.C.A.F. | – | Service type: First unofficial flight with mail. Outcome: completed. |
| Dartmouth – Three Rivers | 1919.06.05–08 | Open PDF | S. GrahamSt. Maurice Fire Protection AssociationCurtiss HS-2L flying boat, La Vigilance | – | Service type: Pioneer flight. Outcome: completed. Mrs. Graham accompanied the pilot. The flight departed Halifax on June 5 and stopped at St. John, Eagle Lake, Lake Temiscouata, Riviere du Loup, and Three Rivers. A letter from the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia to the Premier of Quebec, marked “Per Aerial Post,” was delivered at Three Rivers. Hundreds of forest-fire-prevention leaflets were dropped at Grand Mere. |
| Estevan – Winnipeg | 1924.10.01 | Open PDF | Lt. E.A. AltonStandard J-1 | PF-28, Estevan–Winnipeg, without special stamp (about 1,400); (a), with CLP 5 (approximately 500). (AMCN2, pp. 37, 38.) | Service type: Pioneer publicity flight. Outcome: not completed by air; plane damaged at Bienfait and mail sent by train. A publicity flight to promote the Estevan area and future Prairie Provinces air mail service. Took off at 7:50 a.m.; after 13 miles, engine trouble forced a landing near Bienfait. While taxiing to depart, a wheel struck a rock, the aircraft tilted over and broke a wing. Mail was forwarded from Bienfait to Winnipeg by rail. Backstamp: Winnipeg, 10:30 p.m. Cachet: “VIA AEROPLANE – Oct. 1st 1924 – ESTEVAN, SASK.” (violet, 3-line double-oval). |
| Rimouski – Montreal | 1927.09.09 | Open PDF | J.H. TudhopeVickers Vanessa | 2707: Rimouski–Montreal first attempt, September 9. Covers with private cachets are noted; the mail reached Montreal by rail after the aircraft sank. (AMCN2, p. 153.) | Service type: First attempt at airmail service. Outcome: not completed; aircraft sank while taxiing for takeoff. The aircraft sank due to previous, unnoticed damage while carrying mail from the Empress of France. The mail reached Montreal by rail after the ship; covers exist with private cachets. |
| Halifax – Saint John – Rivière-du-Loup – Ottawa – Sault Ste. Marie – Kenora – Winnipeg – Regina – Calgary – Revelstoke – Merritt – Vancouver | 1920.10.07–17 | Open PDF | B.D. Hobbs, R. Leckie (Halifax – Winnipeg); J.B. Home-Hay (Winnipeg – Regina); C.F.W. Cudemore (Regina – Calgary); G.A. Thompson (Calgary – Vancouver); A. Tylee (Winnipeg – Vancouver)R.C.A.F.Fairey trans-Atlantic seaplane; Curtiss HS-2L flying boat; Felixstowe flying boat; de Havilland 9 aircraft | PF-23, Halifax–Vancouver, Oct. 7; (a), any other point–Vancouver, Oct. 9–27. The catalogue describes the full trans-Canada flight; no mail from it is known in collectors’ hands. (AMCN2, p. 33.) | Service type: First trans-Canada flight. Outcome: completed. Leckie carried letters from Halifax’s Mayor Parker for dignitaries en route; the first mail was dropped at Saint John. The Fairey made a forced landing on the St. John River and was lost. A Curtiss HS-2L was sent from Halifax, and Leckie continued in a Felixstowe flying boat; de Havilland 9 aircraft were used from Winnipeg onward. The aircraft were forced down at Regina, Revelstoke, and Merritt. The flight covered 3,341 miles in 49 hours, 7 minutes, over 10½ days. Mail was increased by letters of greeting to Vancouver’s mayor from mayors along the way. Those letters are held in the City of Vancouver archives; no mail from the flight is known to be in collectors’ hands. |
| Goldpines – Favourable Lake – Goldpines | 1928.06.04 | Open PDF | F.J. StevensonWestern Canada Airways Limited | WC2811-CL40: Goldpines–Favourable Lake and return, listed for June 4. The June 4 flight occurred, but the catalogue says these “First Flight Covers” were carried on a subsequent July 27 flight; the 4 pounds refers to mail weight, not cover count. (AMCN2, pp. 101, 102.) | Service type: First official flight. Outcome: completed. The flight landed at Setting Net Lake, 12 miles from Favourable Lake, and may have originated at Rolling Portage. The “First Flight Covers” were not carried on this flight; they were carried on a subsequent July 27 flight. Cachet: “double-lined circular marking” and “diamond-shaped marking” (both violet). AAMS 95. |
| Haileybury – Rouyn | 1924.09.11 | Open PDF | C.B. CarbinettLaurentide Air Service Ltd. | LA2402-CL1, Haileybury–Rouyn Lake, Sept. 11, 1924; (a), Rouyn–Haileybury, Sept. 11. (AMCN2, p. 55.) | Service type: Semi-official service commencement. Outcome: completed. Flown covers were listed in the 1929 Airmail Catalogue: Canada and Newfoundland; none have been seen recently. Service commenced by Laurentide Air Service Ltd. (AAMS 50-2?). |
| Haileybury – Rouyn | 1925.05.18–06.27 | Open PDF | B.W. BroatchNorthern Air Service | NO2501, Haileybury–Rouyn, May 18, 1925 (8 pieces); (a), Rouyn–Haileybury (8 pieces). NO2502-CL5, Haileybury–Rouyn, June 27 (450 covers reported each way); (a), return direction. (AMCN2, pp. 60, 61.) | Service type: Experimental and first official flights. Outcome: completed. May 18 experimental flights were made between Haileybury and Rouyn. The June 27 first official flights were piloted by Bill Broatch. May 18 covers bore a two-line violet cachet, “First Experimental Flight / Haileybury to Rouyn” or “Rouyn to Haileybury.” June 27 covers bore a three-line cachet and were pilot-signed, or a single-line violet “First Flight” cachet and were not pilot-signed; the latter are reported flown in both directions. AAMS 60/1. |
| Haileybury – Rouyn | 1926.06.01 | Open PDF | G.R. BurgeElliot-Fairchild Air Service Ltd. | FA2601-CL8 and FA2601-CL9, Rouyn–Haileybury, May 27, 1926 (50 and 45 pieces respectively). The listed Haileybury–Rouyn reverse legs, (a), are dated June 1, not May 27. (AMCN2, p. 73.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. The semi-official service commenced June 1, 1926. Fairchild Air Transport flew Rouyn – Haileybury August 12–13 and Haileybury – Rouyn October 20. AAMS 71. |
| Halifax – St. John’s | 1922.01.20 | Open PDF | – | PF-26A, Halifax–St. John’s, with cachet and post-office cancellations; PF-26A(a), cachet without post-office cancellations. The flight did not take place; the plane was wrecked and the mail went by surface. (AMCN2, pp. 35, 36.) | Service type: Proposed first government flight. Outcome: not made; plane wrecked before the flight. The mail was forwarded by surface. Postmarks: Halifax, January 20, 1922; Saskatoon; two illegible post-office cancellations. Backstamp: Halifax, January 20, 1922, or St. John’s, January 24, 1922. Cachet: “FIRST AIR MAIL HALIFAX TO ST. JOHN’S JANUARY 1922.” AAMS 29. |
| Hawkes Bay – Rigolet – Hawkes Bay – Botwood | 1923.05.16 | Open PDF | F.S. CottonAerial Survey Company | NFF-27, Cartwright–Hawkes Bay–Botwood; NFF-27a, Cartwright–Hawkes Bay–St. John’s. The catalogue does not separately list Hawkes Bay–Rigolet covers. (AMCN2, p. 588.) | Service type: Seasonal mail flight. Outcome: completed. Flight to Rigolet and Cartwright to pick up mail, returning the same day. This was Cotton’s last seasonal mail flight to points in Newfoundland and Labrador; he liquidated his aviation interests soon after. Postmarks: Cartwright, May 10–16, 1923. Backstamp: Botwood, May 16, 1923; St. John’s, May 17, 1923. Cachet: “Aerial Mail”. |
| La Malbaie – Sept-Îles – Port Menier | 1928.02.08 | Open PDF | Roméo Vachon; C.A. Schiller (Seven Islands legs)Canadian Transcontinental Airways | 2805a: La Malbaie–Port Menier, February 8 (275 pieces); 2805b: Seven Islands–Port Menier, February 8 (no quantity stated). (AMCN2, p. 158.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. This was a winter flight to Anticosti Island via Seven Islands. There were no special markings. The mail consisted mostly of parcels. Return mail from Port Menier, unless it originated there and was already bagged, was flown on the second flight on February 11 because there was insufficient time for postal handling on February 8. Total mail to Port Menier was 511 pounds; from Port Menier, 92 pounds. There is some question regarding the dates, particularly for the Seven Islands legs. La Malbaie–Sept-Îles winter service commenced December 25, 1927. AAMS 507. |
| La Malbaie – Pointe-aux-Outardes – Franquelin – Godbout – Trinity – Pentecôte – Shelter Bay – Clarke City – Seven Islands – La Malbaie | 1927.12.25 | Open PDF | Charles SuttonCanadian Transcontinental Airways LimitedFairchild G-CAIP | 2721: La Malbaie–Seven Islands, catalogue date range December 24–26; 2721b: Seven Islands–La Malbaie, December 25–27. The account reports 763 pounds of mail, mostly parcel post, not a cover count. (AMCN2, pp. 155, 156.) | Service type: Regular winter service. Outcome: completed. Dr. Louis Cuisinier accompanied the pilot. Mailbags attached to small parachutes were dropped over settlements along the North Shore. The 763 pounds of mail carried were mostly parcel post and daily newspapers; the mail was not specially marked. The return flight left Seven Islands on December 27. Return mail traveled by dog team to Betsiamites, then by stage to La Malbaie and train to Quebec City. Backstamp: December 26 or December 27, 1927. AAMS 502. |
| Lac du Bonnet – Bissett – Wadhope | 1927.10.04 | Open PDF | W.L. BrintnellWestern Canada Airways Limited | 2713: Lac du Bonnet–Bissett, October 4 (150 pieces); 2713a: Lac du Bonnet–Wadhope, October 4 (150 pieces); 2713b–c: return listings Wadhope–Lac du Bonnet and Bissett–Lac du Bonnet (no quantities stated). (AMCN2, p. 154.) | Service type: First regular air stage service. Outcome: completed. AMCN2 identifies this as the first regular air stage service authorized; no cachets were used. The handling of first-flight covers is uncertain. Previous listings said covers should be postmarked and backstamped October 4, but the editors had not seen such a cover. Covers sent to Bissett or Wadhope before October 4 for the first government flight would have required a semi-official stamp. An example cover endorsed “Carried on first Government Flight Bissett to Lac du Bonnet, Mann.” was postmarked Bissett October 3 and backstamped Lac du Bonnet October 5. The 85 pounds of mail dispatched from Wadhope and Bissett included only a small amount of letter mail. Postmark(s): Bissett, October 3. Backstamp: Lac du Bonnet, October 5. Cachet: none used. The contract was awarded October 3, 1927, and service continued until December 11, 1934. AAMS 500. |
| Lac du Bonnet – Rice Lake – Long Lake – Slate Lake | 1927.06.01 | Open PDF | F.J. StevensonWestern Canada Airways Limited | WC2721-CL40: Lac du Bonnet–Long Lake (65 pieces); 2721a: Long Lake–Lac du Bonnet (65); 2721b: Lac du Bonnet–Rice Lake (65); 2721c: Rice Lake–Lac du Bonnet (65). (AMCN2, p. 96.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. Flights were made between Lac du Bonnet and Long Lake, Rice Lake, and Slate Lake. Postmark(s): canceled only at Lac du Bonnet. Backstamp: only at Lac du Bonnet. Cachet: blue or magenta; some covers had no plane in the center. Post offices at the other points had not yet opened. Some covers have a June 3 Western Canada Airways datestamp. The map notes commencement of service (AAMS 91). July 1, 1927: Jubilee flight over the same route and Red Lake – Gold Pines – Rolling Portage route (AAMS 92). |
| Leamington – Pelee Island | 1927.12.14 | Open PDF | F.I. BanghartLondon Air Transport Ltd.Waco 9 | 2717: Leamington–Pelee Island, December 14 (300 pieces); 2717a: Pelee Island–Leamington, December 14 (250 pieces). No cachets were applied. (AMCN2, p. 155.) | Service type: Regular winter service. Outcome: completed. This was the first contract date for four weekly flights during the ice season. Eight tons of mail were carried that winter on 63 flights. No cachets were applied. Regular winter service commenced on this date (unofficially November 30). AAMS 501. |
| Lethbridge – Ottawa | 1922.06.22 | Open PDF | Lt. J. Palmer, Lt. H.H. FitzsimmonsCurtiss JN-4 | PF-27, Lethbridge–Ottawa: Type I (5 known), Type II (1 known), Type III (3 known), pilot-signed Type I (1 known), and flown unaddressed covers without postage (2 known). The flight was interrupted at Minot; letters were forwarded by train. (AMCN2, pp. 36, 37.) | Service type: Proposed airmail flight. Outcome: not completed; aircraft damaged at Minot, N.D.; letters forwarded by train. The aircraft was damaged while landing at Minot, North Dakota, when a car drove in front of it, and it could not continue to Ottawa. Letters were forwarded by train. Postmark(s): slogan cancel “Register All Letters of value”; most covers canceled at 3:30 p.m., June 21, 1922. Backstamp: none. The map describes the trip as proposed. |
| Mayo – Whitehorse; Whitehorse – Mayo – Dawson | 1928.04.02–04 | Open PDF | T.G. StephensYukon Airways & Exploration Co. | Limited match: YA2803-CL42, Mayo Landing–White Horse, April 2, 1928. The Dawson itinerary is listed separately for April 5–10; no Dawson leg is established for the mapped April 2–4 dates. (AMCN2, pp. 110, 111.) | Service type: Semi-official mail flight. Outcome: April 2 flight completed; April 4 legs not established. Service resumed after the plane was repaired; mail postmarked at Mayo Landing on April 2 was flown to White Horse the same day. The mapped April 4 Whitehorse–Mayo leg requires further verification; the editor had not seen mail from White Horse to Mayo or Dawson dated April 4 or 5. The Mayo–Dawson listing had not been seen by the editor. Postmark(s): Mayo Landing, April 2, 1928. Map note: Mail ?. |
| Middle Sackville – Charlottetown | 1928.03.03 | Open PDF | Edward J. CooperCanadian Transcontinental Airways | 2807c: Middle Sackville–Charlottetown, March 3 (10 pieces). The separate Sackville–Charlottetown listing is noted as possibly not carried on the plane. (AMCN2, p. 159.) | Service type: Regular contract service. Outcome: completed. The Moncton plane picked up all mail at a lake in Middle Sackville. Mail from Halifax, Sydney, Saint John, Montreal, Toronto, Boston, New York and other points was picked up at Crystal Lake and landed off the ice at Charlottetown; mail was carried on the return trip. The map notes a second flight on March 10. AAMS 508. |
| Moncton – Charlottetown | 1928.02.19 | Open PDF | E.J. CooperCanadian Transcontinental AirwaysFC-2W | 2807: Moncton–Charlottetown, February 19 (300 pieces); 2807a: Charlottetown–Moncton, February 19 (30 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 159.) | Service type: Winter contract service. Outcome: completed. Canadian Transcontinental Airways was awarded post office contract number 11 for service between Moncton and Charlottetown. Subsequent flights took place on March 3, when the Moncton plane picked up all mail at a lake in Middle Sackville, and on March 10 and 17. AAMS 508. |
| Moncton – Grindstone Island | 1928.01.11 | Open PDF | E.J. CooperCanadian Transcontinental Airways Ltd.Fairchild FC2W | 2801: Moncton–Grindstone Island, January 11, no cachet. The listing reports 200 pounds of mail, not a cover count; the first return flight is listed separately for January 17. (AMCN2, p. 157.) | Service type: Regular winter service. Outcome: completed. Post office contract number 9 awarded mail flights to Îles de la Madeleine because no ship service was available after December due to ice. The plane landed on the beach on Grindstone Island’s north shore. Mail addressed to or from the islands’ 27 post offices other than Grindstone Island demanded a premium. There were no special cachets. The first return flight was on January 17 because there was no time on January 11 to load the mail before returning. Covers postmarked after January 23 were flown to Moncton on March 2. AAMS 505. |
| Montreal – Albany | 1928.10.01 | Open PDF | W.H. Hughes, Paul Reeder, O.C. WallaceCanadian Colonial Airways | 2847: Montreal–Albany, October 1 (25,500 pieces); 2847a: Albany–Montreal, October 1 (121 pounds, not a piece count). (AMCN2, p. 166.) | Service type: Regular contract service. Outcome: completed. Service was performed under U.S. Foreign Air Mail Route No. 1. At Montreal, mail connected with domestic Canadian service to Ottawa. At the time, the return flight terminated at Albany, where mail was forwarded by train or domestic U.S. air routes. Postmarks: Various stations in Montreal, 10 a.m., 12 a.m., and 1 p.m.; New York, 4:30 a.m.; Albany, 7 a.m. Backstamp: Various stations in Montreal, 3 p.m.; Albany, 6:30 p.m. Many covers with New York backstamps also had Albany backstamps. New York backstamps: 12 p.m., October 1; 6:30 and 8 a.m., October 2. Cachet: An official cachet was applied in green in Montreal. Contract to Canadian Colonial Airways for six days a week between Montreal and Albany. AAMS 218. |
| Montreal – Rimouski (S.S. Doric) | 1927.09.12 | Open PDF | H.S. QuigleyCanadian AirwaysHS2L flying boat | – | Service type: Attempted ship-mail connection. Outcome: not successful. AMCN2 notes that the attempt to meet the Doric does not appear to have been successful. Five hundred pounds of mail were taken aboard at Montreal; Quigley flew 330 miles to Rimouski in two hops, stopping at Three Rivers to refuel. (F. Ellis). |
| Montreal – Rimouski | 1928.05.29 | Open PDF | H.P. AyresCanadian Transcontinental Airways | 2827: Rimouski–Montreal, May 29 (202 pounds of mail, not a cover count). The catalogue also lists Rimouski–Toronto on that date, outside the mapped route. (AMCN2, p. 162.) | Service type: Regular summer mail service. Outcome: completed. The dispatch marked the start of regular summer service from Rimouski; most covers bore a destination-specific boxed Postal Airplane cachet. AAMS 213. |
| Montreal – Toronto | 1918.06.24 | Open PDF | B.A. PeckC.A.F.Curtiss JN-4 “Canuck” | PF-6, Montreal–Toronto: 124 pieces carried; 27 covers known. Types include regular mail, registered cover, and mail signed by Capt. Peck. (AMCN2, p. 23.) | Service type: Pioneer flight. Outcome: completed. Corporal Mathers was the mechanic. The flight was postponed from June 23 because of poor visibility. The plane stopped for gas at Kingston and Deseronto and reached R.A.F. Camp Leaside at 4:55 p.m., after a flight of 6 hours 43 minutes. Mail included official correspondence, civic greetings, and ordinary mail. Mail received a special red, triangular cancellation in Montreal on June 23 before the attempted flight. Mail to destinations in Quebec was returned by train that evening. Postmark(s): special red, triangular cancellation in Montreal, June 23, 1918. Backstamp: Toronto, June 24, 1918; Quebec, June 25, 1918, 9:00 a.m. AAMS 6. |
| Moose Jaw – Winnipeg | 1928.08.17 | Open PDF | Capt. H.C. IngramMoose Jaw Flying Club, Ltd. | PF-32: Moose Jaw–Winnipeg, August 17 (161 pieces flown). A separate variant records pilot-signed covers, two recorded. (AMCN2, pp. 42, 43.) | Service type: Special event flight. Outcome: completed. The flight was intended to publicize the Moose Jaw Flying Club and participate in the Winnipeg Flying Club’s aerial meet at Stevenson Flying Field. Permission was sought to carry souvenir mail, but authorization arrived at the last minute. Stamps were placed on the reverse; covers were canceled at Moose Jaw at 10 or 10:30 a.m. and backstamped at Winnipeg at 8:30 p.m. The backstamp does not normally tie the CLP7 to the cover. Single flight. |
| New York – Buffalo – Toronto – Sudbury – Lake Vermilion – Pogomasing Lake – Lake Como – Lake Oba – Amyot – Orient Bay, Lake Nipigon – Sioux Lookout – Red Lake | 1926.03.23–04.12 | Open PDF | W.A. MaxwellPatricia Airways and Exploration LimitedCurtiss Lark, “Lark” | PE2601, New York–Buffalo–Toronto–Red Lake, Mar. 23, 1926 (75 pieces); (a), Toronto–Red Lake, Mar. 27 (134 pieces). The catalogue’s delivery flight continues beyond the mapped New York–Buffalo–Toronto segment to Red Lake. (AMCN2, pp. 39, 76, 81.) | Service type: Delivery flight. Outcome: completed. The Lark was ferried to Red Lake for Patricia Airways and Exploration Limited. Most covers bore no franking until Toronto; a few were mailed from New York with U.S. postage. AAMS 200. |
| New York – Quebec | 1927.12.21 | Open PDF | Charles Sutton | 2719: Quebec drop mail from the New York–La Malbaie flight, December 21. The dropped covers had no postage or postmarks and were subsequently franked and officially backstamped. (AMCN2, p. 155.) | Service type: Mail drop flight. Outcome: completed. A small packet of mail was dropped over Quebec. The covers had a printed company card but no postage or postmarks. Tanner Green, Superintendent of Post Office Service at Quebec, subsequently franked them and they were officially backstamped. The aircraft was en route to La Malbaie. AAMS 207. |
| Ottawa – Long Lake – Lac du Bonnet – Ladder Lake – Edmonton – Vancouver | 1928.09.05–08 | Open PDF | S/L A.E. GodfreyR.C.A.F.Fairchild FC-2W2 | – | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. F/S M. Graham also flew on the flight. The transcontinental flight tested the feasibility of regular airmail service and took 32 hours of actual flying time. Letters were taken on at Edmonton, addressed to prominent persons and marked “Courtesy of Major Godfrey.” Cachet: shield-shaped purple cachet reading “Special Trans-Canada Flight – Ottawa to Vancouver – September 1928.” On arrival in Vancouver, a two-line cachet read “Aircraft left Ottawa 7:00 a.m., September 5th – arrived Vancouver 6:00 p.m., Sept. 8th.” AAMS 217. |
| Rimouski – Quebec – Montreal (experimental) | 1927.10.27 | Open PDF | H.H. Passmore (Quebec to Montreal), R. Mulcahy (Rimouski to Quebec)Fairchild Aviation Company | 2715: Quebec–Ottawa; 2715a: Ottawa–Quebec; 2715b: Montreal–Quebec; 2715c: Quebec–Montreal; 2715d: Ottawa–Montreal. Covers were not cacheted or otherwise marked. (AMCN2, pp. 154, 155.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. AAMS 205. |
| Ottawa – Montreal – Rimouski; Toronto – Montreal | 1928.05.05 | Open PDF | J. Caldwell, G.M. Dean, J.H. St. Martin, R. Vachon (Ottawa – Montreal – Rimouski); H.P. Ayres (Toronto – Montreal)Canadian Transcontinental Airways; Canadian Airways Limited | 2819: Montreal–Ottawa, May 5–6 (101 pounds); 2819a: Ottawa–Montreal, May 5 (50 pounds). 2821: Montreal–Rimouski, May 5 (961 pounds); 2821b: Rimouski–Montreal, May 6 (799 pounds); 2821d: Rimouski–Toronto, May 6. 2823: Toronto–Montreal, May 5 (736 pounds); 2823a: Montreal–Toronto, May 6 (208 pounds); 2823b: Toronto–Rimouski, May 5–6. Quantities shown are mail weights, not cover counts. (AMCN2, pp. 160, 161.) | Service type: Regular contract air mail service. Outcome: completed. The Montreal–Ottawa service was delayed until May 6 for the return flight. Montreal-to-Rimouski mail received no special cachet; return mail received the boxed machine cancellation “This mail was carried by Postal Airplane to Montreal.” The Ottawa–Montreal service used a boxed oblong official cancellation reading “This mail was carried by Postal Aircraft to Ottawa” or “Montreal.” Toronto–Montreal mail received a boxed cachet reading “This mail was carried by Postal Airplane to Montreal (or Toronto).” The Ottawa–Montreal–Rimouski route contract was for the season of navigation. The Toronto–Montreal route was a yearly contract for six flights a week. (AAMS 211 & 212) |
| Parrsboro – New York (Greenport) | 1919.10.09 | Open PDF | H.G. BrackleyHandley Page V/1500 | PF-20, Parrsboro, N.S.–Greenport, N.Y., Oct. 9, 1919 (4–5 envelopes known); (a), postcard (10–12 known). The catalogue names Greenport, not New York City, as the destination. (AMCN2, p. 31.) | Service type: Pioneer airmail flight. Outcome: completed. The aircraft, originally prepared for a transatlantic flight, had been damaged on a forced landing at Parrsboro in July and was repaired before this flight. It took off for Greenport and landed the same day. Mail was posted the next day. Postmark(s): Parrsboro, N.S., October 9, 1919. Backstamp: Greenport, N.Y., October 10, 1919, 11:30 a.m. Cachet: “Handley Page Aerial Mail from Parrsboro, N.S.” (two-line black; present on some covers). AAMS 19. |
| Peace River – Fort Vermilion – Hay River – Fort Providence – Fort Simpson | 1921.03.24–30 | Open PDF | G.W. Gorman, E.W. Fullerton | – | AAMS 27. |
| Fort Hope – Albany River – Collins – Sioux Lookout | 1927.08.04 | Open PDF | Patricia Airways & Exploration Ltd. | PE2735-CL27 and PE2735-CL28, Fort Hope–Sioux Lookout via Albany River and Collins, Aug. 4, 1927; about 5 covers reported carried in total. (AMCN2, p. 90.) | Service type: Semi-official flight. Outcome: completed. This was not a normal company route; the reason for the flight is uncertain. Covers were franked with CL27 or CL28. AAMS 86. |
| Red Lake – Lac du Bonnet | 1927.09.24 | Open PDF | Patricia Airways & Exploration Ltd. | PE2749-CL20: Red Lake–Lac du Bonnet, September 24, 1927. No quantity is stated; the catalogue considers carriage by Western Canada Airways probable, not certain. (AMCN2, pp. 91, 92.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: probably carried by Western Canada Airways. Mail probably carried by Western Canada Airways following the crash of PA&EL’s Curtiss Lark. The listing was revised after an earlier use of CL20 was reported on August 26, 1927. AAMS 87. |
| Red Lake – Woman Lake – Red Lake | 1926.08.26 | Open PDF | F.J. StevensonPatricia Airways & Exploration Ltd. | PE2667-CL13, Red Lake–Woman Lake, Aug. 26, 1926; (b), Woman Lake–Red Lake. No quantities are given for these listings. (AMCN2, p. 86.) | Service type: Semi-official flight. Outcome: completed. AAMS 84. |
| Rimouski – Montreal | 1927.09.16 | Open PDF | H.S. Quigley, Stuart GrahamCanadian Airways LtdHS2L | 2709, Rimouski–Montreal (Empress of Australia), Sept. 16; about 450 pounds carried by the service, with very few covers now known. (AMCN2, p. 153.) | Service type: Experimental service. Outcome: completed. Mail from the Empress of Australia was taken off at Rimouski and flown to Montreal, expediting delivery by a full day or more. Some covers have a handstamp: “Via Air Mail Rimouski – Montreal.” Otherwise, mail can be identified by date and address only. The map describes this as the first successful transfer of mail from an incoming ocean liner at Father Point. On September 21, 1927, mail for an outbound liner was flown Montreal to Rimouski. AAMS 204. |
| Rimouski – Quebec – Montreal | 1927.10.27 | Open PDF | H.M. Passmore (Quebec – Montreal); L. Mulcahy (Rimouski – Quebec)Fairchild Aviation CompanyFairchild FC-2 | 2709(b), Montroyal, Oct. 27: first flight to Quebec and Ottawa; relevant legs Rimouski–Quebec and Quebec–Montreal. (AMCN2, p. 153.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. Mail was carried from Rimouski to Quebec, then from Quebec to Montreal and Ottawa. AAMS 205. |
| Rolling Portage – Gold Pines – Red Lake – Jackson Manion – Narrow Lake | 1928.01.25 | Open PDF | D.S. AtkinsonWestern Canada Airways LimitedG-CAGD | 2803, Rolling Portage–Goldpines (300 pieces); 2803(a), Rolling Portage–Red Lake (400 pieces). (AMCN2, pp. 157, 158.) | Service type: First official air mail service. Outcome: completed. The post offices at Jackson Manion and Narrow Lake were established with this flight. A total of 588 pounds of mail was flown, mostly parcel post; the return flight carried 48½ pounds from all points, and very little letter mail has been reported. Only the listed dispatches were made. Postmark(s): Winnipeg. Backstamp: Rolling Portage; receiving backstamp on the front. Cachet: semi-official stamp of Western Canada Airways; three-line violet “Authorized Government Airmail First Flight” in a rectangle; boxed cachet listing the date, aircraft, flight number and pilot; Western Canada Airways marking or rectangular purple marking (probably contrived). AAMS 506. |
| Rolling Portage (Hudson) – Red Lake | 1926.03.06 | Open PDF | J.V. Elliot | JE2601-CL6, Rolling Portage–Red Lake, listed Mar. 6, 1926 (500 pieces); (a), Red Lake–Rolling Portage (500 pieces). Covers were postmarked for the planned inauguration; no aircraft were available on Mar. 6, and regular service began Mar. 10. (AMCN2, p. 65.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: not made; no aircraft were available. The planned inauguration was delayed because of the volume of mail, and both of Jack Elliott’s aircraft were involved in accidents on March 5. Covers were postmarked March 6 in anticipation of the inauguration; regular air mail service began March 10. AAMS 65. |
| Rolling Portage (Hudson) – Goldpines – Red Lake | 1927.05.10 | Open PDF | F.J. StevensonWestern Canada Airways Limited | WC2707-CL40, Rolling Portage–Goldpines, May 10; WC2707-CL40(b), Rolling Portage–Red Lake, May 10. The catalogue reports 353 covers carried from Rolling Portage in total, not separate quantities for these legs. (AMCN2, pp. 94, 95.) | Service type: First official contract flight. Outcome: completed. The flight was the first under official contract to be franked with the company’s own stamp. Most covers had the first flight cachet; some had a company two-line cachet. Backstamp: All covers were backstamped. Covers made for A.C. Roessler with a four-line handstamp appear bogus and were not flown. The service began in spring 1927 carrying mail for Patricia Airways and on its own behalf on a 10-day schedule. A second flight with covers was dated May 19 or 22, 1927. Rolling Portage was selected as the base for water transportation to Goldpines, which was many water miles closer; the base was later moved to Sioux Lookout. AAMS 90. |
| Rouyn – Haileybury | 1927.03.31–09.01 | Open PDF | W.M. CummingsPatricia Airways & Exploration LimitedStinson SB-1 Detroiter | PE2709-CL13, Haileybury–Rouyn, Mar. 31; PE2709-CL14, Haileybury–Rouyn, Apr. 9; PE2709-CL13(a), Rouyn–Haileybury, Apr. 9. The map’s Sept. 1 endpoint is not specifically listed; the service ended after the June 16 crash, though later-dated covers are noted. (AMCN2, pp. 76, 88, 89.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: Service commenced; ended after the aircraft crashed on June 16, 1927. W.M. Cummings made the first flight from Haileybury. Most covers were franked with CL13 and postmarked March 31; CL14 was also used on the April 9 first flight. Return-flight covers were posted on April 9 and backstamped on April 11, 1927. Service ceased after the June 16 crash, though covers with later dates are known; covers posted at Haileybury on June 21 must have traveled by land. AAMS 85. |
| Sioux Lookout – Goldpines – Red Lake | 1926.06.27 | Open PDF | H.A. OaksPatricia Airways & Exploration Ltd.Curtiss Lark | PE2621-CL6 (b), Sioux Lookout–Red Lake, June 27, 1926. The catalogue documents this endpoint leg, not the mapped Goldpines stop; Goldpines post office opened Oct. 1. No quantity is given for (b). (AMCN2, pp. 83, 84, 88.) | Service type: Semi-official service; first regular flight. Outcome: completed. Covers were flown to Sioux Lookout, where a boxed 4-line datestamp was applied in blue reading “Patricia Airways & Exploration.” The AMCN2 listing documents the Sioux Lookout – Red Lake leg, not Goldpines as a stop. This was the first regular flight. Until the first official flight, J.V. Elliot Air Service and Elliot-Fairchild Service stamps were used. The first official flight using Patricia Airways’ own stamps was July 7, on the Sioux Lookout – Gold Pines leg. AAMS 80-1. |
| Sioux Lookout – Goldpines – Red Lake – Jackson Manion – Narrow Lake | 1928.02.04 | Open PDF | Charles SuttonPatricia Airways Ltd. | PZ2801-CL17 and PZ2801-CL21, Sioux Lookout to listed destinations including Goldpines and Red Lake, Feb. 4; PZ2801-CL25, Sioux Lookout–Goldpines (and (a), Sioux Lookout–Red Lake), Feb. 4. (AMCN2, p. 117.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. A substantial amount of mail had accumulated at Sioux Lookout, and the flight was made as a matter of courtesy. Mail was franked with stamps of the old Patricia company; most bore a one-line green rubberstamp marking “Patricia Airways Limited.” AAMS 120. |
| Sioux Lookout – Goldpines – Red Lake – Clearwater Lake – Jackson Manion – Narrow Lake – Rainbow Lake | 1928.03.09 | Open PDF | Chas. SuttonPatricia Airways Limited | PZ2805-CL43, Sioux Lookout–Goldpines (187 pieces) and Sioux Lookout–Red Lake (97 pieces), Mar. 9; PZ2805-CL15, CL16, CL17, CL20 and CL22 also apply to any leg that date. (AMCN2, pp. 117, 118.) | Service type: First regular flight. Outcome: completed. The first regular flight carried covers bearing a maple leaf-shaped cachet in violet with the words “First Aerial Mail”; a few were in blue. Covers to and from Rainbow Lake received a green straight-line “Patricia Airways Limited” cachet with “Rainbow Lake” handwritten below. A violet circular cachet containing the airline name and post office name is also known. There was no post office at Rainbow Lake. Patricia Airways and Exploration company stamps were also used. Postmark(s): Sioux Lookout, March 10 (possibly in error). Backstamp: March 9. The map notes that service commenced (AAMS 121). |
| Sioux Lookout – Goldpines – Red Lake – Jackson Manion – Narrow Lake | 1928.12.11 | Open PDF | E.W. StullWestern Canada Airways Limited | 2855, Sioux Lookout–Goldpines, Dec. 11; 2855(a), Sioux Lookout–Red Lake, Dec. 11. (AMCN2, p. 169.) | Service type: Regular contract service. Outcome: completed. Six aircraft were required to carry the accumulated mail, mostly parcel post; the letter mail totaled more than 2,000 pieces. Return flights were on December 17. There were no cachets or special markings, although a WCA four-line dated cachet was applied to some covers. P.O. contract to Western Canada Airways Limited for a weekly round trip. AAMS 510. |
| Sioux Lookout – Woman Lake – Birch Lake | 1926.08.02 | Open PDF | A.H. OaksPatricia Airways & Exploration Ltd. | PE2639-CL18, Sioux Lookout–Woman Lake, Aug. 2, 1926 (216 pieces); (a), Woman Lake–Sioux Lookout (450); (b), Sioux Lookout–Birch Lake (123); (c), Birch Lake–Sioux Lookout (105). (AMCN2, p. 85.) | Service type: First flight using CL18. Outcome: completed. The first flight using CL18 was made by “Doc” Oaks. Covers received a maple leaf-shaped cachet in several shades of green; a scarcer maple leaf cachet was also used in red. Company envelopes with the Toronto headquarters corner card were carried on the Woman Lake – Sioux Lookout flight and forwarded by rail to Toronto. On these covers, the CL18 stamps were inscribed with the company president Frank E. Davison’s initials, “F E D”, in a handstamp. Service commenced. AAMS 82. |
| St. John’s – Botwood; St. John’s – Carbonear – St. John’s | 1922.02.25–26 | Open PDF | F.S. Cotton | NFF-12, St. John’s–Botwood, the completed flight on February 26. NFF-11 lists the February 25 attempt, forced down at Carbonear; its listed cover is Carbonear–St. John’s. (AMCN2, p. 585.) | Service type: Newfoundland first flight. Outcome: February 25 attempt forced down at Carbonear; flight to Botwood completed on February 26. The February 25 flight was forced down at Carbonear and returned to St. John’s the same day with mail from Carbonear. On February 26, the flight to Botwood was completed with mail for settlements from Botwood to Fogo and the Northern Peninsula. Postmarks: St. John’s, Feb. 23–26, 1922. Backstamp: Carbonear, Feb. 26, 1922; Botwood, Feb. 26, 1922. Cachet: “Per Aerial Mail” (violet). |
| St. John’s – Botwood – St. John’s | 1922.03.28 | Open PDF | F.S. Cotton | NFF-20, St. John’s–Hawkes Bay, covering the March 28 flight through Botwood; quantity not stated. (AMCN2, p. 587.) | Service type: Mail and freight flight. Outcome: completed. This was the start of Major Cotton’s flight to Labrador. The mail-and-freight contract was to deliver mail to points north and return with freight; the March 28 flight to Botwood returned to St. John’s. The contract was completed on April 20, with stops at St. Anthony and Battle Harbour. Postmark(s): St. John’s, March 28, 1922. Backstamp: Hawkes Bay, March 28, 1922. Cachet: “Per Aerial Mail” (violet). |
| St. John’s – Botwood; Botwood – Port Saunders – Botwood; Botwood – St. Anthony – Battle Harbour – Botwood | 1922.04.09–20 | Open PDF | F.S. Cotton | NFF-22, Botwood–Port Saunders; NFF-22(a), Port Saunders–Botwood; NFF-22(b), round-trip cover. These list the Botwood–Port Saunders flight, not the full mapped St. John’s–Botwood–Port Saunders route. (AMCN2, p. 587.) | Service type: Mail and freight contract flight. Outcome: completed. This began as a mail and freight flight; Cotton was to deliver mail to points north and return with freight. On March 28 and April 9, he flew to Botwood but returned to St. John’s. The contract was completed April 20, with stops at St. Anthony and Battle Harbour. The April 10 flight carried mail to Port Saunders and returned the same day. Map leg dates: April 9, April 10, and April 20. Postmark(s): St. John’s, March 23–28, 1922. Backstamp: St. Anthony, April 20, 1922; Battle Harbour, April 21, 1922; St. John’s, April 22, 1922. Cachet: “Per Aerial Mail” (violet). Postmark(s): Botwood, April 9, 1922. Backstamp: Port Saunders & Botwood, April 10, 1922. Cachet: None. |
| St. John’s – Clarkes Beach – Bay Roberts – Harbour Grace | 1922.02.23 | Open PDF | F.S. Cotton | NFF-10, St. John’s–Bay Roberts; NFF-10(a), St. John’s–Harbour Grace. Clarkes Beach is not separately listed. (AMCN2, p. 585.) | Service type: Mail flight. Outcome: completed. Mail to Clarkes Beach, Bay Roberts and Harbour Grace was delivered on a flight that took 90 minutes. The return flight carried mail from Clarkes Beach and Harbour Grace; with a strong tail wind, it returned to St. John’s in seven minutes. Postmarks: St. John’s, February 16–23, 1922. Backstamps: Bay Roberts, Harbour Grace, St. John’s, February 23, 1922. Cachet: “Per Aerial Mail” (violet). |
| St. John’s – Parrsboro | 1919.07.07 | Open PDF | Maj. H.G. Brackley | – | Service type: Airmail flight. Outcome: not established. See October 9, 1919. |
| St. John’s – Trinity Bay – Botwood | 1922.03.14 | Open PDF | F.S. Cotton | NFF-17, St. John’s–Trinity; NFF-17(a), St. John’s–Bonavista; NFF-17(b), Trinity–Botwood–St. John’s. Quantity not stated. (AMCN2, p. 586.) | Service type: Newfoundland first flight. Outcome: completed. Mail was collected at several points, taken to Botwood, and returned by rail to St. John’s. Postmark(s): St. John’s, March 11–13, 1922. Backstamp: Trinity, March 14, 1922; Bonavista, March 15, 1922; St. John’s, March 17, 1922; Botwood, March 17, 1922. Cachet: “Per Aerial Mail” (violet). |
| St. John’s – Twillingate – Fogo | 1922.03.11 | Open PDF | V.S. Bennett | NFF-15, St. John’s–Twillingate; NFF-15(a), St. John’s–Fogo. Quantity not stated. (AMCN2, p. 586.) | Service type: Seal-spotting and mail flight. Outcome: completed. Alan Butler also aboard. The flight returned the same day. Postmarks: St. John’s, March 6–9, 1922. Backstamps: Twillingate, March 11, 1922; Fogo, March 12, 1922. Cachet: “Per Aerial Mail”. |
| Telegraph Creek – Whitehorse | 1928.12.05 | Open PDF | J.M. PattersonYukon Airways & Exploration Ltd.Alexander Eaglerock, The Northern Light | YA2813-CL42, Telegraph Creek–Atlin–White Horse, flight dated Dec. 5; covers were posted Dec. 5 and Dec. 8, with an Atlin postmark Dec. 10 and White Horse receiving mark Dec. 11. YA2813-CL42(b) lists commercial mail from the flight. The map’s Dec. 8 date is a cover-posting date, not the flight date. (AMCN2, p. 112.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. The flight delivered the Alexander Eaglerock, The Northern Light, to the company, and full service resumed. Covers were posted at Telegraph Creek on December 5 and December 8. Commercial mail was posted as early as December 4. Postmark(s): Atlin, December 10, 1928. Receiving mark: Whitehorse, December 11, 1928. Return trip February 28, 1929. AAMS 112. |
| The Pas – Flin Flon – Cold Lake – Schist Lake – The Pas | 1927.12.23 | Open PDF | F.J. StevensonWestern Canada Airways Limited | WC2741-CL40, The Pas–Flin Flon, Dec. 23; WC2741-CL40(b), The Pas–Cold Lake, Dec. 23. (AMCN2, p. 99.) | Service type: Semi-official flight. Outcome: completed. The company opened a new base at The Pas. Covers received a double-lined circular marking in green or violet at Cold Lake or Schist Lake (Flin Flon), and a violet maple leaf marking. A second flight took place March 3, 1928. AAMS 94. |
| The Pas – Kississing | 1928.08.31 | Open PDF | G.A. ThompsonWestern Canada Airways Limited | WC2813-CL40, The Pas–Kississing, dated Aug. 31 or later. (AMCN2, p. 102.) | Service type: Regular contract service. Outcome: completed. The post office inaugurated an air-stage service; mail could be franked at regular surface rates under the government mail contract, while mail carried on other flights could use the semi-official stamp. No special markings were applied. Some covers were postmarked Winnipeg, August 30, addressed to Cold Lake, Manitoba (the earlier name for Kississing), with the correct backstamp. Postmark(s): Winnipeg, August 30. Backstamp: correct. The P.O. contract was for annual summer service. The route was superseded on June 1, 1929, by Cranberry Portage – Kississing. AAMS 509. |
| Three Rivers – Larder Lake – Rouyn | 1925.01.22 | Open PDF | H.L. LePotLaurentide Air Service Ltd. | LA2501-CL2, LA2501-CL3, and LA2501-CL4, Three Rivers–Rouyn Lake, Jan. 22, 1925; each also lists Larder Lake–Rouyn Lake and Rouyn Lake–Larder Lake sublistings. The aircraft departed Three Rivers Jan. 14, not Jan. 12 or 22. (AMCN2, p. 58.) | Service type: Winter service. Outcome: completed. The planned January 12 flight was postponed; the aircraft left Three Rivers on January 14 via Ottawa for Larder Lake. The combined Three Rivers and Larder Lake mail was flown to Rouyn Lake on January 22. H.L. Lepot was an administrative clerk and did not fly Laurentide flights. AAMS 54. |
| Toronto – Hamilton – Toronto | 1920.05.28 | Open PDF | A.K. ColleyColley Aerial ServiceCurtiss JN-4 | PF-21 (i)–(v), Toronto–Hamilton and return cover types; 5 pieces carried. No covers are known with a Hamilton destination or backstamp. (AMCN2, pp. 31, 32.) | Service type: Special event flight. Outcome: completed. Mechanic W.C. Landrigan also flew. The flight was held in connection with the Athletic Carnival and to raise funds for the Grand Army of Canada (United Veterans). The aircraft left Toronto at 4:00 p.m., arriving in Hamilton at 4:45 p.m.; it left Hamilton at about 5:00 p.m. and arrived in Toronto at about 5:50 p.m. Postmark(s): Hamilton, May 28, 1920, 11:30 a.m. Backstamp: Toronto, May 28, 1920, 7:30 p.m. Grand Army Carnival. AAMS 23. |
| Toronto – New York | 1919.08.25 | Open PDF | Col. W.G. Barker | – | Service type: International air-race mail flight. Outcome: completed. Competitors could start at either Toronto or New York but had to finish where they started. Barker was the only competitor carrying mail. No Canadian-authorized mail was carried on the New York–Toronto return leg; dealer A.C. Roessler serviced covers addressed to Toronto. Postmark(s): rectangular “Aerial Mail / Toronto, Canada” (blue). Cachet: “The First International Aerial Mail Service, August 1919 – Toronto – New York – $1”. International Air Races. AAMS 17. |
| Toronto – Ottawa – Toronto | 1918.08.15, 1918.08.26–27, 1918.09.04 | Open PDF | T. Longman (Aug. 15, ret. Aug. 17); Lt. Dunstan (Aug. 26, ret. Aug. 27); Lt. Burton (Sept. 4)Aero Club of CanadaCurtiss JN-4 “Canuck” | PF-8, Toronto–Ottawa Aug. 15 and Ottawa–Toronto Aug. 17 (60 covers outbound); PF-9, Aug. 26–27 (100 ordinary, 3 special delivery, 1 registered special delivery, and 26 registered letters outbound); PF-10, Toronto–Ottawa and return Sept. 4 listings. (AMCN2, pp. 25, 26, 27.) | Service type: Pioneer airmail flights. Outcome: completed. Longman departed Leaside at 9:45 a.m., refueled at Deseronto, and landed at Rockcliffe at 3:09 p.m.; mail was delivered in Ottawa about 4:30 p.m. He returned Aug. 17. Dunstan departed Leaside at 1:50 p.m., refueled at Deseronto, and arrived at Rockcliffe at 4:08 p.m.; he returned Aug. 27. Covers in both directions bore CLP1; the outbound mail mostly received a violet boxed cachet dated AUG 26. Return covers are listed with green or black cachets. Burton departed Leaside at 8 a.m., refueled at Deseronto, and arrived at Rockcliffe at 12:45 p.m.; he returned that afternoon, refueling at Deseronto and arriving at Leaside at 6:45 p.m. Postmark(s): Toronto, August 15, 1918, at 9 a.m., with a roller cancellation advertising the Canadian National Exhibition. Cachet: “AERIAL MAIL AUG 15 1918 TORONTO CANADA” (rectangular, violet); “By AEROPLANE AUG 15 1918 Ottawa, Canada” (shield-shaped handstamp); violet boxed cachet dated SEP 3 on outbound mail; shield cachet dated SEP 4 on return mail. AAMS 8-10. |
| Truro – Charlottetown – Truro | 1919.09.24 | Open PDF | L.E.D. Stevens, J.M. Stevenson (Truro – Charlottetown); L.E.D. Stevens, I.L. Barnhill (Charlottetown – Truro, Sept. 29)Devere Aviation CompanyCurtiss JN-4 “Canuck” | PF-19, Truro–Charlottetown, Sept. 24 (150 pieces flown; 6 known). (AMCN2, pp. 30, 31.) | Service type: Pioneer flight. Outcome: completed. The flight to the Charlottetown exhibition publicized the company. The return flight was on September 29 and was delayed five days until written authority was received from Ottawa; mail departed the Charlottetown exhibition grounds at 4 p.m. and arrived at Truro at 5 p.m. Postmark(s): Truro, 1 p.m. Backstamp: Charlottetown, 2 p.m. the same date. Cachet: “Via Aerial Mail” in ink. AAMS 18. |
| Vancouver – Vernon – Grand Forks – Cranbrook – Lethbridge – Calgary – Golden – Vancouver | 1919.08.07–11 | Open PDF | E.C. HoyCurtiss JN-4 “Canuck” | PF-16, Vancouver–Calgary, listed Aug. 7 (45 covers and papers; 1 known). The narrative dates the successful flight Aug. 11, outside the mapped Aug. 7–10 span. (AMCN2, p. 29.) | Service type: Pioneer flight. Outcome: Vancouver–Calgary flight completed; return flight crashed on takeoff at Golden, and Hoy completed the journey by train. Hoy made the first flight over the Rocky Mountains. Mail and newspapers were delivered at each stop, and return mail was picked up at Lethbridge. Bad weather delayed the return flight; at Golden, letters and newspapers were loaded aboard, but the plane crashed while taking off as Hoy swerved to avoid two boys. Hoy was uninjured and completed the trip to Vancouver by train. Backstamp: Vancouver, August 13, 1919. Cachet: “First B.C. – Alberta Aerial Post.” The map notes a return via Golden and cites AAMS 15. |
| Vancouver – Seattle | 1919.03.03 | Open PDF | E. HubbardBoeing C-3 seaplane | PF-11, Vancouver–Seattle, Mar. 3, 1919 (60 pieces; 3 or 4 now known). (AMCN2, p. 27.) | Service type: First international air mail service. Outcome: completed. William E. Boeing was a passenger. The flight departed Vancouver at 12:30 p.m. and arrived in Seattle three hours later after stopping to refuel at Edwards, Washington. The mail was handed to Seattle Postmaster Battle; most was believed to be official and “Greetings” mail. Cachet: “Via Airplane Mail / First Flight / Vancouver, B.C. to Seattle.” AAMS 13. |
| Victoria – Nanaimo | 1919.08.16 | Open PDF | Lt. G.A. Cameron, Capt. J. GrayCurtiss JN-4 “Canuck” | PF-17, Victoria–Nanaimo, Aug. 16 (96 pieces; 5 now known). (AMCN2, p. 29.) | Service type: Pioneer airmail flight. Outcome: completed. The Pathfinder II carried mail inscribed “Via Aeroplane” and backstamped the same date. The return mail bag was left behind in error. The Daily Colonist reported that the aircraft left Willows Aerodrome at 1:20 p.m. and reached Nanaimo at 2:15 p.m., flying 74 miles in 55 minutes; the return flight took 50 minutes, from 7:55 to 8:45 p.m. Postmarks: Victoria, August 16, 1919, 1:30 p.m. Backstamp: same date. AAMS 16. |
| Victoria – Seattle – Victoria | 1919.05.18–19 | Open PDF | Lt. Rideout, Lt. W.H. BrownAerial League of Canada, Victoria BranchCurtiss JN-4, Pathfinder | – | Service type: Pioneer flight. Outcome: completed. The aircraft landed at Coupeville on Whidbey Island; inclement weather delayed takeoff until 4:40 p.m., and it arrived in Seattle at 5:50 p.m. Letters were carried, and invitations asking Seattle citizens to visit Victoria on May 24 were dropped over Seattle. |
| Victoria – Seattle | 1920.10.15 | Open PDF | E. Hubbard | PF-24, Victoria–Seattle First Flight, Oct. 15, 1920 (50). (AMCN2, p. 34.) | Service type: Inaugural contract air-mail service. Outcome: completed. This inaugurated FAM-2, an ongoing service that continued until 1937. Late mail from Seattle was delivered to ships outbound to Japan at Victoria, and mail from the Orient was flown from Victoria to Seattle in closed bags without special markings. Mail between Victoria and Seattle was franked at regular surface rates with no additional air-mail charge. First-flight covers from Victoria to Seattle received a straight-line AIRPLANE SERVICE handstamp in Victoria; covers from Seattle to Victoria had no special marking. First international route between the United States and Canada. |
| Victoria – Vancouver | 1919.05.13 | Open PDF | J. ClemenceCurtiss JN-4 “Canuck,” Pathfinder | – | Service type: Red Cross fundraising flight. Outcome: completed. Mail was carried to raise money for the Red Cross. Covers were endorsed “Per Aeroplane Pathfinder.” Cachet: “Aerial League of Canada, Victoria Branch / Victoria to Vancouver May 31, 1919.” Single trip. AAMS 14. |
| Victoria – Vancouver | 1928.07.23–08.04 | Open PDF | Harold WalkerB.C. Airways | BC2801, Victoria–Vancouver experimental flight, July 23, 1928 (396 covers carried). This supports the July 23 portion of the map’s July 23–Aug. 4 range; later Aug. 3–4 flights are separate listings. (AMCN2, p. 120.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. The flight was made before the company received its own stamps. AAMS 125/6. |
| White Horse – Carcross – Atlin | 1928.04.13 | Open PDF | T.G. StephensYukon Airways & Exploration Co. Ltd. | YA2807-CL42, White Horse–Carcross, Apr. 13; YA2807-CL42(a), White Horse–Atlin, Apr. 13; YA2807-CL42(b), Carcross–Atlin, Apr. 13. Return legs were Apr. 15 and are not included. (AMCN2, p. 111.) | Service type: Route-opening flight. Outcome: completed. New routes were opened to Carcross and Atlin. The outward flights carried copies of the White Horse Star, franked with CL42, to both destinations; return flights were made April 15, and return covers were usually backstamped at White Horse on April 16. AAMS 111. |
| Whitehorse – Mayo – Dawson; Mayo – Keno Hill | 1928.12 | Open PDF | B. Wasson | – | Service type: Seasonal air mail service. Outcome: not established. A surface mail contractor rented a plane for use during freeze-up and thaw; whether the use was unauthorized is uncertain. |
| Whitehorse – Mayo – Dawson | 1928.12 | Open PDF | J.M. PattersonYukon Airways & Exploration Ltd. | – | Service type: Semi-regular service. Outcome: not established. Semi-regular service continued to approximately February 28, 1929. Pilot attribution is per Woodall. |
| Whitehorse – Dawson | 1927.11.11 | Open PDF | A.D. CruickshankYukon Airways & Exploration Co. Ltd.Queen of the Yukon | YA2703-CL42, White Horse–Dawson, Nov. 11, 1927 (21 known). (AMCN2, p. 109.) | Service type: First official flight. Outcome: completed. The inaugural flight left Whitehorse in the morning and landed at Dawson the same day. Reports of the pilot dropping a mail bag while circling Dawson are incorrect. The return flight was scheduled for November 16. AAMS 110. |
| Whitehorse – Mayo | 1927.11.24 | Open PDF | A.D. CruickshankYukon Airways & Exploration Co. Ltd.Ryan monoplane | YA2707-CL42, White Horse–Mayo Landing, Nov. 24. The plane was forced down at Pelly Summit and towed to Mayo; the mail was conveyed the rest of the way by dog team, not aircraft. (AMCN2, p. 110.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: not completed by aircraft; forced down at Pelly Summit, and mail continued by dog team. The plane was forced down due to leaking oil and loss of oil pressure, about 50 miles from Mayo, and was towed to Mayo Landing. Mail continued by dog team to Mayo, Keno Hill, Wernecke and Dawson. AAMS 110. |
| Winnipeg – Lac du Bonnet – Cormorant Lake – Cold Lake | 1927.08.14 | Open PDF | F.J. StevensonWestern Canada Airways Limited | WC2731-CL40, Winnipeg–Cormorant Lake, Aug. 14 (201 pieces). Map date Aug. 13 is the cover postmark date; the catalogue does not establish the map’s Lac du Bonnet leg. (AMCN2, p. 98.) | Service type: Semi-official mail flight. Outcome: completed. Stevenson made a series of flights from Winnipeg to Cold Lake to deliver equipment to Sherritt Gordon Mines. On the first flight, he stopped and carried mail to Cormorant Lake. AMCN2 documents the Winnipeg–Cormorant Lake and Winnipeg–Cold Lake flights; it does not establish the map’s Lac du Bonnet leg. Covers received a double-lined circular Western Canada Airways marking in violet and were postmarked August 13. Cold Lake covers had airline markings dated August 15; some also received an August 14 Cormorant marking. AAMS 93. |
| Winnipeg – Regina – Saskatoon – Edmonton; Winnipeg – Regina – Calgary | 1928.12.10–29 | Open PDF | W.J. Buchanan, A.H. Farrington, C.H. Dickins, A.N. Westergaard, P.B. CalderWestern Canada Airways LimitedFokker Super Universal G-CASK; Fokker Standard Universal G-CASD; Fokker Standard Universal G-CAIX; Fokker Super Universal G-CASM; Fairchild FC-2 G-CAID; Fokker C-GAFU, G-CASJ and G-CASN | 2853, Winnipeg–Regina (3,000 pieces); 2853(b), Winnipeg–Saskatoon (3,000 pieces), listed within the Dec. 10–29 experimental service. Pilot and aircraft attributions are for the Dec. 10 inaugural flights. (AMCN2, pp. 166, 167, 168.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed; some legs were not flown or mail was carried by rail. The three-week trial tested the feasibility of regular airmail service. Some inaugural-day mail missed connecting flights and continued to Winnipeg by rail; Edmonton- and Saskatoon-originating mail first flew the entire distance on December 11. Flights were initially scheduled Monday through Saturday; Sunday, December 23, was added. The service achieved a flight success rate of more than 70 percent. Postmarks and backstamps varied by day. Cachet: “USE AIR MAIL • DEC 10 TO 29 • SPECIAL PRAIRIE FLIGHTS.” Regular service commenced March 3, 1930. AAMS 219. |
1929–1938
160 original map PDFs in the Internet Archive upload.
| Route | Date | Map PDF | Pilot / Company / Aircraft | Covers | Notes |
| Aklavik – Dawson | 1934.06.28 | Open PDF | Canadian Airways Limited | 3413 — Aklavik – Dawson (about 120 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 213.) | Service type: Experimental service. Outcome: completed. Covers were canceled at Aklavik on June 26 or earlier and backstamped at Dawson (or White Horse) on June 28. Another flight was made on August 23. Postmark(s): Aklavik, June 26 or earlier. Backstamp: Dawson (or White Horse), June 28. AAMS 275. |
| Aklavik – Dawson City | 1929.08.24 | Open PDF | W.L. BrintnellWestern Canada Airways Limited | WC2929-CL40; Aklavik–Dawson, August 24, 1929 (83 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 107.) | Service type: Semi-official inspection flight. Outcome: completed. Inspection flight along the Mackenzie River route. Mail had various posting dates at Aklavik; all was backstamped at Dawson on August 24, 1929. Postmark(s): various dates at Aklavik. Backstamp: Dawson, August 24, 1929. Single trip. AAMS 102. |
| Aklavik – Herschel Island | 1931.08.12 | Open PDF | W.N. SherlockWestern Canada Airways Limited | 3147 — Aklavik–Herschel Island, Aug. 11–12; very few covers carried. (AMCN2, p. 196.) | Service type: Special flight. Outcome: completed. It is not known if mail was carried on the return flight. Postmark(s): Aklavik, August 11. Backstamp: Herschel Island, August 12. |
| Aklavik – White Horse | 1930.04.27–30 | Open PDF | – | 3021: Aklavik–White Horse, Apr. 27–30; fewer than 25 covers. (AMCN2, p. 184.) | Service type: Emergency flight. Outcome: completed. Covers for this trapper emergency flight were postmarked Aklavik on April 27 or earlier and at Mayo Landing on April 28. Postmarks: Aklavik, April 27 or earlier; Mayo Landing, April 28. Backstamp: White Horse, April 30. Patton cat. |
| Amos – Chibougamau | 1930.09.18 | Open PDF | H.H. LangfordGeneral Airways | 3053: Amos–Chibougamau, Sept. 18 (85 pounds of mail); 3053a: Chibougamau–Amos, Sept. 19 (5 pounds of mail). These quantities are mail weight, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 187.) | Service type: Route change. Outcome: completed. The former Oskelaneo–Chibougamau service was changed to a route from Amos to Chibougamau. Langford flew both directions; most mail was parcel post. No special markings were applied. The return flight was on September 19, 1930. Regular service continued to January 8, 1932. AAMS 527. |
| Amos – Siscoe – Amos | 1930.10.28 | Open PDF | H.H. LangfordGeneral Airways | 3061: Amos–Siscoe (7,500 pieces); 3061a: Siscoe–Amos (7,500 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 188.) | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. Bilingual official cachets in French and English, in black, were provided at both points and applied only to mail prepaid at the 5¢ per ounce air-mail rate. Regular service continued to November 1, 1935. AAMS 528. |
| Atlin – Telegraph Creek | 1934.11.18 | Open PDF | R.C. RandallNorthern Airways | 3427 — Atlin – Telegraph Creek (4743 pieces); 3427a — Telegraph Creek – Atlin (4634 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 214.) | Service type: Winter service. Outcome: completed. Opened the first service between Atlin and Telegraph Creek. Official cachets were provided at both points and applied in black to all letters prepaid at the air mail rate. AAMS 559. |
| Winnipeg – Berens River – God’s Lake; Winnipeg – Island Lake | 1935.02.03 | Open PDF | H. Hollick-KenyonCanadian Airways Limited | 3509a: Berens River–Winnipeg, Feb. 4 (3,575 pieces); this is the documented return leg, not a Feb. 3 dispatch. (AMCN2, p. 217.) | Service type: Route extension and letter bag service. Outcome: completed. The return flight was made on February 4. Official cachets, applied in black and blue, were provided at both points for air mail prepaid at the 6¢ rate. AAMS 574. |
| Big River – Green Lake – Beauval – Île-à-la-Crosse | 1933.03.16–17 | Open PDF | W. WindrumBrooks AirwaysBuhl 5 | 3315 — Big River – Green Lake, March (4108 pieces); 3315a — Big River – Beauval, March 16 (3855 pieces); 3315c — Green Lake – Beauval, March 16 (3925 pieces). These document the listed Big River–Green Lake–Beauval legs. (AMCN2, p. 208.) | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. Official black cachets were provided for dispatches to the listed points, except for dispatches between Green Lake and Île-à-la-Crosse and between Beauval and Île-à-la-Crosse. Only mail prepaid at the air mail rate of 6¢ per ounce received cachets. AAMS 543. |
| Hamilton – Brantford – London; London – Brantford – Hamilton | 1930.06.07 | Open PDF | S.T.B. Cripps (Hamilton – Brantford – London), J.A. Young (London – Brantford – Hamilton) | 3029: Brantford–Hamilton (1,189 pieces); 3029a: Brantford–London (1,251); 3029b: London–Brantford (802); 3029c: Hamilton–Brantford (1,202); 3029d: Toronto–Brantford–Toronto, carried and signed “by favour.” (AMCN2, p. 185.) | Service type: Airport dedication flight. Outcome: completed. Brantford Airport opening. Four official cachets were applied in black. Some covers mailed early and intended for the flight were not held for it and received an earlier backstamp and no cachet. Flights also occurred June 8. Several different postmarks and backstamps were applied. |
| Cameron Bay – Coppermine | 1934.01.25 | Open PDF | W.E. GilbertCanadian Airways LimitedJunkers monoplane, CF-ARM | 3401 — Cameron Bay – Coppermine, catalogue listing prints “Jan. 2” (4189 pieces); 3401a — Coppermine – Cameron Bay, catalogue listing prints “Jan. 2” (3967 pieces). The flight heading dates the service January 25-27. (AMCN2, p. 212.) | Service type: First flight and post office opening. Outcome: completed. A post office opened at Coppermine on this date, and Gilbert made the first flight in both directions. Cachet: Official cachets were applied in black to all covers prepaid at the air mail rate. Contract for two trips a year at 53¢ a pound. AAMS 555. |
| Camlaren added to Fort Resolution – Yellowknife route | 1938.10.22 | Open PDF | A. VaughnMackenzie Air Service Ltd. | 3841 Yellowknife–Camlaren (29 pounds of mail); 3841a Camlaren–Yellowknife (1 pound of mail). (AMCN2, p. 237.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. The route was extended to Camlaren, where a new post office opened the same day. All mail on hand, regardless of prepayment, was carried, including parcel post. No special markings were applied. AAMS 617. |
| Camsell River Included in Fort Resolution – Cameron Bay Service | 1933.12.05–09 | Open PDF | W.E. Gilbert (Rae to Cameron Bay), A.M. McMullen (Cameron Bay to Rae)Canadian Airways Limited | – | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. AAMS 546. |
| Charlottetown – Grindstone Island | 1933.02.07 | Open PDF | W.W. FowlerCanadian Airways Limited | 3305 — Charlottetown – Grindstone Island, Feb. 7 (7172 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 207.) | Service type: Official winter service. Outcome: completed. The first regular winter service was inaugurated; the return flight took place on February 10. Some covers were postmarked at Grindstone Island on February 6 or 7 with correct air-mail postage for the return flight but received no cachet or backstamp. Postmarks: Two different postmarks at Grindstone Island. Backstamp: Two different backstamps at Charlottetown. Cachet: Official cachets were applied in black to covers prepaid at the 6¢ per ounce air-mail rate; they were not applied to mail prepaid at the regular 3¢ rate. AAMS 541. |
| Cole Included in Kenora – Red Lake Mail | 1935.08.16 | Open PDF | D.P. GlenCanadian Airways Limited | 3523 and 3523a–c: Kenora–Cole; Cole–McKenzie Island; McKenzie Island–Cole; Cole–Kenora. Quantities: 2,952 pieces on Kenora–Cole and Cole–Kenora; 2,911 on each other leg. (AMCN2, p. 220.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Cole was opened as a new post office and added as a point of call on the Kenora–McKenzie Island route. Official cachets were applied in black to mail prepaid at the 6¢ per ounce air mail rate. Contract to Canadian Airways Limited. AAMS 578. |
| Collins – Pickle Crow | 1935.02.22 | Open PDF | F.P. BaragerCanadian Airways | 3513 and 3513a: Collins–Pickle Crow and Pickle Crow–Collins (3,500 pieces each). (AMCN2, p. 218.) | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. A new post office opened at Pickle Crow. Official cachets were furnished for use only on mail prepaid at 6¢ per ounce and were applied in black. The first flight was made in each direction. AAMS 576. |
| Cormorant Lake – Lac du Brochet – Pelican Narrows – Stanley Mission | 1931.08.21–22 | Open PDF | A.L. Morfee, C.R. SlemonR.C.A.F. | 3157 — Cormorant–Lac du Brochet, Aug. 21; 3157a — Cormorant–Pelican Narrows, Aug. 21. The catalogue gives mail weights of 1 lb. 13 oz. of letters and 84 lb. of papers for Lac du Brochet, and 1 lb. 1 oz. of letters and 58 lb. of papers for Pelican Narrows; these are weights, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 197.) | Service type: Summer air service. Outcome: completed. Return flights were made the following day. Mail flown from Cormorant Lake included 1 lb. 13 oz. of letters and 84 lb. of papers for Lac du Brochet, and 1 lb. 1 oz. of letters and 58 lb. of papers for Pelican Narrows. Mail required only the surface rate of 3¢ per ounce. There were no cachets or markings applied; covers were not backstamped. Some covers to Lac du Brochet were endorsed in manuscript by the pilot. Postmarks: Cormorant, Man.; Sturgeon Landing, Sask. AAMS 251. |
| Cranberry Portage – Kississing | 1929.06.01 | Open PDF | C.M.G. FarrellWestern Canada Airways | 2931; Cranberry Portage–Kississing; 2931(a), Kississing–Cranberry Portage. Quantities are not stated. (AMCN2, p. 174.) | Service type: Regular service; route change. Outcome: completed. Covers from this flight received no special markings. Very few covers were carried. Regular service replacing the The Pas – Kississing service. |
| Detroit – London – Buffalo | 1933.02.11 | Open PDF | B.C. Moore (London – Buffalo), H.H. West (London – Detroit)Trans-American Airlines | 3307 — London – Buffalo (7698 pieces); 3307a — London – Detroit (Buffalo black cachet); 3307b — Buffalo – London; 3307c — Detroit – London (no cachet); 3307d — Detroit Airfield – London (airline cachet); 3307e — London – Detroit (no cachet). (AMCN2, p. 207.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. London became a stop on U.S. Contract Air Mail Route No. 27 effective this date. The Canadian Post Office Department considered that the London–Detroit segment had previously been performed, so it provided an official cachet only for the London–Buffalo dispatch; the Buffalo cachet was also applied to some Detroit covers. Postmark(s): Two different postmarks were applied at both London and Buffalo. Cachet: Applied uniformly in black, showing the seals of the cities of London and Buffalo and the Canadian and U.S. flags. The map identifies this as official service. AAMS 265. |
| Dryden – Gold Rock | 1937.05.17 | Open PDF | R.A. KiteleySkylines Express Ltd. | 3707 Dryden–Gold Rock, May 17 (36 pounds of mail); 3707a Gold Rock–Dryden, May 17 (10 pounds of mail). (AMCN2, p. 225.) | Service type: Contract airmail service. Outcome: completed. No special markings; regular postal rates applied. AAMS 596. |
| Edmonton – Fort McMurray; Edmonton – Peace River | 1930.12.09 | Open PDF | W.R. MayCommercial Airways Ltd. | CO3009-CL50: Edmonton–Ft. McMurray, Dec. 9, 1930 (1,277 pieces). Separately dated related route: CO3011-CL48 and CO3011-CL50, Edmonton–Peace River, Dec. 12 (724 pieces). The complete mapped route is not listed for Dec. 9. (AMCN2, pp. 130, 131.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. The December 9 covers were postmarked on December 9 and backstamped on December 10. Cachet: indicating the first use of the stamp. The Peace River route opened on December 12; those covers were postmarked on December 6, and the return flight was not made until two months later. The map lists the Peace River leg as December 12. Edmonton – Fort McMurray (SAC 118, p. 268). Edmonton – Peace River (AAMS 132). |
| Edmonton – Fort McMurray – Edmonton | 1930.07.23 | Open PDF | I. Glyn Roberts, W.R. MayCommercial Airways Ltd. | CO3005-CL47: Edmonton–Fort McMurray, July 23; 3005a: Fort McMurray–Edmonton–Victoria, July 23. CO3005-CL49: Edmonton–Fort McMurray, July 23. (AMCN2, pp. 130, 131.) | Service type: Semi-official flight. Outcome: completed. CL49 was first used on the Edmonton–Fort McMurray flight; the return flight was a normal scheduled route. A commercial cover postmarked at Fort McMurray was flown to Edmonton en route to Victoria. Postmark(s): Fort McMurray, July 23, 1930. The return leg was dated July 26, 1930. On July 25, 1930, Narrow Lake P.O. was removed to Swain Post, Swain Lake (formerly Rainbow Lake, distance 15 miles). AAMS 131, 259. |
| Edmonton – Fort McMurray | 1932.12.30 | Open PDF | P.B. CalderCanadian Airways Limited | CA3201-CL51 — Edmonton–Fort McMurray, Dec. 30 (about 475). (AMCN2, pp. 133, 134.) | Service type: First semi-official flight. Outcome: completed. Special octagonal-shaped cachets were applied to covers produced by the Alberta Provincial Philatelic Society. Return flight January 3, 1933. AAMS 150. |
| Edmonton – Grande Prairie – Edmonton | 1929.05.21 | Open PDF | W.R. MayCommercial Airways Ltd. | CO2901-CL47; Edmonton–Grande Prairie (734 pieces) and Grande Prairie–Edmonton (682 pieces), May 21, 1929. (AMCN2, p. 130.) | Service type: Company inaugural flight. Outcome: completed. The flight carried covers bearing CL47. They had a blue octagonal route marking and a rectangular blue obliterator; these markings were repeated on company inaugural flight covers. AAMS 130. |
| Edmonton – McLennan – Grande Prairie | 1935.07.04–06 | Open PDF | Z.L. LeighCanadian Airways Limited | 3515 and 3515a–e: Edmonton–McLennan (100 pieces); Edmonton–Grande Prairie (125); McLennan–Grande Prairie (50); Grande Prairie–McLennan (50); Grande Prairie–Edmonton (100); McLennan–Edmonton (100). (AMCN2, pp. 218, 219.) | Service type: Emergency flight. Outcome: completed. Emergency flights were made necessary by washouts along the Northern Alberta Railways; McLennan was also served. Mail was carried at the regular rate of 3¢ per ounce, and large quantities of parcel post were also carried. No official markings were applied. Leg dates: Edmonton – McLennan and Edmonton – Grande Prairie, July 4; McLennan – Grande Prairie, July 4; Grande Prairie – McLennan and Grande Prairie – Edmonton, July 6; McLennan – Edmonton, July 6. AAMS 577. |
| Edmonton – North Battleford – Saskatoon – Moose Jaw | 1930.02.15–16 | Open PDF | Western Canada Airways Limited | – | – |
| Edmonton – Peace River – Grande Prairie – Dawson Creek – Fort St. John | 1937.03.17 | Open PDF | E.W. KubicekUnited Air Transport Ltd. | 3703 Edmonton–Peace River, March 17 (22 pounds of mail); 3703a Edmonton–Grande Prairie, March 17 (32 pounds of mail). (AMCN2, p. 225.) | Service type: Single return trip. Outcome: completed. The aircraft was unable to land at Dawson Creek and dropped the mail over the point. Covers postmarked at Dawson Creek for delivery in Fort St. John and vice versa were not flown. Dawson Creek dispatches to Edmonton and intermediate points were trucked to Fort St. John and flown from there on March 19. No official cachets were applied. AAMS 285. |
| Embarras Portage Included in the McMurray – Aklavik Route | 1931.12.17 | Open PDF | A.M. McMullenCanadian Airways Limited | 3177 — Fort McMurray–Embarras Portage, Dec. 17 (6,567 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 199.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. A new post office opened at Embarras Portage between Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan, making it a stop on the existing service. McMullen made the first flight in both directions on December 17–18. Official cachets inscribed “Inaugural Flight” were furnished at Fort McMurray, Fort Chipewyan, and Embarras Portage, and applied in black to mail prepaid at the 6¢ air mail rate. AAMS 530. |
| Fond du Lac – Norite Bay – Stony Rapids Added to Prince Albert – Goldfields Route | 1937.07.12–13 | Open PDF | W.F. WindrumCanadian Airways Limited | 3717 Prince Albert–Fond du Lac, July 12 (2605 pieces); 3717b Prince Albert–Norite Bay, July 12 (2496 pieces); 3717c Norite Bay–Prince Albert, July 13 (2406 pieces); 3717e Fond du Lac–Prince Albert, July 13 (2496 pieces). (AMCN2, pp. 227, 228.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Fond du Lac, Stony Rapids and Norite Bay were added as stops on the Prince Albert–Goldfields route, with Stony Rapids and Norite Bay becoming new post offices. Service was nonstop from Prince Albert on July 13. All mail from Prince Albert was backstamped on July 13. Official cachets were applied in black to mail prepaid at the 6¢ per ounce air mail rate. AAMS 599. |
| Fort McMurray – Bitumount | 1937.12.09 | Open PDF | G.W. McLaren (south); A.M. McMullen (north)Canadian Airways Limited | 3739 Fort McMurray–Bitumount, Dec. 9 (8 pounds of mail); 3739a Bitumount–Fort McMurray, Dec. 11 (4 pounds of mail). (AMCN2, p. 230.) | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. McMullen made the first northward flight; McLaren returned with mail on December 11. Bitumount was established as a post office effective with the first flight. All mail was carried at the regular surface rate of 3¢ per ounce; no special markings were applied. AAMS 604. |
| Fort Resolution – Yellowknife | 1937.11.26 | Open PDF | H.M. Kennedy, R. RandallMacKenzie Air Service | 3737 Fort Resolution–Yellowknife, Nov. 26 (351 pounds of mail); 3737a Yellowknife–Fort Resolution, Nov. 29 (22 pounds of mail). (AMCN2, p. 229.) | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. Yellowknife was established as a post office with the first flight. All mail was carried at regular surface rates with no official markings; most mail was parcel post. A. Vanhee returned with the mail on November 29. AAMS 603. |
| Fort St. John – Nelson Forks – Fort Liard | 1938.07.22 | Open PDF | C. TweedUnited Air Transport | 3825 Fort Nelson–Nelson Forks; 3825c Nelson Forks–Fort Nelson. Catalogue gives no quantities for these listings; these are the documented Nelson Forks legs, not a Fort St. John leg. (AMCN2, p. 234.) | Service type: Air service. Outcome: completed. AAMS 614. |
| Fort Chipewyan – Fond du Lac – Stony Rapids | 1933.01.08 | Open PDF | H. Hollick-KenyonCanadian Airways Limited | 3301a — Fort Chipewyan – Fond du Lac, Jan. 8. (AMCN2, p. 205.) | Service type: Airmail flight. Outcome: completed. Mail was carried at the 3¢ rate. There was no post office at Fond du Lac or Stony Rapids, the intermediate point at this time. Cachet: None (no official cachets). AAMS 540. |
| Fort Chipewyan – Fond du Lac – Stony Rapids | 1934.06.14 | Open PDF | A.M. McMullenCanadian Airways LimitedBellanca CH30a, CF-A1A | 3411 — Fort Chipewyan – Fond du Lac (4718 pieces); 3411a — Fond du Lac – Fort Chipewyan (4537 pieces). These document the Fort Chipewyan–Fond du Lac legs only; Stony Rapids is not listed for this flight. (AMCN2, p. 213.) | Service type: First official flight; monthly service. Outcome: completed. Fond du Lac was established as a post office coincident with the flight, and the service was designated the “First Official Flight.” Official cachets were provided for mail prepaid at the air rate and applied in black. AMCN2 documents the Fort Chipewyan–Fond du Lac legs only. Monthly service. AAMS 557. |
| Fort Chipewyan – Goldfields; Goldfields – Fond du Lac | 1935.09.02 | Open PDF | Z.L. LeighCanadian Airways Limited | 3525 and 3525a: Fort Chipewyan–Goldfields (3,124 pieces) and Goldfields–Fort Chipewyan (3,041 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 220.) | Service type: Regular service; first flight. Outcome: completed. The first flight into Goldfields was made, and mail was returned to Fort Chipewyan the same day. Official cachets were provided at both points and applied in blue-black to covers prepaid at the air mail rate of 6¢ per ounce. The map identifies the Fort Chipewyan–Goldfields leg as regular service (AAMS 579) and cites CYB for Goldfields–Fond du Lac. |
| Fort McMurray – Fort Chipewyan – Fort Fitzgerald – Fort Smith – Fort Resolution – Hay River – Fort Providence – Fort Simpson – Wrigley – Fort Norman – Fort Good Hope – Arctic Red River – Fort McPherson – Aklavik | 1929.12.10 | Open PDF | C.H. Becker, M. Burbidge, I. Glyn Roberts, C.G. Lumsden, W.R. MayCommercial Airways Limited | 2967(l); Fort McMurray–Aklavik, flown December 10 (5,000 pieces; covers canceled at Edmonton November 26). (AMCN2, pp. 179, 181.) | Service type: First official air mail service to the Northwest Territories. Outcome: completed. A.M. McMullen also piloted aircraft on the service. Fort McMurray could not handle the mail volume, so most mail was canceled at Edmonton on November 26, the originally intended inaugural date, and flown from Fort McMurray on December 10. Official cachets were applied in black and inscribed “First Regular Official Flights”. The map describes this as official air mail service. AAMS 319. |
| Fort McMurray – Athabaska – Edmonton – Fort McMurray | 1931.02.23–24 | Open PDF | W.R. MayCommercial Airways Ltd. | 3105 — Fort McMurray–Athabaska, Feb. 23 (969 pieces); 3105a — Athabaska–Edmonton, Feb. 23 (873); 3105b — Edmonton–Athabaska, Feb. 24 (1,044); 3105c — Athabaska–Fort McMurray, Feb. 24 (978). (AMCN2, p. 131.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Athabaska was added to the Fort McMurray–Edmonton route. Both CL48 and CL50 were used. Leg dates: Fort McMurray–Athabaska and Athabaska–Edmonton, February 23; Edmonton–Athabaska and Athabaska–Fort McMurray, February 24. AAMS 133. |
| Fort McMurray – Fort Resolution – Great Bear Lake P.O. (Hunter Bay) | 1932.06.20–22 | Open PDF | C.H. DickinsCanadian Airways Limited | 3217 — Fort McMurray–Great Bear Lake, June 20; 3217a — Fort Resolution–Great Bear Lake, June 20; 3217d — Great Bear Lake–Fort Resolution, June 22; 3217e — Great Bear Lake–Fort McMurray, June 22; 3217f — Fort McMurray–Fort Resolution, June 22. The catalogue reports about 50 pieces dispatched to Great Bear Lake from all three points, not per listed leg. (AMCN2, p. 202.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. A variety of signatures appear, including those of the respective postmasters, Postal Superintendent R.W. Hale, and pilot C.H. Dickins. The flight was an experiment to Great Bear Lake and return. Some covers were “all-in-one” covers. Postmarks: Fort McMurray, June 18; Fort Resolution, June 20; Rae, June 20. Backstamp: June 22. Cachet: five-line red rubber stamp detailing the facilities of “Murphy Services” at Great Bear Lake. AAMS 255. |
| Fort McMurray (Waterways) – Fort Chipewyan – Fort Smith – Fort Fitzgerald – Fort Resolution – Hay River – Fort Providence – Fort Simpson – Fort Resolution – Fort McMurray; Fort Smith – Fort Fitzgerald – Fort McMurray; Fort Chipewyan – Fort McMurray; Hay River – Fort McMurray | 1929.01.23 | Open PDF | C.H. DickinsWestern Canada Airways Limited; Canadian Airways LimitedFokker Super Universal | 2907; the catalogue lists Edmonton–Fort Simpson (21 pounds), not a separate Fort McMurray–Fort Simpson cover. The listed quantity is mail weight, not a cover count. (AMCN2, pp. 171, 172.) | Service type: Northwest Territory winter service. Outcome: completed; return flight forced down near Fort Resolution and resumed February 5. Bad weather delayed the start. The pilot reached Fort Smith on January 23, Fort Providence on January 25 and Fort Simpson on January 26. The aircraft was forced down near Fort Resolution on the return; spare parts were flown from Winnipeg, and the flight resumed February 5. Most mail was parcel post and not specially marked; required franking was 5 cents. There were no dispatches between Edmonton and Fort McMurray. Return mail was taken off and backstamped at Fort McMurray when this could expedite delivery; comparatively little mail went through to Edmonton. Some mail bears the semi-official stamp of Western Canada Airways. Postmark(s): Edmonton, January 15; Fort McMurray, January 23; Fort Chipewyan, Fort Fitzgerald and Fort Smith, January 23 or earlier; Fort Resolution, Hay River and Fort Providence, January 25 or earlier; Fort Simpson, January 26 or earlier. Backstamp: February 5 or 6 at Fort McMurray or Edmonton. Map schedule: January 23, Fort McMurray (Waterways)–Fort Chipewyan–Fort Smith; January 24, Fort Smith–Fort Fitzgerald; January 25, Fort Fitzgerald–Fort Resolution–Hay River–Fort Providence; January 26, Fort Providence–Fort Simpson; January 27, Fort Simpson–Fort Resolution; February 5, Fort Resolution–Fort McMurray; February 6, Fort Smith–Fort Fitzgerald–Fort McMurray; February 13, Fort Chipewyan–Fort McMurray; February 27, Hay River–Fort McMurray (28th). The map also lists the Moncton–Summerside–Charlottetown–Moncton winter service. AAMS 515; AAMS 225. |
| Fort Resolution – Rae | 1930.01.13 | Open PDF | I.G. Glyn RobertsCommercial Airways Ltd. | 3007: Fort Resolution–Rae, Jan. 13 (85 pieces); 3007a: Rae–Fort Resolution, Jan. 14 (90 pieces). CF-ATR is specified for the Jan. 14 return only, not the mapped Jan. 13 leg. (AMCN2, p. 182.) | Service type: Special mail-carrying flight. Outcome: completed. The flight carried parcel post and letters for delivery in Rae. There were no official markings. AAMS 525. |
| Fort Resolution – Rae – Great Bear Lake P.O. (Hunter Bay) | 1932.12.06–10 | Open PDF | W.R. MayCanadian Airways Limited | 3247 — Fort Resolution–Rae (5,920 pieces); 3247a — Fort Resolution–Great Bear Lake, Dec. 6 (6,470); 3247b — Rae–Great Bear Lake, Dec. 7 (5,984); 3247c — Great Bear Lake–Rae, Dec. 9 (5,926); 3247d — Great Bear Lake–Fort Resolution, Dec. 9 (6,278); 3247e — Rae–Fort Resolution, Dec. 10 (5,983). (AMCN2, p. 205.) | Service type: Official monthly service. Outcome: completed. Rae was the intermediate point. All points were furnished official cachets, applied in black to mail prepaid at the air mail rate; regular-rate covers were not cacheted. AAMS 537. |
| Fort St. John – Gold Bar – Finlay Forks – Fort Grahame; Fort St. John – Fort Nelson | 1937.01.11–15 | Open PDF | W.F.S. LuckUnited Air Transport | 3701b Fort St. John–Gold Bar, Jan. 13 (2696 pieces). Map date is Jan. 11; this specific leg is listed for Jan. 13 within the Jan. 11–15 flight series. (AMCN2, pp. 224, 225.) | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. The flights proceeded by way of several intermediate stops. Official cachets were provided for dispatches, applied in black to all letters prepaid at the regular air mail rate of 6¢ per ounce. The Fort St. John–Gold Bar leg was flown January 13, 1937. AAMS 595. |
| Fort St. John – Hudson’s Hope – Finlay Forks – Fort St. James | 1936.05.23 | Open PDF | G.W.G. McConachieUnited Air TransportFairchild FC2W2, G-CARM | 3603: Fort St. John–Fort St. James, May 23–28 (50 pieces); the catalogue documents Hudson’s Hope as an intermediate backstamp, not a separate route dispatch. (AMCN2, p. 222.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. The flight on May 23 returned and tried again on May 24. Covers arriving at Fort St. James on May 28 were signed by McConachie, the postmasters at each office, and R.W. Hale, District Postal Superintendent (three varieties). Postmark(s): Fort St. John, May 23, 1936. Backstamp: Finlay Forks and Hudson’s Hope, May 28, 1936. AAMS 586. |
| Prince George – Germansen Landing – Prince George | 1938.01.26 | Open PDF | W.F.S. LuckUnited Air Transport | 3803 Prince George–Germansen Landing (4476 pieces); 3803a Germansen Landing–Prince George (4204 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 230.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. First flight to and from Germansen Landing; it had been newly designated a post office effective this date. Official cachets were authorized only on mail to and from Prince George, prepaid at the air mail letter rate of 6¢ per ounce. Cachet: Official cachets, uniformly applied in black ink. Others exist. AAMS 610. |
| God’s Lake – Sachigo | 1938.06.12 | Open PDF | P.Y. DavoudCanadian Airways Limited | 3817 God’s Lake–Sachigo River (158 pounds of mail); 3817a Sachigo River–God’s Lake (12 pounds of mail). (AMCN2, p. 233.) | Service type: New airmail service. Outcome: completed. Coincident with the establishment of a new post office at Sachigo River, airmail service from God’s Lake was established. All mail on hand, including a large quantity of parcel post, was carried in both directions. No special markings were applied. See map of March 1 for contracts. AAMS 613. |
| Golden Arm Included in Kenora – Red Lake Route | 1936.06.08 | Open PDF | D.P. GlenCanadian Airways Limited | 3605 and 3605a–c: Red Lake–Golden Arm (3,530 pieces); Golden Arm–Cole (3,243); Cole–Golden Arm (3,173); Golden Arm–Red Lake (3,354). (AMCN2, p. 222.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Golden Arm was added between Red Lake and Cole. Official cachets were applied in black and purple on mail prepaid at the 6¢ per ounce air mail rate. AAMS 587. |
| Great Falls – Bissett – Wadhope | 1933.02.15 | Open PDF | Roy BrownCanadian Airways Limited | 3309 — Great Falls – Bissett (5858 pieces); 3309a — Great Falls – Wadhope (4452 pieces); 3309b — Bissett – Wadhope (4462 pieces); 3309c — Wadhope – Bissett (4465 pieces); 3309d — Wadhope – Great Falls (4390 pieces); 3309e — Bissett – Great Falls (4259 pieces). (AMCN2, pp. 207, 208.) | Service type: Official service. Outcome: completed. The flight was by way of Bissett. Official cachets were affixed in black (one blue seen) to all mail prepaid at the 6¢ rate. AAMS 542. |
| Haileybury – Mud Lake | 1936.07.21 | Open PDF | D.F. MacDonaldDominion Skyways Limited | 3609 and 3609a: Haileybury–Mud Lake (5,500 pieces) and Mud Lake–Haileybury (5,000 pieces). (AMCN2, pp. 222, 223.) | Service type: Inaugural service. Outcome: completed. Bilingual official cachets were provided at each point for application in purple/black to mail prepaid at the air mail rate of 6¢ per ounce. AAMS 589. |
| Halifax – New York | 1930.08.26 | Open PDF | Capt. von GronauDornier Wal, D-1422 | 3043: Halifax–New York, Aug. 25 (27 covers backstamped New York); 3043a: Halifax, Aug. 26 (55 covers, no backstamp). The Aug. 26 listing does not establish New York arrival. (AMCN2, pp. 186, 187.) | Service type: Transatlantic flight. Outcome: not established. Franz Hack, mechanic; Edward Zimmer, student aviator; and Fritz Albrecht, radio operator, were aboard. Capt. von Gronau had no authority to carry mail from Canada, and no delivery slip was issued. AMCN2 says the mail parcel was believed to have been placed on the New York–Montreal aircraft for return to Canada; the Aug. 26 listing has no backstamp. Postmark(s): Halifax, August 26, 1930. Cachet: oval “Provincial Exhibition, Halifax Post Office,” dated August 26, 1930. |
| Halifax – St. John – Bangor – Boston | 1931.08.03 | Open PDF | R.O.D. SullivanPan American Airlines Inc. | 3139 — Halifax–Bangor, Aug. 3 (300 pieces); 3139a — St. John–Bangor (300); 3139b — Bangor–Halifax (500); 3139d — Boston–Halifax (no quantity stated). No local mail was dispatched between Halifax and St. John. (AMCN2, pp. 195, 196.) | Service type: Experimental service. Outcome: completed. The service operated under U.S. Foreign Air Mail Route No. 12. Although the contract was for 10 years, the service was discontinued after a few months. No local mail was dispatched between Halifax and St. John. No official cachets were provided except on flights through Bangor to Canadian points. The map describes an experimental service from August 3 to 24 (AAMS 249). |
| Halifax – Sydney | 1935.07.29–08.03 | Open PDF | W.W. FowlerCanadian Airways Limited | 3521 and 3521a–k: Halifax–Sydney and Sydney–Halifax dispatches, July 29–Aug. 3. Quantities in listing order: 3,056; 2,889; 1,885; 1,992; 1,878; 2,317; 196; 2,065; 188; 1,972; 2,028; 2,150 pieces. (AMCN2, p. 219.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. The flights were made in connection with the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Sydney, N.S. The Post Office Department authorized special cachets at Halifax and Sydney, with different designs for each of the six days. Halifax applied two postmarks and backstamps on most days. One flight each way daily. AAMS 280. |
| Toronto – Hamilton; Hamilton – Toronto | 1929.06.06 | Open PDF | Capt. A.F. Ingram | 2935; Hamilton–Toronto (14,916 pieces); 2935(a), Toronto–Hamilton (5,667 pieces), June 6, 1929. (AMCN2, p. 175.) | Service type: Airport opening special flight. Outcome: completed. The airport was dedicated, and mail was carried both ways by regular aircraft on the Toronto–Windsor route; no mail was carried between Hamilton and Windsor. Postmark(s): Hamilton applied two different postmarks, including an “Alcock and Brown” slogan cancel. Cachet: Toronto and Hamilton cachets are found in black and blue; Toronto cachets are also found in purple. Hamilton Airport opening. AAMS 228. |
| Harbour Grace – New York | 1930.06.17 | Open PDF | Sir Charles Kingsford Smith | – | – |
| Harbour Grace – North Sydney | 1929.07.27 | Open PDF | R.D. Archibald, V. DarrellBluenose | NFF-32, Harbour Grace–North Sydney; 35 pounds of mail. (AMCN2, p. 590.) | Service type: Newfoundland first flight. Outcome: completed. Navigator Vernon Darrell. The Bluenose arrived at Harbour Grace on July 26 after a four-and-a-half-hour flight from North Sydney. The pilot agreed to take 35 lbs. of mail on the return flight. The flight left Harbour Grace at 2:50 p.m. and arrived at North Sydney at 7:20 p.m. Postmark(s): St. John’s, Nfld., July 27, 1929. Backstamp: Newf’d P.O., North Sydney, N.S., July 27, 1929. Cachet: None. (Dal & Har). |
| Herschel Island – Aklavik | 1930.05.02 | Open PDF | C.N. SherlockWestern Canada Airways | 3025: Fort McMurray–Herschel Island, May 2; 3025a: Herschel Island–Aklavik–Fort McMurray, return routing dated May 2, Aug. 3, and Aug. 15. No quantity given. The mapped Herschel Island–Aklavik leg is dated Aug. 3, not May 2. (AMCN2, pp. 184, 185.) | Service type: Return airmail service. Outcome: completed. AMCN2 lists 1930, May 2 — Fort McMurray – Herschel Island, flown by C.N. Sherlock of Western Canada Airways. Return-trip mail was routed via Aklavik on Aug. 3 and reached Edmonton on Aug. 15. No particulars. (Malott). |
| Hopedale (Labrador) – Boston | 1931.08.02 | Open PDF | D. McMillanSeaplane Viking | NFF-46, Hopedale–Boston–Hopedale (18 pieces); NFF-46(a), Hopedale–Boston–Carbonear (6 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 594.) | Service type: First official airmail flight. Outcome: completed. The flight was made by easy stages. Navigator Charles F. Rockwell was aboard. The small amount of official mail carried was caused by the late arrival of mail from St. John’s, which was not carried on the flight. Postmark: Hopedale, Aug. 2, 1931, Nfld. Backstamp: Boston, Mass, (Sept. 8, 12 A.M. Foreign, 1931); Carbonear, Sept. 12, 1931. Cachet: Boxed “First / Official Air Mail from / Hopedale, Labrador / to / Boston, U.S.A.” (Dale & H). |
| Île-à-la-Crosse – Buffalo Narrows – La Loche | 1936.11.18 | Open PDF | C.N. McNealM & C Aviation | 3615: Ile a la Crosse–Buffalo Narrows, Nov. 18 (3,366 pieces). This is the documented matching dispatch; the catalogue’s other listed legs extend to La Loche. (AMCN2, p. 223.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. AMCN2 describes the extension to La Loche via Buffalo Narrows; C. McNeal made the first flights on the extended portion. Official cachets, applied in black, were provided for all dispatches on 6¢ air mail letters. AAMS 590. |
| Ilford – Gods Lake | 1933.01.? | Open PDF | Canadian Airways Limited | CA3303-CL51: (The Pas)–Ilford to God’s Lake, Oxford Lake and Island Lake; December 19, 1933 (later covers; no January 1933 listing). (AMCN2, p. 134.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. Contract to Canadian Airways Limited. (Richardson files). AMCN2 also records later CL51 double-franked covers on this route posted from The Pas on December 19, 1933. |
| Ilford – Gods Lake | 1935.02.16 | Open PDF | Canadian Airways Limited | – | Service type: Letter bag service. Outcome: not established. Letter bag service during freeze-up and thaw when Winnipeg – Gods Lake service was suspended. |
| Ile A La Crosse – Prince Albert | 1930.02.04 | Open PDF | J.B. Home-HayCherry Red Airline Ltd. | – | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. The flight carried mail between the two points. AAMS 145. |
| Kenora – Machin | 1936.05.19 | Open PDF | M.E. AshtonWings Limited | 3601 and 3601a: Kenora–Machin (4,860 pieces) and Machin–Kenora (4,633 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 221.) | Service type: First official flight. Outcome: completed. Official first-flight cachets were applied in black to mail prepaid at the air-mail rate; some covers also had an airline cachet in purple. AAMS 585. |
| Kenora – Whitefish Bay | 1935.01.05 | Open PDF | U.S. WagnerCanadian Airways Limited | 3501 and 3501a: Kenora–Whitefish Bay (3,725 pieces) and Whitefish Bay–Kenora (3,660 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 216.) | Service type: Inaugural flight. Outcome: completed. The inaugural flight took place on this date. Cachet: official cachets for each point, uniformly applied in black to all letters prepaid at the regular air mail rate. AAMS 570. |
| Toronto – Kingston – Toronto; Montreal – Kingston – Montreal | 1929.06.04 | Open PDF | V.J. Hatton (Toronto – Kingston); O.C. Wallace (Montreal – Kingston) | 2933; Kingston–Montreal (7,500 pieces); 2933(a), Kingston–Toronto (7,128); 2933(b), Montreal–Kingston (5,588); 2933(c), Toronto–Kingston (6,633). (AMCN2, p. 174.) | Service type: Airport dedication special flights. Outcome: completed. The regular mail aircraft on the Montreal–Toronto route stopped at Kingston and carried official mail in both directions. Postmarks: Kingston, 4; Montreal, 4; Toronto, 2. Backstamps: Montreal, 3; Toronto, 3; Kingston, 3. Cachet: Official cachet in black on air mail prepaid at 5¢ per ounce; a few Montreal covers bear it in green or mauve. AAMS 227. |
| Lac du Bonnet – Beresford Lake – Diana | 1934.12.04 | Open PDF | H. Hollick-KenyonCanadian Airways Limited | 3429 — Lac du Bonnet – Beresford Lake (1 pound); 3429c — Beresford Lake – Lac du Bonnet (1.5 pounds). Mail quantities are weights, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 215.) | Service type: Air mail service. Outcome: completed. The service ran December 4–6; no official cachets were applied. AAMS 560. |
| Lac du Bonnet – Bissett – Wadhope – Beresford Lake – Diana; Kenora – Red Lake – McKenzie Island; Sioux Lookout – Gold Pines – Casummit Lake | 1934.12.11–12 | Open PDF | H. Hollick-Kenyon (Lac du Bonnet); N.G. Forester (Kenora); S.J. McRorie (Sioux Lookout)Canadian Airways Limited | – | Service type: Route rearrangement and extension. Outcome: completed. The Winnipeg–Diana first flight was made in both directions; Bissett, Wadhope and Beresford Lake were intermediate points. Pictorial cachets inscribed “First Official Flight” were applied in black to mail prepaid at the 6¢ per ounce rate. First flights were made in both directions between Kenora and McKenzie Island via Red Lake; a post office opened at McKenzie Island on this date. Official cachets were applied in black to mail prepaid at the air mail rate. A post office was established at Casummit Lake, and the Sioux Lookout–Narrow Lake route was officially extended to Casummit Lake. Official cachets were provided at Sioux Lookout and Casummit Lake and applied in black to letters flown at the 6¢ air mail rate. Rearrangement of Central Manitoba service; rearrangement of Red Lake service. AAMS 561. AAMS 562. AAMS 563. |
| Lake Harbour – Povungnituk – Ottawa | 1934.08.30 | Open PDF | J. Grierson | 3421 — Eastern Arctic Points – Ottawa (about 150 pieces). This broad listing does not identify Lake Harbour or Provungnetuk individually. (AMCN2, p. 214.) | Service type: Arctic survey flight. Outcome: completed. The flight from Rochester, England, to Ottawa picked up mail at Greenland, Hudson Bay and Royal Canadian Mounted Police posts. Most of this mail was unavailable to collectors because of its nature. AAMS 276. |
| Madsen Added to Kenora – Red Lake Route | 1938.05.25 | Open PDF | D.P. GlenCanadian Airways Limited | 3815 Red Lake–Madsen (2 pounds of mail); 3815a Madsen–Red Lake (7 pounds of mail). These are the catalogue’s listed legs; it does not list a Kenora leg. (AMCN2, p. 233.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. AMCN2 documents Red Lake – Madsen and return; it does not list a Kenora leg. A new post office was established at Madsen. All regular mail prepaid at 3¢ per ounce or more was carried; parcel post was also carried and formed most of the mail, especially on the return trip. Postmark(s): no official markings were applied. AAMS 612. |
| Madsen added to Winnipeg – Red Lake route | 1938.08.01 | Open PDF | R.A. KiteleyWings Limited | 3831 Winnipeg–Madsen (65 pieces); 3831a Madsen–Winnipeg (60 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 235.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. All mail on hand, regardless of prepayment, was carried; no special markings were applied. Total poundage from Winnipeg was 31 pounds and from Madsen, 1 pound. AAMS 615. |
| McLennan – Mirror Landing | 1930.06.18 | Open PDF | Capt. C. BeckerCommercial Airways | 3031: McLennan–Mirror Landing, June 18; 3031a: Mirror Landing–McLennan, June 17. 3031b is Edmonton–Mirror Landing, not the mapped endpoint pair. The map date matches the reverse-direction listing, not the McLennan–Mirror Landing listing. (AMCN2, p. 185.) | Service type: Emergency airmail service. Outcome: completed. A washout on the Northern Alberta Railways disrupted communication, so emergency airmail service was authorized. About 600 pounds of parcel post, in addition to letter mail, was flown. The regular 2¢ letter rate applied; no official markings were applied. AAMS 526. |
| Moncton – Charlottetown – Moncton; Moncton – Saint John – Moncton; Moncton – Sydney – Moncton | 1929.07.01 | Open PDF | W. Fleming (Moncton – Charlottetown and return; Moncton – Saint John and return); W.H. Irvine (Moncton – Sydney and return, July 1); H. Watt (Moncton – Sydney and return, July 2) | 2939; July 1 Moncton–Charlottetown (7,000 pieces), Moncton–Sydney (4,000), and Moncton–Saint John (7,000); 2939(c–e), the corresponding reverse routes (7,000, 8,000, and 7,000). (AMCN2, p. 175.) | Service type: Special event flight. Outcome: completed. Authorized special flights marked the First Maritime Provinces Air Pageant. The Charlottetown and Saint John round trips were on July 1; the Sydney round trip was on July 1 and 2. Official cachets were applied on both days, uniformly in black. Postmark(s): A variety of postmarks. Backstamp: A variety of backstamps. Cachet: Official cachets were applied on both days, uniformly applied in black. Moncton Airport opening and Marine Pageant. AAMS number left blank on map. |
| Moncton – Windsor – Moncton | 1930.06.05 | Open PDF | Capt. R.H. Bibby (Moncton – Windsor); Capt. A.F. Ingram (Windsor – Moncton)Canadian Airways Limited | 3027: Moncton–Windsor; 3027a: Windsor–Moncton. No quantities given. The catalogue also lists related Moncton–Toronto and Windsor–Montreal covers. (AMCN2, p. 185.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. These flights were made with fast aircraft. Although reportedly not officially authorized, postmasters were allowed to dispatch mail; most mail from Moncton received the signature of J.H. Harris, Postmaster. There were no special markings. AAMS 237. |
| Montreal – Burlington | 1937.08.10 | Open PDF | S.A. ShortBoston and Maine AirwaysLockheed Electra | 3721 Burlington–Montreal; 3721b Montreal–Burlington. The entry also describes the Boston–Burlington–Montreal service. (AMCN2, p. 228.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Extension of U.S. Air Mail Route No. 1 from Boston to Burlington and return. Cachet: Mail from Burlington received a purple cachet referring to FAM-27 in error. Mail from Montreal has a black cachet. The service was under United States contract. AAMS 288. |
| Montreal – New York | 1937.05.15 | Open PDF | Fred ClarkeAmerican Airlines | 3705 Montreal, May 15. The catalogue describes the service as Montreal–North Eastern States; it does not specifically list New York. (AMCN2, p. 225.) | Service type: Air mail service. Outcome: completed. AMCN2 describes the service as Montreal – North Eastern States; New York is not specifically identified as a destination. Little is known about the service. |
| Montreal – Ottawa – North Bay – Kapuskasing – Wagaming – Winnipeg; Toronto – North Bay | 1938.11.30 | Open PDF | Trans-Canada Air Lines | – | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. |
| Montreal – Quebec – Moncton – Saint John (experimental) | 1929.12.09–10 | Open PDF | H.C.W. Smith (Montreal – Quebec); H. Watt (Quebec – Moncton); R.H. Bibby (Moncton – Saint John); W.H. Irvine (Saint John – Moncton); H. Watt (Moncton – Quebec); H.C.W. Smith (Quebec – Montreal)Canadian Airways Limited | 2963; Montreal–Quebec (2,309 pieces); 2963(a), Montreal–Moncton (2,514); 2963(c), Quebec–Moncton (2,265); 2963(h), Moncton–Quebec (2,400). Catalogue service date is December 9; the map gives December 9–10. (AMCN2, p. 178.) | Service type: Experimental service. Outcome: completed; Bibby forced to return. The experimental service was inaugurated for a one-month trial period. The regular air mail rate of 5¢ per ounce applied. Postmark(s): Some variety. Backstamp: Some variety. Cachet: Official cachets, different for each segment, supplied and uniformly applied in black; Montreal and Quebec each applied English and French types alternately to the front and back of first flight covers. AAMS 232. |
| Montreal – Saint John – Moncton; Saint John – Halifax | 1930.01.27 | Open PDF | H. Simoneau (Montreal – Saint John – Moncton)Canadian Airways Limited | – | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. Source: CYB. |
| Montreal – Toronto – Hamilton – London – Windsor – Detroit; Toronto – Buffalo | 1929.07.15 | Open PDF | J.A. Young (Montreal – Toronto), V.J. Hatton (Toronto – Detroit), G.R. Hicks (Detroit – Toronto), Jack Little (Toronto – Buffalo)Canadian Airways Limited | 2945; Toronto–Hamilton (listed). The catalogue also reports Montreal mail flown to all points on July 15, without a separate Montreal–Toronto–Hamilton sublisting. (AMCN2, pp. 176, 177.) | Service type: Regular official service. Outcome: completed. G.R. Hicks flew the return service. R.H. Bibby flew the connecting flight mail from Montreal and a reserve aircraft from Toronto to Detroit that carried no mail. The Toronto–Buffalo one-way service was flown by Jack Little; the Government Report on Civil Aviation named the Canadian Flying Service, while adverts named Canadian Colonial Airways Limited. There was no official dispatch between Windsor and Detroit, although covers exist. Mail from Montreal and other points was also flown; all-points mail to Montreal was backstamped at 2 p.m. on July 15, and mail was flown from Windsor to Chicago. Postmarks and backstamps varied. Backstamp: 2 p.m., July 15. Cachet: Official pictorial cachets were applied at all points uniformly in black, except at London, where red or purple ink was also applied; no cachet was applied at Montreal. Commencement of regular official service. AAMS 230/1. |
| Montreal – Vancouver | 1932.07.04 | Open PDF | R.H. Storer, B.R. RonaldWaco ATO CF-ASJ, the Vancouver Sun | 3227 — Montreal–Vancouver; covers were postmarked Montreal June 29 or 30, with a Vancouver arrival postmark July 6. Related arrival commemoration: 3229 — Vancouver, commemorating the Montreal–Vancouver flight. (AMCN2, pp. 202, 203.) | Service type: Attempted non-stop transcontinental flight. Outcome: completed; non-stop attempt unsuccessful. The aircraft was delayed in Sudbury, Regina and Grand Forks, arriving in Vancouver July 6, 1932. Covers were postmarked Montreal June 29 or 30, with a Vancouver arrival postmark July 6, 1932. |
| Moosonee – Eastmain – Fort George – Richmond Gulf – Port Harrison – Poungnituk – Knight Harbor | 1933.03.18 | Open PDF | K.F. Saunders, H. WattCanadian Airways LimitedJunkers aircraft | 3317 — Moosonee – Port Harrison – Poungnituk – Cape Smith (none authenticated). Eastmain and Fort George are mentioned as return-flight points, but covers from the flight have not been authenticated. (AMCN2, pp. 208, 209.) | Service type: Special mail flight. Outcome: completed. The aircraft remained at Port Harrison until March 22, then flew on to Poungnituk and Cape Smith. The return flight started on March 23 and either dropped mail or landed at Eastmain, Fort George, Richmond, Poungnituk, Cape Smith, Knight Harbor and Port Harrison. No covers from the flight have been authenticated. AAMS number left blank on map. |
| Winnipeg – Berens River – Norway House; Winnipeg – Berens River – Cross Lake – Norway House; Gods Lake – Ilford; Gods Lake – Sachigo River; Kenora – Red Lake – McKenzie Island; Sioux Lookout – Jackson Manion – Narrow Lake; Winnipeg – Bissett – Beresford Lake – Diana; Winnipeg – McKenzie Island – Red Lake; Sioux Lookout – Gold Pines – Red Lake | 1938.03.01 | Open PDF | Canadian Airways Limited; Wings Limited | – | Service type: New contracts. Outcome: not established. |
| Norman Wells Added to Fort McMurray – Aklavik Route | 1938.12.18 | Open PDF | A.A. McMullenMackenzie Air Service Ltd. | 3851 Fort Norman–Norman Wells, Dec. 18 (30 pounds of mail); 3851a Norman Wells–Fort Norman, Dec. 21 (1 pound of mail). (AMCN2, p. 239.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Norman Wells was added to Canada’s longest domestic route. Inaugural flights were made between Fort Norman and Norman Wells; the return flight was on December 21. Norman Wells became a post office effective this date. Mail on hand, including parcel post, was carried regardless of prepayment. No special markings were applied to the mail. AAMS 618. |
| North Sydney – St. John’s – North Sydney; North Sydney – St. John’s | 1929.06.14–07.10 or 18 | Open PDF | V. Darrell (June 14); W.N. Bump (July 10/18) | – | Service type: Flight. Outcome: not established. Sources: (SAC 2010, 2022). |
| North Sydney – Stephenville | 1929.12.11 | Open PDF | Maritime & Newfoundland Airways | – | (SAC 2026). |
| Norway House – Island Lake – God’s Lake – Oxford House | 1929.06.01 | Open PDF | – | 2929; Norway House–God’s Lake–Island Lake–Oxford House; 2929(a), the reverse route. Quantities are not stated. The catalogue’s network includes Oxford House, which is absent from the map route. (AMCN2, p. 174.) | Service type: Government service. Outcome: completed. As Norway House was the only point with a post office, covers from the flight are difficult to identify. A very small amount of mail was carried. |
| Oskelaneo – Chibougamau – Oskelaneo | 1929.12.24 | Open PDF | N.A. DuvalCompagnie Aérienne Franco-Canadienne | 2969; Oskelaneo–Chibougamau, December 24 (12,648 covers dispatched from the two points). The reverse listing 2969(a) is dated December 31 and is not included. (AMCN2, p. 181.) | Service type: First official air mail service. Outcome: completed. The return flight took place Dec. 31. The Post Office Department provided official cachets, applied in black to mail paid at the 5¢ air mail rate. Duplicate cachets, one in French and one in English, were applied to each cover, one on the front and one on the back. AAMS 520. |
| Oskelaneo – Chibougamau | 1936.10.01 | Open PDF | – | – | (CYB). |
| Ottawa – Bradore Bay | 1932.07.12 | Open PDF | F/L D.A. Harding, F/L de Niverville, Sgt F.J. EwartR.C.A.F.Sherman 4C Junior Stearman CF-CCH; “Vancouver” aircraft; Bellanca UY | 3231 — Ottawa–Bradore Bay, July 12 (40,000 pieces); official shield-shaped cachet and slogan cancellation. (AMCN2, p. 203.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed; bad weather interrupted the service twice. Official mail was flown to connect with the S.S. Empress of Britain at Bradore Bay as a practical demonstration for Imperial Conference delegates. Mail was prepaid at the air mail rate of 6¢ per ounce and received the slogan cancellation “By Air / from / Ottawa to Belle Isle / 1/3 of Shortest Route/ to Europe” and a black shield-shaped cachet. The flight was also a First Day Cover for the stamp issue including the new 6¢ air mail stamp. The map notes that the flights were with reference to the Imperial Conference. AAMS 256/8. |
| Ottawa – Montreal – Albany | 1936.07.27 | Open PDF | J.V. TownCanadian Colonial Airways | 3611 and 3611a–c: Ottawa–Montreal, Ottawa–Albany, Montreal–Ottawa, and Albany–Ottawa. (AMCN2, p. 223.) | Service type: Inaugural route extension. Outcome: completed. This was an inaugural extension of U.S. Foreign Air Mail Route No. 1 from Albany to Montreal to Ottawa. No official cachets were applied; two different postmarks were applied at Ottawa. |
| Ottawa – Montreal – Sherbrooke – Megantic – Greenville (Me.) – McAdam – Saint John – Cape Enrage – Ingonish Bay – Sand River – Cape Split – Windsor – Dartmouth – Halifax | 1929.01.28 | Open PDF | F/O A.D. McLean (Halifax – Saint John); S/L T.A. Lawrence (Saint John – Montreal); J.F. Grant (Saint John – Montreal); S/L T.A. Lawrence (Halifax – Saint John); F/O A.D. McLean (Saint John – Montreal)Civil Operations Branch, Department of National Defence | 2909; Ottawa–Saint John and 2909(a), Montreal–Saint John (January 28); 2909(b–e), return and Saint John–Halifax legs (January 31); 2909(f–i), through covers between Ottawa/Montreal and Halifax. Quantities for individual listings are not stated. (AMCN2, pp. 171, 172.) | Service type: Experimental air mail service. Outcome: completed; aircraft forced down at Folleigh Lake on the Halifax–Saint John flight and arrived at Saint John on February 2. The route formed a continuous service, but the Post Office Department treated the Ottawa/Montreal–Saint John and Saint John–Halifax legs as separate services, with official cachets inscribed accordingly. The air mail rate was 5¢ per ounce. There were no dispatches between Ottawa and Montreal because regular service was in effect. The service ran January 28–31, 1929; listed routes include Ottawa–Saint John and Montreal–Saint John on January 28, and return and Saint John–Halifax legs on January 31. Postmarks: Ottawa, 2; Montreal, 4; Saint John, 3; Halifax, 2. Backstamps: Saint John, 4; Ottawa, 2; Halifax, 1. Cachet colors: Ottawa–Saint John, blue; Montreal–Saint John, purple, black, grey; Saint John–Montreal, purple, magenta; Saint John–Ottawa, blue, purple, magenta; Saint John–Halifax, magenta, blue, purple; Halifax–Saint John, black, green; Ottawa–Halifax, black; Halifax–Ottawa, black, green. The map notes a 7 weeks experimental service by the Civil Operations Branch, Department of National Defence. AAMS 226. |
| Peace River – Carcajou – Fort Vermilion – North Vermilion | 1931.01.31 | Open PDF | W.R. MayCommercial Airways Ltd. | 3103 — Peace River–Carcajou (5,400 pieces); 3103a — Peace River–Fort Vermilion (5,100); 3103c — Carcajou–Fort Vermilion (150); 3103k — Carcajou–Peace River (5,400). (AMCN2, pp. 190, 191.) | Service type: Regular contract service. Outcome: completed. Cachet: Official cachets were applied to letters dispatched from each point to terminal points or vice versa when prepaid at the 5¢ air mail rate. Letters prepaid only at the 2¢ regular rate did not receive the cachet; there were no cachets for other dispatches. The contract was taken over by Canadian Airways on October 29, 1933. |
| Peace River – Carcajou – North Vermilion – Fort Vermilion – North Vermilion – Carcajou – Peace River | 1938.07.17 | Open PDF | E.W. KubicekUnited Air Transport Ltd. | 3821a Peace River–Carcajou; 3821b Peace River–North Vermilion; 3821c North Vermilion–Carcajou; 3821e North Vermilion–Peace River; 3821g Carcajou–Peace River. About 236 pounds of mail outward and 42 pounds return; individual listing quantities are not stated. (AMCN2, p. 234.) | Service type: Mail flight. Outcome: completed. About 236 pounds of mail were carried outward; 42 pounds were carried on the return flight by E.W. Kubicek. No cachets. |
| Prince Albert – Beauval – Ile a la Crosse | 1934.05.21 | Open PDF | W.E. CattonBrooks Airways Ltd. | 3409 — Prince Albert – Beauval (4287 pieces); 3409a — Prince Albert – Ile a la Crosse (4689 pieces); 3409b — Ile a la Crosse – Prince Albert (4369 pieces); 3409c — Beauval – Prince Albert (4152 pieces); 3409d — Ile a la Crosse – Beauval (no cachet); 3409e — Beauval – Ile a la Crosse (no cachet). (AMCN2, pp. 212, 213.) | Service type: First-flight airmail service. Outcome: completed. Prince Albert was a change of base from Big River; only the listed flight dispatches were made. Flights between Beauval and Ile a la Crosse were not first flights. Mail prepaid at 6¢ per ounce received official cachets in black; the Beauval–Ile a la Crosse legs had no cachet. AAMS 556. |
| Prince Albert – Christopher Lake – Lac la Ronge – Prince Albert | 1930.03.10–12 | Open PDF | J.B. Home-HayCherry Red Airline Ltd. | CH3003: Prince Albert–Christopher Lake, Mar. 10 (737 pieces); CH3003a: Christopher Lake–Lac La Ronge, Mar. 11 (635); CH3003b: Lac La Ronge–Christopher Lake, Mar. 11 (635); CH3003c: Christopher Lake–Prince Albert, Mar. 12 (737). (AMCN2, p. 128.) | Service type: Semi-official flight. Outcome: completed. Some covers were backstamped a day later than the day of posting. Legs: Prince Albert – Christopher Lake, March 10; Christopher Lake – Lac La Ronge and return, March 11; Christopher Lake – Prince Albert, March 12. AAMS 146. |
| Prince Albert – Dore Lake – Beauval – Île-à-la-Crosse – Lac la Ronge – Montreal Lake – Prince Albert | 1935.09.18 | Open PDF | W.E. GilbertCanadian Airways Limited | 3527 and 3527a–c: Prince Albert–Dore Lake (2,771 pieces); Dore Lake–Beauval (2,644); Beauval–Dore Lake (2,698); Dore Lake–Prince Albert (2,698). (AMCN2, p. 221.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Dore Lake was made a new post office and added as a stop on the Prince Albert–Île-à-la-Crosse route. Official first-flight dispatches were made only between Dore Lake and Prince Albert and Dore Lake and Beauval, adjacent points on the route. Official cachets were applied in black to mail prepaid at the 6¢ air mail rate. AAMS 580. |
| Prince Albert – Goldfields | 1936.07.13 | Open PDF | A.S. ParkerCanadian Airways Limited | 3607 and 3607a: Prince Albert–Goldfields, July 13 (200 pieces); Goldfields–Prince Albert, July 15 (150 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 222.) | Service type: Mail flight. Outcome: completed. Mail was prepaid at the regular rate of 3¢ per ounce; most was parcel post. The return dispatch was on July 15. Postmarks: Two postmarks were used at Prince Albert. Cachet: No official cachets or markings. AAMS 588. |
| Prince Albert – Lac La Ronge – Prince Albert | 1929.06.15 | Open PDF | A. MaloneCherry Red LineBuhl CA-6 | CH2901-CL46; Prince Albert–Lac La Ronge (about 30 covers) and Lac La Ronge–Prince Albert (about 40), June 15, 1929. (AMCN2, p. 126.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. The flight took place before the company had its own stamps; covers can only be identified by their dates. AAMS 140. |
| Prince Albert – Lac La Ronge – Rottenstone Lake – Prince Albert | 1929.07.03 | Open PDF | A. MaloneCherry Red Airline Ltd. | – | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. AAMS 141. |
| Prince Albert – Montreal Lake – Prince Albert | 1929.08.13 | Open PDF | A. MaloneCherry Red Airline Ltd. | CH2909-CL46; Prince Albert–Montreal Lake, August 13, 1929 (204 pieces). The separately listed return Montreal Lake–Prince Albert is dated August 15 and is not included. (AMCN2, p. 127.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. The return leg was listed for August 15, 1929. AAMS 143. |
| Prince Albert – Montreal Lake – Lac La Ronge – Île-à-la-Crosse | 1929.12.25 | Open PDF | E.S. HolmesCherry Red Airline Ltd. | CH2913-CL46; the December 25 network flight included Montreal Lake. The catalogue does not separately list a Prince Albert–Montreal Lake cover or quantity; listed Montreal Lake segments are 2913(a), Montreal Lake–Lac La Ronge, and 2913(b), Lac La Ronge–Montreal Lake. (AMCN2, pp. 127, 128.) | Service type: Semi-official first flight. Outcome: completed. First flight mail to and from Île-à-la-Crosse. No mail was carried from Île-à-la-Crosse to Prince Albert on this flight. AAMS 144. |
| Prince Albert – Montreal Lake – Lac la Ronge | 1932.06.07–08 | Open PDF | B.W. Broatch, R.C. RandallBrooks Airways | 3215 — Prince Albert–Montreal Lake, June 7; 3215e — Montreal Lake–Prince Albert, June 8. No leg-specific quantity is stated; the whole flight carried 40,921 letters and 1,140 lb. of parcel post. (AMCN2, pp. 201, 202.) | Service type: Official service. Outcome: completed. Covers prepaid at the air mail rate of 6¢ per ounce received official cachets uniformly applied in black; letters prepaid only 3¢ per ounce were not cacheted. The Montreal Lake portion of the service was Prince Albert – Montreal Lake on June 7 and Montreal Lake – Prince Albert on June 8. AAMS 535. Note on map: Winnipeg – Edmonton cancelled March 31, 1932; Toronto – Detroit cancelled April 30, 1932. |
| Prince Albert – Montreal Lake – Lac la Ronge; Prince Albert – Beauval – Île-à-la-Crosse | 1935.06.02 | Open PDF | Canadian Airways Limited | – | Service type: Post office contract service. Outcome: not established. Post Office contract to Canadian Airways Limited. |
| Prince Albert – Montreal Lake – Waskesiu – Lac la Ronge | 1929.06.21 | Open PDF | H. Hollick-KenyonWestern Canada Airways Limited | WC2913-CL40; the June 21 listing documents Prince Albert–Lac La Ronge via Montreal Lake (313 pieces), 2913(a), the return (301 pieces), and 2913(b), Montreal Lake–Prince Albert (1 piece). Waskesiu is not listed for this date; the catalogue’s Prince Albert–Waskesiu listing is dated August 29, 1930. (AMCN2, pp. 105, 128.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. On June 21, H. Hollick-Kenyon flew from Prince Albert to Lac La Ronge and returned via Montreal Lake. AAMS 99. |
| Prince Albert – Pelican Narrows | 1931.04.11 | Open PDF | J.B. Home-HayCherry Red Airline Ltd. | CH3101-CL46 — Prince Albert–Pelican Narrows, April 11, 1931 (309 pieces); CH3101a-CL46 — Pelican Narrows–Prince Albert, April 11 (314 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 128.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. There was no post office at Pelican Narrows. Backstamp: “Received Pelican Narrows / Sask. April 11,1931,11 A.M. W. C. Rothnie.” The same rubberstamp imprint was applied to the outgoing covers. Covers were franked with a pair of CL46 stamps and bear a rubberstamp facsimile of the pilot’s signature. AAMS 148. |
| Prince Albert – Stanley Mission – Prince Albert | 1929.08.12 | Open PDF | A. MaloneCherry Red Airline Ltd. | CH2907-CL46; Prince Albert–Stanley Mission, Stanley Mission–Prince Albert, and round-trip covers, August 12 (about 70 covers total). (AMCN2, p. 127.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. There was no post office at Stanley Mission, so covers were postmarked at Lac La Ronge. Round-trip covers had double Cherry Red franking; other covers had single franking. Postmark(s): Prince Albert, August 10, 1929; Lac La Ronge, August 12, 1929; Prince Albert, August 15, 1929; Lac La Ronge and Prince Albert, August 12, 1929. AAMS 142. |
| Prince Albert – Waskesiu – Prince Albert | 1930.08.29 | Open PDF | J.B. Home-HayCherry Red Airline Ltd. | CH3005: Prince Albert–Waskesiu Lake, Aug. 29 (296 pieces); CH3005a: Waskesiu Lake–Prince Albert, Aug. 29 (296 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 128.) | Service type: Semi-official flight. Outcome: completed. AAMS 147. |
| Prince George – Fort St. James – Manson Creek – Takla Landing; Prince George – Fort McLeod – Finlay Forks – Fort Grahame | 1937.06.02–03 | Open PDF | G.W.G. McConachie (June 2–3); C.H. Tweed (June 5–7)United Air Transport Ltd. | 3709 Prince George–Fort St. James, June 2 (281 pieces); 3709a Prince George–Manson Creek, June 2 (2,808 pieces); 3709d Manson Creek–Prince George, June 3 (2,717 pieces); 3709e Fort St. James–Prince George, June 3 (2,811 pieces); 3709i Fort St. James–Manson Creek, June 3 (no cachet). (AMCN2, p. 226.) | Service type: Service commencement; regular service. Outcome: completed. Manson Creek and Takla Landing post offices opened on the date of the inaugural flight. Cachet: Official cachets were provided for dispatches a–e and applied in black to mail prepaid at the air mail rate of 6¢ per ounce. The June 5–7 service was a revision of the service inaugurated January 11; Fort McLeod became a post office on June 5. Pilot Charles Tweed made the inaugural flights. Cachet: Official cachets were provided for all dispatches and applied in black to letter mail prepaid at the air mail rate of 6¢ per ounce. Service commenced by United Air Transport (AAMS 596). June 5–7: regular service by United Air Transport Ltd. (AAMS 598). |
| Prince George – Ingenika Mine (Fort Grahame nearest P.O.) | 1929.08.24 | Open PDF | A.D. CruickshankWestern Canada Airways Limited | WC2927-CL40; Prince George–Ingenika, flown August 24 (about 30 pieces). Map date August 22 is the posting date, not the flight date; 2927(a), Ingenika–Prince George, is dated August 25 (67 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 107.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. Mail was addressed to the nearest post office at Fort Grahame. Mail was postmarked on August 22, but the flight took place on August 24, when the stamps were canceled by handscript date. AAMS 101. |
| Quebec – Montreal – Bradore Bay | 1930.09.24 | Open PDF | A.S. Schneider, K.F. SaundersR.C.A.F. | 3055: Quebec–Montreal–Bradore Bay, Sept. 24 (50 pieces); 3055a: Montreal–Bradore Bay, Sept. 25; 3055b: Bradore Bay–Montreal, Sept. 27 (100 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 188.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. The September 25 flight from Montreal connected with the S.S. Empress of Australia; a small amount of mail from Quebec was dispatched via Montreal, postmarked September 24. Return flight made September 27. Backstamp: “By aircraft from Strait of Belle Isle – 1/3 of Shortest Route from Europe.” Experimental pick-up of mail from the Empress of Australia. AAMS 241. |
| Quebec – Port Menier via North Shore route | 1929.02.09 | Open PDF | C.A. SchillerCanadian Airways Limited | 2913; Quebec–Port Menier and 2913(a), Port Menier–Quebec. The catalogue dates the flight February 9, 1929; the map gives February 8–9. (AMCN2, p. 172.) | Service type: Route change. Outcome: completed. The service was previously based at La Malbaie; in 1929 it was flown directly from Quebec. Postmarks: Quebec, #9 hammer and unnumbered hammer. No special cachets were applied. See map of December 22, 1928 (AAMS 516). |
| Quebec – Sept Isles – Moisie – Rivière-aux-Graines – Sheldrake – Rivière-au-Tonnerre – Magpie – Rivière-Saint-Jean – Long Point of Mingan – Havre-Saint-Pierre – Baie-Johan-Beetz – Natashquan; Havre-Saint-Pierre – Port Menier | 1933.12.14 | Open PDF | H.W. Irvine (Quebec – Sept-Îles); W.W. Woollett (Havre-Saint-Pierre – Port Menier)Canadian Airways Limited | 3351 — Sept Isles – Havre St. Pierre, Dec. 14 (2903 pieces); 3351a — Sept Isles – Natashquan, Dec. 14 (2842 pieces); 3351b — Havre St. Pierre – Natashquan, Dec. 15 (2842 pieces); 3351c — Natashquan – Havre St. Pierre, Dec. 15 (2865 pieces); 3351d — Natashquan – Sept Iles, Dec. 15 (2882 pieces); 3351e — Havre St. Pierre – Sept Isles, Dec. 15 (2896 pieces). The catalogue notes Quebec City drop mail on the service, but examples are unreported. (AMCN2, p. 211.) | Service type: Winter service; route extension. Outcome: completed. The flight reached Havre-Saint-Pierre on December 14, continued to Natashquan on December 15, and returned on December 15. Mail was also carried at the regular rate for Quebec City and other points; most was dropped over the points, and examples of this drop mail have not been reported. Official cachets were applied in black to mail prepaid at the air-mail rate and were inscribed in French and English. The map dates the Havre-Saint-Pierre – Port Menier flight to December 24, 1933. Its return was delayed until January 16, 1934, because the St. Lawrence River had not frozen over. W.W. Woollett carried Christmas mail to Port Menier on behalf of Canadian Airways. Port Menier covers received the regular cancellation and a red rubber-stamped marking reading “December 24, 1933,” the intended date of the return flight; air-mail-rate covers received the official cachet in black. Moisie, Rivière-aux-Graines, Sheldrake, Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Magpie, Rivière-Saint-Jean, Long Point of Mingan, and Baie-Johan-Beetz were mail-drop-only points. AAMS 547, 548. |
| Fort Fitzgerald – Hunter Bay; Hunter Bay – Coppermine; Fort Fitzgerald – Rae – Hunter Bay – Coppermine; Fort Fitzgerald – Rae – Great Bear Lake; Fort Fitzgerald – Reliance – Rae – Coppermine; Churchill – Chesterfield Inlet; Fort Fitzgerald – Rae – Great Bear Lake – Coppermine; Fort Fitzgerald – Coppermine | 1931.07.18–08.20 | Open PDF | F/O Copp or F/O Hickson (July 20); F/L Uhlman (July 23)R.C.A.F. | 3127 — Fort Fitzgerald–Coppermine River and Fort Fitzgerald–Hunter Bay (July 18); the mail weighed 6 lb. of letters and 2.5 lb. of papers to Coppermine, and 1.5 lb. to Hunter Bay. 3131a–c — Fort Fitzgerald to Rae, Hunter Bay, and Coppermine, July 23; 3145 and 3145a–c — Aug. 6 Fitzgerald/Rae/Coppermine legs. The stated amounts are mail weights, not cover counts. (AMCN2, pp. 193, 194, 195, 196.) | Service type: Special mail service. Outcome: completed. AMCN2 describes the July 18 flight as part of a special summer mail service. Six pounds of letters and 2.5 lb. of papers went to Coppermine River, and 1.5 lb. of mail went to Hunter Bay. On July 20, an RCAF aircraft carried mail previously flown commercially to Hunter Bay before July 6; full details are lacking. On July 23, F/L Uhlman flew from Fitzgerald with mail for Rae and Coppermine. The August 6 flight’s RCAF crew was Copp and Hickson; the mail was franked at the 3¢ surface rate. Postmark(s): Rae, N.W.T., August 6, 1931. Backstamp: Fort Fitzgerald, August 8, 1931. The listed flights were dated July 18, 20, 23, 28, and 30, and August 5, 6, and 13. Due to the depression, mail was carried by the R.C.A.F. The August 5 Churchill – Chesterfield Inlet flight was flown by the Churchill Detachment. AAMS 247. |
| Red Bay – Ottawa | 1932.06.28 | Open PDF | S/L R.S. Grandy, Sgt. R. Bowker, F/L D.A. HardingR.C.A.F.Bellanca seaplane; Vancouver flying boat; Fairchild 71 landplane | 3219 — Red Bay–Ottawa, June 28; 3219a — Red Bay–Ottawa on subsequent dates. The catalogue does not state quantities for these listings. (AMCN2, p. 202.) | Service type: Experimental flight. Outcome: completed. The flight continued experiments to speed trans-Atlantic mail delivery by 24 hours. Mail from the S.S. Empress of Britain was carried by a naval minesweeper to Red Bay, then flown in stages from Red Bay to Rimouski, Rimouski to Montreal, and Montreal to Ottawa. Mail had been posted in England June 23 or 24, in Switzerland before noon June 23, or aboard ship, postmarked Montreal June 28, 1932. Backstamp: arrival slogan cancellation, “By Seaplane / from/ Strait of Belle Isle / 1/3 of Shortest route from Europe.” The experimental flight picked up mail from the Empress of Britain in connection with the Imperial Conference. AAMS 256. |
| Red Lake – Lac du Bonnet | 1933.12.04 | Open PDF | Canadian Airways Limited | 3347 — Red Lake – Lac du Bonnet. (AMCN2, p. 211.) | Service type: Special flight. Outcome: completed. Mail was carried at the 3¢ rate and bore no special markings. AAMS 545. |
| Rimouski – Betsiamites – Sept Iles – Havre St. Pierre – Natashquan – Harrington Harbour | 1936.12.17 | Open PDF | V.J. HattonCanadian Airways Limited | 3619c: Rimouski–Harrington Harbour, Dec. 17 (2,827 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 224.) | Service type: Winter service. Outcome: completed. The regular winter service to St. Lawrence River points was inaugurated, now based at Rimouski instead of Quebec. The Rimouski–Port Menier flight was delayed until December 25, returning December 30. Only mail prepaid at the air-mail rate was cacheted. Cachet: bilingually inscribed official cachets, applied in black. AAMS 591. |
| Rouyn – Kewagama | 1934.10.02 | Open PDF | C.C. BogartGeneral Airways | 3423 — Rouyn – Kewagama (5168 pieces); 3423a — Kewagama – Rouyn (508 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 214.) | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. Official cachets were applied in black to all mail prepaid at the air mail rate. AAMS 558. |
| Sept Isles – Wabush – Katsao; Sept-Îles – St. John’s (Nfld.) | 1933.07.18 and 20 | Open PDF | W.W. WoollettCanadian Airways | 3333 — Sept Iles – Wabush Katsao, Labrador (100 pieces). The catalogue dates the Sept Iles posting July 18; the flight to the Gold Concessions is dated July 20. (AMCN2, pp. 209, 210.) | Service type: Special mail flight. Outcome: completed. Mail from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to the Wabush-Katsao Gold Concessions was flown from Sept Isles; additional Canadian mail postmarked at Sept Isles on July 18 was carried aboard. Backstamp: Gold Concessions, July 20, 1933; Sept Isles, July 23, 1933. The map also lists a July 20 flight from Sept-Îles to St. John’s (Nfld.). AAMS 267. |
| Shediac – Montreal – Chicago | 1933.07.14 | Open PDF | Gen. Italo Balbo | 3331 — Shediac – Chicago, July 14 (289 pieces); 3331a — Montreal – Chicago, July 15 (201 pieces). The catalogue identifies the overall Rome – Shediac – Montreal – Chicago flight as July 14-15. (AMCN2, pp. 209, 210.) | Service type: Special event flight. Outcome: completed. The squadron was commanded by Gen. Italo Balbo. Mail was accepted at Shediac and Montreal for delivery in Chicago; the $1.45 postage rate per letter largely accrued to the squadron, and the highly franked, unregistered covers were handled as registered mail. Some mail taken on at Shediac for Rome was carried through to Chicago and then on the return flight to Rome. Backstamp: July 15–16 and July 16–17. Montreal covers with 8¢ postage and a diamond-shaped cachet were commemorative and were not flown on the Balbo flight. AAMS 266. |
| Sioux Lookout – Cat Lake | 1930.02.24 | Open PDF | Western Canada Airways Limited | WC3003-CL40: Sioux Lookout–Cat Lake, Feb. 24, 1930. (AMCN2, p. 107.) | Service type: Semi-official first flight. Outcome: completed. Covers were postmarked February 24, 1930, but the WCA datestamp, which should have been a receiving date, was February 22, 1930. AAMS 103. |
| Sioux Lookout – Narrow Lake – Jackson Manion | 1934.06.01 | Open PDF | – | – | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: not established. (C.Y.B.). |
| Sioux Lookout – Pickle Crow | 1935.06 | Open PDF | Starratt Airways Limited | – | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. (CYB). |
| Siscoe – Pascalis | 1932.09.15 | Open PDF | S.L. Hill | 3245 — Siscoe–Pascalis (6,550 pieces); 3245a — Pascalis–Siscoe (6,120 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 205.) | Service type: First official air mail flight. Outcome: completed. Official cachets inscribed in both French and English were supplied to both offices and applied to letters prepaid at the air mail rate of 6¢ per ounce. AAMS 536. |
| Siscoe – Val d’Or – Bourlamaque | 1935.01.11 | Open PDF | S.L. HillGeneral Airways Ltd. | 3503 and 3503a–e: Siscoe–Val d’Or (3,020 pieces); Siscoe–Bourlamaque (2,993); Val d’Or–Bourlamaque and reverse (no cachets); Bourlamaque–Siscoe (2,984); Val d’Or–Siscoe (2,940). (AMCN2, p. 216.) | Service type: Regular contract service. Outcome: completed. Bourlamaque and Val d’Or were newly established post offices. No official cachets were provided for mail flown between Val d’Or and Bourlamaque; cachets for other dispatches were applied in black to letters prepaid at the 6¢ air mail rate and were inscribed in French and English. AAMS 571. |
| St. Catharines – Montreal | 1932.08.06 | Open PDF | F/O J.G. Bryans | 3237 — St. Catharines–Montreal (500 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 204.) | Service type: Special event flight. Outcome: completed. Specially authorized flight for delegates to the Imperial Conference at Ottawa attending the opening of the Welland Canal. The mail missed the Empress of Britain and was forwarded via New York, the next fastest way. Cachet: “Special / Air Mail Flight / St. Catharines – Montreal / August 6th, 1932.” Opening of the new Welland Canal. AAMS 259. |
| St. John’s – Burin; Corner Brook – St. John’s | 1931.05.26 | Open PDF | D. Fraser (St. John’s – Burin); A.D. Sullivan (Corner Brook – St. John’s)Old Colony AirwaysCurtis Reid | NFF-42, St. John’s–Burin; NFF-42(a), Burin–St. John’s. Number flown unknown. (AMCN2, p. 592.) | Service type: Newfoundland first flight. Outcome: completed. The flight was scheduled for May 24 but was held until May 26, when it was completed the same day. Postmark(s): St. John’s, Nfld., May 24, 9 A.M. 1931; St. John’s East, May 23, 1931. Backstamp: Post Office, Newfoundland, May 26, 1931, Burin North. Cachet: None. The Corner Brook – St. John’s leg was dated July 16, 1931. |
| St. John’s – North Sydney | 1931.08.23 | Open PDF | A.D. SullivanGipsy Moth, Gypsy North | NFF-47, St. John’s–North Sydney; approximately 2,000 covers. (AMCN2, p. 594.) | Service type: Newfoundland first official air mail flight. Outcome: completed. Arthur D. Sullivan left Quidi Vidi Lake at 12:25 p.m. and arrived at North Sydney at 9:30 p.m. the same day. Postmark(s): St. John’s, Nfld., August 23, 1931. Backstamp: North Sydney, p.m., August 23, 1931, N.S. Cachet: “First Official / Air Mail / from St. John’s, Nfld., to / North Sydney, N.S. / By Gypsy Moth Plane / Pilot: / Arthur Sullivan / August 4, 1931” in large black circle. (Dale & H). |
| St. John’s – Norris Arm – Rattling Brook – Kings Point – Hampden – Western Arm – St. Anthony | 1931.01.29 | Open PDF | A.D. SullivanNewfoundland AirwaysGypsy Moth | NFF-37, St. John’s–Hampden (1,337 pieces); NFF-40, Hampden–St. Anthony (4,750 pieces). These catalogue legs span the mapped St. John’s–St. Anthony route; St. Anthony was reached February 13, not January 29. (AMCN2, pp. 591, 592.) | Service type: Winter air mail service. Outcome: completed. Sullivan landed at Norris Arm, refueled, and continued to Hampden; repairs interrupted the flight at Rattling Brook and Kings Point, and he completed the trip to Hampden on February 8. On February 13 he flew from Hampden to Western Arm, delivered the mail, and returned to Hampden for fuel. Stormy conditions prevented a landing at Conche, so he continued to St. Anthony, arriving at 4:50 p.m.; mail for Conche went by surface means from St. Anthony. Postmark(s): St. John’s, January 2–29, 1931; St. John’s, January 2–28, 1931. Backstamp: Post Office, Newfoundland, February 9, 1931, Hampden; Western Arm, February 14, 1931; Post Office, Newfoundland, February 14, 1931, St. Anthony. Cachet: “St. John’s – Hampden” (circular, violet); “St. John’s – Western Arm” (rectangle, violet); “St. John’s – St. Anthony” (circular, violet). |
| The Pas – Herb Lake | 1937.08.17 | Open PDF | J.A. WightArrow Airways Ltd. | 3723 The Pas–Herb Lake (3,828 pieces); 3723a Herb Lake–The Pas (3,674 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 228.) | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. Official cachets were applied in black to all 6¢ air mail letters dispatched from either point. AAMS 600. |
| The Pas – Sturgeon Landing – Cumberland House | 1937.09.08 | Open PDF | J. WightArrow Airways Ltd. | 3729 The Pas–Sturgeon Landing (3,288 pieces); 3729c Sturgeon Landing–The Pas (3,030 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 229.) | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. Official cachets were applied in black to dispatched mail, provided letters were prepaid at the 6¢ per ounce air mail rate. AAMS 601. |
| Toronto – Saint John’s | 1930.11.11–19 | Open PDF | D.C. Fraser, A.D. SullivanNewfoundland Airways Ltd.DH60 Moth (Gypsy Moth) | NFF-36, Canada–Stephenville Crossing–St. John’s (quantity unknown); NFF-36(a), Stephenville Crossing–St. John’s; NFF-36(b), Grand Falls–St. John’s. These list the Newfoundland legs, not the entire Toronto–St. John’s route. (AMCN2, p. 591.) | Service type: Newfoundland first flight. Outcome: completed; forced landing at Grand Falls. After a stop in Montreal, the flight reached Sydney, Nova Scotia, on November 12. Uncanceled mail was carried from Toronto; mail was postmarked at Sydney and additional mail was taken aboard. The aircraft reached Stephenville Crossing on November 12 but was delayed by weather until November 18, when it was forced to land at Grand Falls. It landed at Mount Pearl, near Saint John’s, the next day. Postmark(s): Canada–Stephenville Crossing, November 12; Post Office, Newfoundland, November 18, 1930; Stephenville Crossing Post Office, Newfoundland, November 19, 1930; Grand Falls. Backstamp: Saint John’s, Newfoundland, November 19, 1930, 3 p.m. Cachet: None. AAMS 242. |
| Moose Jaw – Saskatoon – North Battleford – Edmonton; Winnipeg – Calgary – Edmonton | 1931.08.17 | Open PDF | C.M.G. Farrell, P.B. CalderCanadian Airways Limited | 3153 — Edmonton–Calgary (about 300 pieces); 3153a — Calgary–Edmonton (about 300); 3153b — Edmonton–Lethbridge (with cachet; no quantity stated); 3153c — Lethbridge–Edmonton (few). (AMCN2, p. 197.) | Service type: Route change. Outcome: completed. Canadian Airways Limited inaugurated direct Calgary–Edmonton flights. The canceled Regina–Edmonton run via Saskatoon was replaced by a Calgary–Edmonton leg. A direct flight to Lethbridge and return to Edmonton also took place on this date. Most covers with the cachet appear to have been addressed to Lethbridge. Postmarks: Several postmarks exist. Backstamp: Several backstamps exist. Cachet: Unofficial cachets were applied in red to some covers by the Alberta Provincial Philatelic Society. The Moose Jaw–Saskatoon–North Battleford–Edmonton route was discontinued, and the Winnipeg–Calgary route was extended to Edmonton. AAMS 250. |
| Winnipeg – Regina – Moose Jaw – Saskatoon – North Battleford – Edmonton | 1930.04.14 | Open PDF | C.M.G. Farrell (Moose Jaw – Edmonton); M.E. Ashton (Edmonton – Moose Jaw) | 3017: Moose Jaw–Saskatoon, Apr. 14 (about 2 pounds); 3017a: Moose Jaw–North Battleford, Apr. 14 (about 2 pounds); 3017b: Moose Jaw–Edmonton, Apr. 14 (about 2.5 pounds); 3017c: Edmonton–Moose Jaw, Apr. 16 (fewer than 100 pieces); 3017d: North Battleford–Moose Jaw, Apr. 16 (about 2 pounds); 3017e: Saskatoon–Moose Jaw, Apr. 16 (about 2 pounds). Pound quantities are mail weight, not cover counts. (AMCN2, pp. 183, 184.) | Service type: Route change. Outcome: completed. The Edmonton leg of the Prairie route was changed to join the Calgary section at Moose Jaw instead of Regina. This resulted in flights between Moose Jaw and Saskatoon, North Battleford and Edmonton, and return. No official cachets. The return flights took place on April 16. The route Winnipeg – Regina – Saskatoon – North Battleford – Edmonton was changed by the addition of Moose Jaw. |
| Winnipeg – Regina – Moose Jaw – Medicine Hat – Calgary; Winnipeg – Regina – Saskatoon – North Battleford – Edmonton | 1930.03.03 | Open PDF | W.J. Buchanan (Winnipeg – Moose Jaw and return); F.R. Brown (Moose Jaw – Calgary); H. Hollick-Kenyon (Calgary – Moose Jaw); Maj. D.R. MacLaren (Regina – Edmonton); C.M.G. Farrell (Edmonton – Regina)Western Canada Airways Limited | 3011 and 3011a–ak: 38 Prairie Service sector listings connecting Winnipeg, Regina, Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat, Calgary, Saskatoon, North Battleford, and Edmonton. 3011, Winnipeg–Regina: 7,840 pieces; the other listed sectors give individual quantities ranging from 390 to 11,520 pieces. (AMCN2, pp. 182, 183.) | Service type: Regular service inauguration. Outcome: completed. The experimental service demonstrated the need for faster communication, and Western Canada Airways was authorized to fly a route about 1,270 miles long. Inaugural flights were made on March 3. The first scheduled night flight was the Winnipeg–Calgary leg, scheduled from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Mail from Edmonton, North Battleford, and Saskatoon missed connections at Regina and went by rail from Regina to Winnipeg. Thirty-eight official cachets were provided, uniformly applied in black at each point. Mail dispatched to Calgary included mail for onward surface transmission further west. There were up to four different postmarks and seven different backstamps applied at the various points. The service was changed April 14, 1930, and August 15, 1931; Lethbridge was included January 15. |
| Trans-Prairie Air Mail: Inclusion of Lethbridge | 1931.01.15–16 | Open PDF | A.H. Farrington (westbound), H. Hollick-Kenyon (eastbound) | 3101 — Lethbridge–Calgary (7,000 pieces); 3101a — Lethbridge–Medicine Hat (7,500); 3101b — Calgary–Lethbridge (7,062); 3101c — Medicine Hat–Lethbridge (6,132); 3101d — Calgary–Medicine Hat, last direct flight; 3101e — other prairie points to/from Lethbridge. (AMCN2, p. 190.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Lethbridge was added to the Prairie Service between Calgary and Medicine Hat. Official cachets were applied at all dispatch points. There were two to three different postmarks and backstamps for each. Covers to and from Lethbridge from other prairie points are also known. |
| Vancouver – Quebec City | 1933.08.25–26 | Open PDF | Frank Hawks | 3343: Vancouver–Quebec, Aug. 25–26; 3343a: Sea Island cachet (few). No total quantity is stated. (AMCN2, p. 210.) | Service type: Transcontinental record flight. Outcome: completed; forced to land at Kingston due to fog, then reached Quebec in time to get the mail to the ship. Hawks established a record for the flight in 17 hours, 10 minutes, attempting to connect with the Empress of Australia’s departure from Quebec. Wm. Templeton, Vancouver Airport manager, signed covers bearing a winged Sea Island Airport cachet. Postmark(s): Quebec, August 26; signed attested cards are also known postmarked Quebec, August 31. |
| Vancouver – Seattle | 1935.10.01 | Open PDF | E.P. WellsCanadian Airways Limitedde Havilland “Rapide”, CF-ABJ | 3529 and 3529a–b: Vancouver–Seattle, Oct. 1 (7,886 pieces); Seattle–Vancouver, Oct. 2; Seattle AMF–Vancouver, Oct. (magenta). (AMCN2, p. 221.) | Service type: First service by a Canadian airline. Outcome: completed. The return flight was made on October 2. Official cachets were applied. Two different postmarks at each city were used. Regular daily service. AAMS 281. |
| Vancouver – Seattle | 1938.06.20 | Open PDF | Trans-Canada Air Lines | – | Service type: Daily service. Outcome: completed. |
| Vancouver – Victoria | 1931.08.01 | Open PDF | S/L J.H. TudhopeCoastal Airways Ltd. | 3137 — Vancouver–Victoria (10,004 pieces); 3137a — Victoria–Vancouver (10,244 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 195.) | Service type: Regular service inauguration. Outcome: completed. Flights were performed by Royal Air Lines, operated by Coastal Airways B.C. Ltd. Official pictorial cachets were provided by the Post Office Department and applied in blue at both points. Two different postmarks and three different backstamps were applied at each city. Many underfranked covers were flown because the rate increase had been announced after the first flight details were published; these covers were charged postage due. Postmark(s): Two different postmarks were applied at each city. Backstamp: Three different backstamps were applied at each city. Cachet: Official pictorial cachets were applied in blue at both points. The service continued only until September 30, 1931. AAMS 248. |
| Vancouver – Victoria; Victoria – Nanaimo | 1930.09.13 | Open PDF | P. RenahanAlaska-Washington AirwaysFairchild 7 float plane, CF-AJP | 3047: Vancouver–Victoria (554 pieces); 3047a: Vancouver–Nanaimo (324); 3047b: Victoria–Vancouver (620); 3047c: Nanaimo–Vancouver (386). (AMCN2, p. 187.) | Service type: Special event flight. Outcome: completed. The flights were made in connection with the dedication of the start of the foundation of the administration building at Sea Island, in hopes of obtaining a future airmail contract, which did not materialize. Most Vancouver mail was canceled September 12. A few covers were carried on both flights from Vancouver. No special markings were applied. |
| Vancouver – Williams Lake – Quesnel – Prince George – Fort St. John – Whitehorse – Dawson | 1938.08.04 | Open PDF | G. McConachie, R.L. Coote, W.F.S. LuckGinger Coote AirwaysNorseman | 3833 Vancouver–Williams Lake, Aug. 4 (2,708 pieces); 3833a Vancouver–Quesnel, Aug. 4 (2,680 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 235.) | Service type: Inauguration of official service. Outcome: completed. Two aircraft were involved; Sheldon Luck flew most of the mail. The 6¢ per ounce air mail rate applied; mail was dispatched to and from the various points, and some covers reportedly originated at Fairbanks, Alaska. Two different postmarks and three different backstamps from Vancouver. Official cachets were provided. AAMS 291. |
| Vancouver – Zeballos | 1938.11.28 | Open PDF | N.E. SmailCanadian Airways Limited | 3843 Vancouver–Zeballos (5 pounds of mail); 3843a Zeballos–Vancouver (10 pounds of mail). (AMCN2, p. 237.) | Service type: Winter service. Outcome: completed. The rate was 6¢ per ounce; no official cachets were applied. Courtesy covers were flown by Ginger Coote Airways, Ltd. and Canadian Airways before this date. Postmark(s): point of arrival, usually Vancouver (seen in May). Cachet: Red cachets were applied unofficially by Ginger Coote; purple cachets by Canadian Airways. AAMS 294. |
| Wabowden – Cross Lake – Norway House | 1930.05.30 | Open PDF | F/L A.F. MacDonald | – | – |
| Wabowden – Norway House – Cross Lake – Wabowden | 1929.05.05–09 | Open PDF | F/S J. HornerWestern Canada Airways Limited | 2923(a); Wabowden–Cross Lake, May 6 (327 pieces). The mapped route also includes Norway House; its Wabowden dispatch is listed for May 5, not May 6. (AMCN2, p. 174.) | Service type: Airmail flight. Outcome: completed. The Wabowden–Norway House leg was flown May 5; the aircraft flew from Norway House to Cross Lake on May 6 and returned to Wabowden on May 9. Mail was backstamped at Norway House and Cross Lake. Backstamps: Wabowden, May 4, 1929; Norway House, May 5–6, 1929; Cross Lake, May 7, 1929. Map note: “WCA rep.”. |
| Ware Added to Prince George – Fort Grahame Route | 1938.03.12 | Open PDF | E.R.R. FieldUnited Air Transport | 3807 Prince George–Ware, March 12 (6,808 pieces); 3807a Ware–Prince George, March 14 (5,668 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 231.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Official cachets were provided at Prince George and Ware upon inauguration of the service. Ware became a post office on March 12, 1938. Cachets were applied in black, some in purple, only to mail prepaid at 6¢ per ounce. Prince George – Ware was flown March 12; Ware – Prince George was flown March 14. AAMS 611. |
| Waterways – Fort Chipewyan – Fort Fitzgerald – Fort Smith – Fort Resolution – Hay River – Fort Simpson – Fort Norman | 1929.04.03 | Open PDF | C.H. DickinsWestern Canada Airways Limited | – | Return April 9 to Fort McMurray to The Pas. AAMS 98. |
| Whitehorse – Aklavik | 1929.04.05 | Open PDF | Yukon Airways & ExplorationRyan monoplane, Queen of the Yukon | – | Service type: Route-establishing attempt. Outcome: Aklavik attempts failed due to weather; returned to Whitehorse. The flight was an attempt to establish a new route from White Horse via Mayo Landing and Dawson to Aklavik. Attempts to reach Aklavik on April 2 and April 4 failed due to weather; the aircraft returned to Dawson after the second attempt and flew back to White Horse on April 6. The map describes the flight as proposed. |
| Whitehorse – Champagne – Whitehorse | 1929.06.23 | Open PDF | J.M. PattersonYukon Airways & Exploration Co. Ltd. | YA2927(a), White Horse–Champagne, June 23; YA2927(b), Champagne–White Horse, June 23. The March 19 attempt is a separate double-canceled listing. (AMCN2, p. 115.) | Service type: Semi-official service. Outcome: completed. The March 19 attempt to reach Champagne did not land because of a lack of snow. The June 23 attempt was successful; covers originally flown on March 19 were canceled again on June 23. AAMS 113. |
| Whitehorse – Fairbanks (Alaska) | 1938.05.03 | Open PDF | W.J. Jones, S.E. RobbinsPacific Alaska Airways | 3813 Whitehorse–Fairbanks, May 3 (7,459 pieces); 3813c Fairbanks–Whitehorse, May 8 (quantity not stated). (AMCN2, p. 232.) | Service type: Through service inauguration. Outcome: completed. The integrated service ran from Juneau via Whitehorse to Fairbanks. The inaugural flight from Juneau was made by S.E. Robbins on May 3; the first return flight was made by W.J. Jones on May 8. Official cachets were provided at Whitehorse for both dispatches. The Juneau and Fairbanks dispatches had American cachets. Backstamp: Two types at Whitehorse, one with thicker letters. |
| Whitehorse – Mayo – Dawson | 1937.11.02–03 | Open PDF | British Yukon Co. Ltd. | 3733 Whitehorse–Mayo Landing, Nov. 2 (5 pounds of mail); 3733a Whitehorse–Dawson, Nov. 2 (10 pounds); 3733b Mayo Landing–Dawson, Nov. 2 (4 pounds); 3733c Dawson–Mayo Landing, Nov. 3 (3 pounds); 3733d Dawson–Whitehorse, Nov. 3 (15 pounds); 3733e Mayo Landing–Whitehorse, Nov. 3 (10 pounds). (AMCN2, p. 229.) | Service type: Inaugural flight. Outcome: completed. An intermediate stop was made at Mayo Landing. The inaugural flight carried letter mail only; no special markings were applied. Service taken over by British Yukon Co. Ltd. (AAMS 602). |
| Winnipeg – Berens River – Island Lake – Gods Lake – Norway House – Gods Lake – Cross Lake – Norway House; Gods Lake – Ilford | 1935.08.10 | Open PDF | Canadian Airways Limited | – | Service type: Route change. Outcome: not established. Change of schedule. |
| Winnipeg – Bissett – Wadhope – Beresford Lake – Diana – Lac du Bonnet; Aklavik – Herschel Island | 1935.02.04 | Open PDF | W.E. Gilbert (Aklavik – Herschel Island)Canadian Airways Limited | – | Service type: Improved service; experimental flight. Outcome: completed. Letters were carried at the regular surface rate of 3¢ per ounce and signed by postmasters at both offices and R.W. Hale, District Superintendent of Postal Service. There were no official markings. AAMS 575. |
| Winnipeg – Fort Chipewyan – Fort Smith; Fort Smith – Waterways; Fort Fitzgerald – Fort Chipewyan – Fort McMurray; Waterways – Fort Chipewyan – Fort Fitzgerald – Fort Smith – Fort Resolution – Hay River – Fort Providence – Fort Simpson – Wrigley – Fort Norman – Fort Good Hope – Arctic Red River – Fort McPherson – Aklavik | 1929.05.26 | Open PDF | C.H. DickinsWestern Canada Airways Limited | – | Service type: Route flight. Outcome: completed. May 28, 1929: Fort Smith – Waterways; June 12, 1929: Fort Fitzgerald – Fort Chipewyan – Fort McMurray; June 14, 1929: Waterways – Fort Chipewyan – Fort Fitzgerald – Fort Smith – Fort Resolution – Hay River – Fort Providence – Fort Simpson – Wrigley – Fort Norman – Fort Good Hope – Arctic Red River – Fort McPherson – Aklavik. AAMS 100. |
| Winnipeg – Island Lake – God’s Lake; Winnipeg – Island Lake – Norway House – Cross Lake; Norway House – Cross Lake | 1935.01.14 | Open PDF | R.F. George (Winnipeg – Gods Lake); W.E. Catton (Gods Lake – Winnipeg); A.D. Keith (Norway House – Cross Lake, AAMS 573)Canadian Airways Limited | 3505, 3505a–b: Winnipeg–Norway House and Winnipeg–God’s Lake, Jan. 14 (3,075 and 3,225 pieces); Norway House–God’s Lake, Jan. 14 (no cachet). The catalogue gives the route via Norway House; it does not list an Island Lake leg. (AMCN2, pp. 216, 217.) | Service type: New postal service and route extension. Outcome: completed. AMCN2 describes the Winnipeg–God’s Lake service as operating by way of Norway House. R.F. George flew from Winnipeg to God’s Lake on January 14; W.E. Catton made the return flight on January 15. Official cachets were applied in light black to the listed dispatches, except those between Norway House and God’s Lake, for mail prepaid at the regular air mail rate. Cachet: official cachets in light black. A.D. Keith performed the Norway House–Cross Lake service in both directions on January 27; official cachets in black and gray-blue were provided for mail prepaid at 6¢ per ounce. Cachet: official cachets in black and gray-blue. The map notes that the God’s Lake post office opened and that a new routing was introduced. AAMS 572, 573. |
| Winnipeg – Lac du Bonnet – Bissett – Wadhope | 1933.05.03 | Open PDF | Canadian Airways Limited | 3319 — Winnipeg – Bissett. This documents the Winnipeg–Bissett leg only; the catalogue does not list Lac du Bonnet on the route. (AMCN2, p. 209.) | Service type: Regular service. Outcome: completed. As summer season flights commenced, mail was flown directly from Winnipeg to Bissett and Wadhope. There were no official markings. AAMS 544. |
| Winnipeg – Norway House Route Change | 1936.06.16 | Open PDF | – | – | Service type: Route change. Outcome: not established. |
| Winnipeg – Norway House – Cross Lake – Gods Lake | 1935.12.11 | Open PDF | – | – | Service type: Route change. Outcome: not established. |
| Winnipeg – Pembina | 1931.02.03 | Open PDF | Chad Smith, Whittemore (Pembina – Winnipeg); A.E. de M. Jarvis (Winnipeg – Pembina)Canadian Airways Limited | 3105 — Winnipeg–Pembina, Feb. 2 with cachet or Feb. 3 without cachet (17,690 pieces). The catalogue explains that the scheduled Feb. 2 flight was postponed to Feb. 3. (AMCN2, pp. 191, 192.) | Service type: Commencement of regular service. Outcome: completed. The service was scheduled for February 2 but fog and other unfavorable conditions postponed the actual flight to February 3. Covers postmarked February 2 at Winnipeg received a circular cachet in black showing the crossed flags of Canada and the U.S. A few covers postmarked February 3 were dispatched by this flight but did not receive the official cachet. Some covers backstamped in Grand Forks have a large map of North and South America. Three different postmarks were applied in Winnipeg. Postmark(s): Winnipeg, February 2 and 3 (three different postmarks). Backstamp: Grand Forks (large map of North and South America). Cachet: circular cachet in black showing the crossed flags of Canada and the U.S. The regular service connected with North-West Airways, which connected at Detroit with the Montreal–Detroit service of Canadian Airways. It was extended to Fargo in October 1937. AAMS 246. |
| Winnipeg – Pembina – Fargo | 1937.10 | Open PDF | – | – | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: not established. (CYB). |
| Winnipeg – Red Lake | 1937.02.15 | Open PDF | Canadian Airways Limited | – | Service type: Supplementary air service. Outcome: completed; cancelled March 30. McKenzie Island was included March 12. |
| Winnipeg – Vancouver; Lethbridge – Edmonton; Regina – Moose Jaw – Saskatoon – Prince Albert – North Battleford; Sioux Lookout – Uchi Lake | 1938.10.01 | Open PDF | H.O. Madden (Sioux Lookout – Uchi Lake)Trans-Canada Air Lines; Prairie Airways Ltd.; Starratt Airways Ltd. | 3835 Winnipeg–Regina, Oct. 1 (21 pounds of mail); 3835a Winnipeg–Lethbridge, Oct. 1 (4 pounds); 3835c Regina–Lethbridge, Oct. 2 (4 pounds). The last listed leg is dated Oct. 2. (AMCN2, pp. 235, 236.) | Service type: New regular services; connecting service; route extension. Outcome: completed. Trans-Canada Air Lines operated regular air mail and express service between Winnipeg and Vancouver, with stops at Regina and Lethbridge, and a nonstop Lethbridge–Edmonton spur. Only prepaid letter mail was carried, at 6¢ per ounce. The return flight reached Regina and Winnipeg on October 2; the Lethbridge–Edmonton round trip took place October 1. Prairie Airways put a connecting service from Regina to North Battleford into operation; letters were carried at 6¢ per ounce. Uchi Lake was added as a stop on the Sioux Lookout–Casummit Lake route; flights were only between Sioux Lookout and Uchi Lake. Most mail was parcel post, and all mail was transported regardless of prepayment. Cachet: No official cachets were authorized; no official cachets were applied; mail received no special markings. Trans-Canada Air Lines commenced service (AAMS 292). Prairie Airways Ltd. commenced service (AAMS 293). Starratt Airways Ltd., Sioux Lookout – Uchi Lake (AAMS 616). |
| Winnipeg – Regina – Lethbridge – Vancouver | 1938.03.01 | Open PDF | R.M. Smith (Winnipeg – Vancouver); R.B. Middleton, M.B. Barclay (Vancouver – Winnipeg)Trans-Canada Air Lines | 3805 Winnipeg–Vancouver, Mar. 1; 3805c Vancouver–Winnipeg (listed as Mar. 1; the catalogue states the return-flight date is in doubt). (AMCN2, p. 230.) | Service type: Experimental training flight. Outcome: completed. Mail on the “ghost” training flights, begun February 1, was first carried March 1. The westbound flight left Winnipeg March 1 and landed in Vancouver March 2; the return flight landed in Winnipeg March 4, though its date is in doubt. Very little mail was carried; covers were addressed to Lethbridge, Edmonton, or Saskatoon. Additional mail was carried on training flights from March 6 to September 30. The map describes the mail as carried on a training schedule. |
1939–1948
67 original map PDFs in the Internet Archive upload.
| Route | Date | Map PDF | Pilot / Company / Aircraft | Covers | Notes |
| Buffalo – London – Windsor – Detroit | 1941.06.24 | Open PDF | W.M. Kessler, W.T. TalbotAmerican Airlines Inc. | Documented legs only; London is not listed: 4113 Windsor Airfield–Buffalo (250 pieces); 4113a Windsor Airfield–Detroit (275 pieces); 4113b Detroit–Windsor; 4113c Buffalo–Windsor. (AMCN2, p. 249.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Windsor was made a stop on American Airlines’ U.S. Air Mail Route No. 7 (CAM No. 27), with mail dispatched to Buffalo and Detroit. No official cachet; all mail was postmarked at Windsor Air Mail Field. AAMS 319. |
| Carcross – Atlin | 1939.10.24–27 | Open PDF | G.T. Simmons, L.E. CookG.T. Simmons and E.E. Cook | 3931 Carcross–Atlin, Oct. 24 (429 pounds); 3931a Atlin–Carcross, Oct. 27 (31 pounds). Quantities are mail weight, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 246.) | Service type: Airmail service. Outcome: completed. All first-class mail and parcel post were carried regardless of amount of prepayment. No special markings were applied. The listed quantities represent total mail carried. AAMS 628. |
| Charlottetown – Havre Aubert – Entry Island | 1941.02.06 | Open PDF | H.S. JonesCanadian Airways Limited | 4103 Charlottetown–Havre Aubert (60 pounds; total mail carried). (AMCN2, p. 248.) | Service type: Winter service route extension. Outcome: completed. The existing winter service to Grindstone Island was extended to Havre Aubert and Entry Island. Most mail was parcel post, and quantities listed represent total mail carried. No special markings were applied. AAMS 640. |
| Dawson City – Selkirk | 1947.11.01 | Open PDF | Callison Flying Service (now Dawson Airways Ltd.) | – | Service type: Airmail flight. Outcome: completed. |
| Fort St. John – Kamloops; Montreal – Moncton; Tulsequah – Juneau | 1939.11.01 | Open PDF | W.F.S. Luck, E.R. FieldYukon Southern Air Transport; Trans-Canada Air LinesBarkley-Grow | Documented matching legs only: 3935 Kamloops–Fort St. John, Nov. 1 (104 pounds); 3933f Montreal–Moncton, Nov. 1 (no quantity stated). The 104 pounds is mail weight, not a cover count. (AMCN2, pp. 246, 247.) | Service type: Winter route change; experimental flight; training service. Outcome: completed. The Kamloops–Fort St. John flight was by way of Prince George. Prince George to Kamloops covers were postmarked November 7; the return Fort St. John–Kamloops leg was dated November 7. Cachet: No special cachets were applied. The Montreal–Moncton flight was part of the experimental addition of Halifax to the transcontinental route via Moncton. The Montreal–Moncton first-class mail was carried on a training basis by Trans-Canada Air Lines. The winter change was to the Vancouver–Whitehorse route (AAMS 305). The Tulsequah–Juneau route was marked “C.Y.B.” |
| Fort William – Duluth | 1946.09.16 | Open PDF | W.T. LoftusTrans-Canada Airlines | 4617: Fort William–Duluth (80 pounds); 4617a: Duluth–Fort William (2,012 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 258.) | Service type: Inaugural service. Outcome: completed. Postmarks: There were variations in postmarks at both points. Cachet: Official cachets were provided by both the Canadian and the U.S. Post Office departments, uniformly applied in black. AAMS 339. |
| Gander – Nain | 1948.01.01 | Open PDF | Eastern Provincial Airways Ltd. | – | Service type: Continuation of service. Outcome: not established. Continuation of Newfoundland service at Confederation by Eastern Provincial Airways Ltd. |
| Gander – Sops Arm – Harbour Deep – Roddickton – Main Brook – Flowers Cove – Brig Bay – Port Saunders – Parsons Pond – Baie Verte – La Scie – Burlington – Gander | 1947 | Open PDF | Eastern Provincial Airways | – | Service type: Airmail service. Outcome: not established. |
| Halifax – Goose Bay | 1945.10.01 | Open PDF | R.C.A.F. | 4507: Halifax–Goose Bay; 4507a: Goose Bay–Halifax. No quantities are stated. (AMCN2, p. 255.) | Service type: R.C.A.F. service. Outcome: completed. The aircraft actually took off from and landed at Dartmouth. AAMS 663. |
| Halifax – Sydney; New Glasgow – Charlottetown | 1944.07.01 | Open PDF | J. Wade (New Glasgow – Charlottetown)Trans-Canada Air Lines; Maritime Central Airways | 4403: New Glasgow–Charlottetown (30 pounds); 4403a: Charlottetown–New Glasgow (8 pounds). These are the documented New Glasgow–Charlottetown legs only; Halifax and Sydney are not listed in this entry. (AMCN2, p. 254.) | Service type: Route change and inaugural service. Outcome: completed. J. Wade inaugurated service between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Trans-Canada Air Lines changed its Montreal–Moncton route to Montreal–Blissville to provide service to Fredericton and Saint John; from Blissville, routes continued to Moncton and Halifax. The Halifax–Sydney route was added. AAMS 330. |
| Halifax – Yarmouth – Saint John – Boston | 1947.04.01 | Open PDF | D.A. RossTrans-Canada Air Lines | 4711: Halifax–Boston, April 1 (7 pounds); 4711a: Yarmouth–Boston, April 1 (57 pounds); 4711b: Saint John–Boston, April 15 (62 pounds; delayed leg, not April 1). (AMCN2, p. 259.) | Service type: First airmail flight. Outcome: completed; Saint John service delayed until April 15 due to bad field conditions. All three Canadian points were scheduled to dispatch first-flight mail to Boston on April 1; the Saint John dispatch took place on April 15. Official cachets were furnished at all three Canadian points, and the U.S. Post Office Department provided an official cachet at Boston. Postmarks: Halifax, 2; Yarmouth, 3; St. John, 3; Boston, 2. Backstamp: Boston, 2. Saint John leg dated April 15. AAMS 345. |
| Winnipeg – Island Lake | 1939.04.12 | Open PDF | D.P. GlenCanadian Airways Limited | 3911 Winnipeg–Island Lake, April 12 (60 pieces); 3911a Island Lake–Winnipeg, May 2 (quantity not stated). Return leg is dated May 2. (AMCN2, p. 242.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Island Lake was created as a new post office and made a point of call on the Winnipeg to God’s Lake route. The inaugural flights carried all mail regardless of prepayment; no special markings were applied. The first return flight carrying mail was not made until May 2. AAMS 626. |
| Lethbridge – Calgary – Edmonton | 1939.02.01 | Open PDF | F.I. YoungTrans-Canada Air Lines | 3901 Calgary–Edmonton; 3901a Calgary–Lethbridge; 3901b Edmonton–Calgary; 3901c Lethbridge–Calgary; 3901d Edmonton–Lethbridge. No quantities stated. (AMCN2, p. 239.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. A. Rankin flew Calgary – Edmonton; F.I. Young flew the reverse service. No official cachets. Calgary was made a stop on the Lethbridge – Edmonton route. AAMS 300. |
| Lethbridge – Cut Bank – Shelby – Great Falls, Mont. | 1941.06.15 | Open PDF | S.J. CavillWestern Airlines Inc. | – | Service type: Airmail service. Outcome: completed. A mid-western connection was effected between the U.S.A. and Canada. AAMS 318. |
| Moncton – Bangor, Me. | 1941.01.03 | Open PDF | S.A. Short, S.B. ChandlerNortheast AirlinesLockheed 10A | 4101 Moncton–Bangor (6,356 pieces); 4101a Bangor–Moncton (3,500 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 248.) | Service type: FAM route inauguration. Outcome: completed. The service was part of U.S. Foreign Air Mail Route No. 21 and extended domestic service beyond Bangor into Canada. It was an important communications link and was regarded as a needed defense measure, providing speedy transmission of essential materials from U.S. production centers into the Maritime Provinces. Service ceased October 31. Postmark(s): two different postmarks at both points. Backstamp: two different backstamps at both points. Cachet: an official cachet was authorized. The service provided a Maine–New Brunswick air link. (AAMS 315). |
| Moncton – Kentville – Yarmouth – Halifax | 1946.12.05 | Open PDF | Walter JonesMaritime Central Airways | 4619: Moncton–Kentville (1 pound); 4619a: Moncton–Yarmouth (1 pound); 4619b: Kentville–Yarmouth (1 pound). (AMCN2, p. 258.) | Service type: Air mail service. Outcome: completed. There were no official cachets; only the dispatches listed were made. AAMS 340. |
| Moncton – Goose Airport | 1943.07.12 | Open PDF | R.C.A.F. Transport Command; Maritime Central Airways | – | Service type: Air service. Outcome: not established. AAMS gives date January 3, 1944 (AAMS 659). |
| Moncton – Halifax – Moncton; Moncton – St. John – Moncton | 1940.01.15 | Open PDF | G.A. Gray (Moncton – Halifax); J. Wade (Moncton – Saint John)Maritime Central Airways | 4001b Moncton–Halifax, Jan. 15 (1 pound); 4001c Halifax–Moncton, Jan. 15 (17 pounds); 4001d Moncton–St. John, Jan. 15 (1 pound); 4001e St. John–Moncton, Jan. 15 (1 pound). Quantities are mail weight, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 247.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. This completed the final leg of the Trans-Canada service, with routes from Montreal to Moncton continuing to Halifax and St. John. The Moncton services and returns began January 15. There were no official markings. AAMS 310. |
| Moncton – Summerside – Charlottetown; Moncton – Halifax | 1941.04.15–16 | Open PDF | Trans-Canada Air Lines | – | Service type: Temporary service; route extension. Outcome: completed. Temporary service continued until December 7, when Maritime Central Airways took over the route. |
| Moncton – Sydney – Stephenville – Gander – St. John’s | 1942.05.01 | Open PDF | W.W. Fowler, B.J. TrerielTrans-Canada AirlinesLockheed Lodestar, Lockheed 14 | – | Service type: Newfoundland first regular service. Outcome: completed. No official cachets were provided for Moncton–Sydney and Sydney–Moncton dispatches, but a small amount of mail was carried in each direction. Postmark(s): Moncton, 2; Sydney, 4. Backstamp: Gander, 2. Cachet: An official cachet embodying a maple leaf, applied in black to Canadian dispatches destined for delivery in Newfoundland. The map notes that Trans-Canada Airlines extended service to Newfoundland. AAMS 325. |
| Mont-Joli – Baie-Comeau – Sept-Îles | 1945.12.04 | Open PDF | Canadian Airways Limited | – | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: not established. Extension of North Shore service. |
| Montreal – Blissville – Saint John | 1942 | Open PDF | Trans-Canada Air Lines | – | – |
| Montreal – Goose Bay | 1947.03.24 | Open PDF | R.C.A.F. | 4709: Montreal–Goose Bay (53 pounds); 4709a: Goose Bay–Montreal (50 pounds). (AMCN2, p. 259.) | Service type: Airmail service. Outcome: completed. In May 1947, Trans-Canada Airlines took over the route in connection with its trans-Atlantic services. AAMS 677. |
| Montreal – Moncton | 1940.01.02 | Open PDF | B.A. RawsonTrans-Canada Air Lines | 4001 Montreal–Moncton, Jan. 2 (9 pounds); 4001a Moncton–Montreal, Jan. 2 (17 pounds). Quantities are mail weight, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 247.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. The first leg of the final extension to the Maritime Provinces was flown on January 2. Maritime Central Airways held the contract for the final segment; service onward from Moncton to Halifax and St. John began January 15. No official markings. AAMS 310. |
| Montreal – New York; Montreal – Botwood | 1939.08.06–10 | Open PDF | Capt. J.C. Kelly-RogersImperial AirwaysShort “C” class G-AFCV S30 flying boat, the Caribou | 3925p Montreal–New York (no cachet; 675 pieces). (AMCN2, pp. 245, 246.) | Service type: Transatlantic service. Outcome: completed. The British service operated through Montreal rather than Shediac. Mail was carried from Montreal to New York; there was no return dispatch because U.S. mail was required to be dispatched by FAM No. 1, Colonial Airlines. No cachet was available for Montreal–New York. Cachet: “Montreal – Botwood” (black). The Montreal–New York dispatch was dated August 6, 1939; the Montreal–Botwood dispatch was dated August 10, 1939. Both dispatches were in connection with Imperial Airways’ overseas service. The Montreal–New York dispatch is listed as AAMS 304. |
| Montreal – Ottawa – Muskoka – Toronto | 1939.07.18 | Open PDF | Trans-Canada Air Lines | – | Service type: New service. Outcome: completed. New service by Trans-Canada Air Lines. Cachet: “1st direct airmail Montreal – Toronto and return” on Trans-Canada route (via Muskoka). |
| Montreal – Ottawa – North Bay – Kapuskasing – Wagaming – Winnipeg; Toronto – North Bay | 1939.03.01 | Open PDF | K. Edmison, W.W. Fowler, B.A. Rawson, H.M. KennedyTrans-Canada Air Lines | Documented legs only; the catalogue says there were no cacheted Montreal–Ottawa dispatches: 3903e North Bay–Ottawa (2,027 pieces); 3903f North Bay–Montreal (2,097 pieces); 3903j Montreal–North Bay (2,421 pieces); 3903m Ottawa–North Bay (2,505 pieces). (AMCN2, pp. 239, 240, 241.) | Service type: Regular service commencement. Outcome: completed. Complete-route night service was established to improve next-day mail service across Canada. The Post Office Department provided official cachets for dispatches from route points, including those west of Winnipeg. There were no cacheted dispatches between Montreal and Ottawa or between Montreal and Toronto. Postmarks and backstamps may be dated March 1 or 2. Regular service commenced. AAMS 301. |
| Montreal – Ottawa – Toronto – London – Chicago; Toronto – Chicago | 1946.07.01 | Open PDF | W.F. Robinson, J.H. Foy, H.W. SeagrimTrans-Canada Airlines | 4609: Montreal–Chicago (54 pounds); 4609a: Montreal AMF–Chicago; 4609b: Ottawa–Chicago (37 pounds); 4609c: Toronto–Chicago (47 pounds); 4609d: London–Chicago (43 pounds). Documented Chicago dispatches from the mapped Canadian points; AMCN2 does not list a Montreal–Ottawa–Toronto–London route. (AMCN2, pp. 256, 257.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Two aircraft were used on the inaugural date. Montreal mail was flown to Toronto by W.F. Robinson and then to Chicago by H.W. Seagrim; Ottawa mail was flown to Toronto by Robinson and then to Chicago by Seagrim. London mail was in charge of Seagrim. Toronto mail was flown nonstop to Chicago by J.H. Foy. Official cachets were furnished at all points; Montreal was furnished a black cachet inscribed in French as well as one in English. The U.S. Post Office Department provided an official cachet for the reverse service, inaugurated on June 30. There was some variation in postmarks and backstamps at some points. AAMS 337. |
| Montreal – Trois Rivieres – Quebec; Bagotville – Quebec – Montreal | 1942.04.15–16 | Open PDF | C. LeechQuebec Air Lines; Canadian Pacific Air Lines | 4203 Montreal–Three Rivers, April 15; 4203a Montreal–Quebec, April 15; 4203b Three Rivers–Quebec, April 15; 4203c Quebec–Three Rivers, April 16; 4203d Quebec–Montreal, April 16; 4203e Three Rivers–Montreal, April 16. No quantities stated. (AMCN2, pp. 250, 251.) | Service type: Inaugural service. Outcome: completed. Inauguration of the Montreal–Trois Rivieres–Quebec service was by Cec Leech of Quebec Airways. Covers bear the 6¢ air mail rate and a bilingual black cachet showing a Lockheed mail aircraft and a maple leaf. Postmark variations at Quebec and Three Rivers; Cape de Madeleine postmarks, adjacent to Three Rivers, are known. AMCN2 lists Montreal–Three Rivers, Montreal–Quebec, and Three Rivers–Quebec on April 15; Quebec–Three Rivers, Quebec–Montreal, Three Rivers–Montreal, and Cape de Madeleine–Quebec (no cachet) on April 16. Both routes were to supplement curtailed train service. |
| Moosonee – Rupert House – Factory River – Port Harrison | 1946.01.21–29 | Open PDF | G.R. MitchellAustin Airways Limited | – | Service type: Airmail service. Outcome: completed. Most mail was postmarked at Ottawa in late December 1945. AAMS 670. |
| Moosonee – Great Whale River; Moosonee – Winisk; Jan. 31–Feb. 5, 1945: Moosonee – Fort George – Great Whale River; Feb. 5–6, 1945: Moosonee – Fort Albany – Attawapiskat – Winisk; Feb. 7–23, 1945: Moosonee – Rupert House – Eastmain – Factory River | 1944.12.01–1945.02.23 | Open PDF | G.R. MitchellAustin Airways Ltd. | 4501a: Moosonee–Great Whale River, January 31, 1945 (7 pounds); 4501b: Great Whale River–Moosonee, February 3, 1945 (1 pound). These are the documented January 31–February 3, 1945 legs; the other dates on the map are not established for this route. (AMCN2, p. 254.) | Service type: Winter service. Outcome: completed. The service was flown via Fort George. The only post office was at Moosonee; covers from Great Whale River and Fort George were postmarked there upon arrival. Service by Austin Airways Ltd. (AAMS 660-2). |
| Moosonee – Rupert House – Eastmain – Richmond Gulf – Port Harrison | 1947.09.04 | Open PDF | Austin Airways | – | Service type: Airmail service. Outcome: completed. |
| Ottawa – Burlington – Albany – New York | 1946.02.19 | Open PDF | Colonial Air Lines Inc. (now Eastern Air Lines Inc.) | 4603: Ottawa–Burlington; 4603a: Ottawa–New York. These documented dispatches do not list an Albany stop. (AMCN2, p. 255.) | Service type: Contract airmail service. Outcome: completed. The service was under contract to Colonial Airlines and flown as part of U.S. Air Mail Route No. 72. AMCN2 documents Ottawa–Burlington and Ottawa–New York dispatches but does not list an Albany stop. Postmarks: Ottawa and Burlington covers are known with two different postmarks. Cachet: Separate official cachets were provided for the Ottawa dispatches, applied in black to all mail and reddish-brown at Burlington. AAMS 335. |
| Ottawa – Syracuse – Washington; Montreal – Syracuse – Washington | 1946.04.15 | Open PDF | H. Clark, M.E. GiltColonial Air Lines Inc. (now Eastern Air Lines Inc.) | 4605: Ottawa–Washington (black); 4605i: Syracuse–Ottawa (blue); 4605p: Ottawa–Syracuse. These are the documented Ottawa and Syracuse legs; the catalogue also describes the northbound route split at Syracuse. (AMCN2, p. 256.) | Service type: Air mail service. Outcome: completed. The dispatches were made over U.S. Air Mail Route No. 71. The route split at Syracuse on the northward run from Washington, with separate legs into Ottawa and Montreal. Cachets were applied in black. Connecting flights are also shown. Varieties of postmarks exist from some offices. AAMS 336. |
| Outpost Island added to Fort Resolution – Yellowknife route | 1941.06.30 | Open PDF | A.B. Caywood, C.N. SawleMackenzie Air Service Ltd. | 4115a Outpost Island–Fort Resolution, July 1 (4 pounds; mail weight, not cover count). This is the return leg dated July 1, not the mapped June 30 date. (AMCN2, p. 249.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. A. Caywood made the June 30 first flight into Outpost Island. Outpost Island was made a point of call on the route between Fort Resolution and Yellowknife. No special markings were applied. Most mail from Outpost Island was addressed to Edmonton or beyond. AAMS 641. |
| Prince Albert – Lac la Ronge – Stanley Mission; Prince Albert – Lac la Ronge – Deschambault Lake – Flin Flon; Prince Albert – Lac la Ronge – Beaver Lodge Lake – Fond du Lac – Stony Rapids | 1948 | Open PDF | Saskatchewan Government Airways | – | Service type: Air service. Outcome: completed. |
| Regina – Calgary – Vancouver | 1946.04.01 | Open PDF | Trans-Canada Air Lines | – | Service type: New service. Outcome: not established. |
| Regina – Swift Current – Medicine Hat – Calgary; Toronto – Sault Ste. Marie – Fort William – Winnipeg; Winnipeg – Saskatoon – Edmonton; Toronto – North Bay – Porquis – Kapuskasing | 1947.07.01 | Open PDF | A.R. Edwards, C.R. Fogal, R.M. Giguere, R.E. Hadfield, J.D. StorieTrans-Canada Air Lines | 4715w: Regina–Swift Current; 4715i: Swift Current–Medicine Hat; 4715ae: Medicine Hat–Calgary. These are the documented mapped legs within the July 1–2 revised-service listing. (AMCN2, pp. 261, 262.) | Service type: Route change. Outcome: completed. The revised transcontinental routes took effect July 1–2, 1947. Swift Current and Medicine Hat became stops on the Regina–Lethbridge route. Bad weather prevented the eastbound aircraft from landing at Sault Ste. Marie on July 1, so July 2 was the first date for eastbound service. No cachets were furnished; little mail was backstamped on arrival. AAMS 350. |
| Rimouski – Goose Bay | 1942.12.31 | Open PDF | Canadian Pacific Air Lines | – | Service type: Air mail service. Outcome: not established. |
| Rimouski – Sept Isles | 1942.10.17 | Open PDF | Canadian Pacific Air Lines | – | Service type: Mail service. Outcome: not established. The service facilitated Quebec North Shore mail. |
| Sault Ste. Marie – Cockburn Island | 1947.12.19 | Open PDF | E.R. DaleE.R. Dale | 4727: Sault Ste. Marie–Cockburn Island; 4727a: Cockburn Island–Sault Ste. Marie. The catalogue reports 200 lbs of mail carried each way. (AMCN2, p. 263.) | Service type: First airmail flight. Outcome: completed. The catalogue reports that 200 lbs of all classes of mail were carried each way. |
| Seattle – Juneau – Whitehorse – Fairbanks | 1945.10.15 | Open PDF | Pan American Airlines | – | Service type: Airmail service. Outcome: completed. |
| Shediac – Botwood | 1939.06.27 | Open PDF | H.E. GrayPan American AirlinesBoeing 314 Yankee Clipper | 3921(e), Shediac–Botwood, June 27; 12,462 pieces. This is the Botwood dispatch listing. (AMCN2, pp. 243, 244.) | Service type: Transatlantic mail service. Outcome: completed. Fog held the aircraft at Shediac for several days, so much mail postmarked in advance bears dates different from the actual flying dates. The AMCN2 listing records the Shediac–Botwood dispatch on June 27. Postmarks: Shediac eastbound dispatches, June 24; Botwood eastbound, June 24; Botwood westbound, June 28. Pan American Airlines was operating on the New York to Foynes, Ireland, route. AAMS 304. |
| Sudbury – Cockburn Island | 1945.12.21 | Open PDF | N. BlackeyAustin Airways Limited | 4509: Sudbury–Cockburn Island (26 pounds); 4509a: Cockburn Island–Sudbury (15 pounds). These are mail weights, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 255.) | Service type: Mail flight. Outcome: completed. Poundage represents total mail flown. AAMS 664. |
| Toronto – Buffalo | 1941.07.15 | Open PDF | W. HintonAmerican Air Lines Inc. | 4119 Toronto–Buffalo (13 pounds); 4119a Toronto Airfield–Buffalo (14 pieces); 4119b Buffalo–Toronto (888 pieces); 4119c Buffalo Airfield–Toronto (14 pieces). The 13 pounds is mail weight, not a cover count. (AMCN2, p. 250.) | Service type: Airmail service. Outcome: completed. The service operated over U.S. Air Mail Route No. 56. No official cachet was authorized. Mail was canceled at the Toronto Air Mail Field and Postal Terminal A; two different postmarks were applied in Toronto. AAMS 320. |
| Toronto – London – Cleveland | 1946.08.01 | Open PDF | B.A. RawsonTrans-Canada Airlines | 4613: Toronto–Cleveland (54 pounds); 4613a: London–Cleveland (52 pounds). The listed quantities are mail weights, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 257.) | Service type: Inaugural service. Outcome: completed. Canadian Post Office Department cachets were provided for mail dispatched from Toronto and London; the U.S. Post Office Department provided an official cachet for return dispatches. Postmark(s): Toronto, 2; Cleveland, 2. Backstamp: Cleveland, 2. Cachet: Canadian Post Office Department cachets; official U.S. Post Office Department cachet. AAMS 338. |
| Toronto – London – Windsor | 1940.07.15 | Open PDF | Trans-Canada Air Lines | 4003 Toronto–London (Aug. 1); 4003a Toronto–Windsor; 4003b London–Windsor (July 15); 4003c Windsor–London; 4003d Windsor–Toronto (July 27; 175); 4003e London–Toronto; 4003f Windsor airport-opening cover (July 27). (AMCN2, p. 247.) | Service type: Airport-opening service. Outcome: completed. Service connected with the London and Windsor airport openings by the Department of Transport. Only a small amount of mail was carried on all legs, and cover dates do not always coincide with the official dates. No cachets. |
| Toronto – New York | 1941.04.30 | Open PDF | W.W. FowlerTrans-Canada Air Lines | 4107 Toronto–New York (15 pounds); 4107a New York–Toronto (quantity not stated). The 15 pounds is mail weight, not a cover count. (AMCN2, p. 249.) | Service type: Direct service inauguration. Outcome: completed. Trans-Canada Airlines established direct service to New York. No special cachets were applied. Covers are also seen dated May 10, 1941, noted as the first passenger flight. AAMS 316. |
| Toronto – Trenton – Winnipeg – Churchill – Hall Lake – Resolute Bay – Thule (Greenland) | 1948.05 | Open PDF | R.C.A.F. | Section 6 reports no covers known for the May 1948 Toronto–Trenton–Winnipeg–Churchill–Hall Lake–Resolute Bay–Thule route. This is a broader route than the mapped portion, and the day is uncertain (“May ?”). (AMCN2, p. 366.) | Service type: First flight. Outcome: completed. Service by R.C.A.F. (Amos). |
| Tulsequah – Juneau – Tulsequah | 1946.11.26 | Open PDF | Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. | Section 6 states that no covers are known for Tulsequah–Juneau and return; no cover catalogue number is supplied. (AMCN2, p. 366.) | Service type: Mail service to mine. Outcome: completed. To facilitate movement of mail to the mine. |
| Vancouver – Penticton – Vancouver | 1947.09.08 | Open PDF | J.J. Faires, A.T. MooreCanadian Pacific Airlines | No covers are known for the September 8 Vancouver–Penticton flight (Section 6). Listings 4725b–c give Vancouver–Penticton and the return under the December 15 route extension; the catalogue specifically says no covers are known for September 8. (AMCN2, pp. 262, 263, 366.) | Service type: First flight. Outcome: completed. AMCN2 dates the Calgary route extension to December 15, 1947; the Vancouver–Penticton flight reportedly took place on September 8. |
| Vancouver – Port Alberni – Zeballos | 1939.03.11 | Open PDF | H.A. MacDonaldCanadian Airways Limited | 3905 Port Alberni–Zeballos; 3905a Port Alberni–Vancouver; 3905b Vancouver–Port Alberni; 3905c Zeballos–Port Alberni. Total mail dispatched from Port Alberni and total dispatched to Port Alberni were each 1 pound; these are not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 242.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Port Alberni was added as a stop on the Vancouver–Zeballos service. No cachets. AAMS 302. |
| Vancouver – Port Hardy – Sandspit – Prince Rupert | 1947.08.01 | Open PDF | T. Laurie, L.C. StevensonCanadian Pacific Airlines | 4719: Vancouver–Port Hardy (2 pounds of mail); 4719c: Port Hardy–Sandspit (1 pound of mail). Quantities are mail weights, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 262.) | Service type: Route inauguration. Outcome: completed. The service was inaugurated via Port Hardy and Sandspit. There were no cachets. AAMS 352. |
| Vancouver – Seattle, U.S.A. | 1941.05.12 | Open PDF | J.L. Crouch, T.W. DavisUnited Air LinesBoeing 247 | 4109 Vancouver–Seattle (322 pieces); 4109a Seattle–Vancouver (701 pieces); 4109b Seattle Airfield–Vancouver (132 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 249.) | Service type: Return service. Outcome: completed. The return service was authorized under U.S. Contract Route No. 57; United Air Lines took over the route, previously shared with Trans-Canada Airlines. No official cachet was authorized because Canadian service over the route had been inaugurated on October 2, 1935. AAMS 317. |
| Vancouver – Victoria | 1943.06.06 | Open PDF | Trans-Canada Air LinesLockheed 14 and Lodestar | 4305: Vancouver–Victoria. (AMCN2, p. 253.) | Service type: First air mail service. Outcome: completed. First air mail service succeeded Canadian Pacific Airways on this route. Service for transcontinental but not local traffic extended. |
| Victoria – Seattle | 1946.11.01 | Open PDF | Trans-Canada Air LinesDC-3 | 4617A: Victoria–Seattle. (AMCN2, p. 258.) | Service type: First scheduled flight. Outcome: completed. |
| Whitehorse – Carmacks – Selkirk – Mayo – Dawson | 1939.10.11 | Open PDF | L.A. Vines, J.W. RiceBritish Yukon Navigation Co. Ltd. | Documented legs only; Mayo is not a listed cover leg: 3929 Whitehorse–Carmacks, Oct. 11; 3929a Whitehorse–Selkirk, Oct. 11; 3929b Selkirk–Whitehorse, Oct. 21; 3929c Carmacks–Whitehorse, Oct. 21. No quantities stated. (AMCN2, p. 246.) | Service type: Winter route extension. Outcome: completed. Vines flew on October 11 and Rice made the return flight on October 21. No official markings were applied. Carmacks and Selkirk were added to the route during winter only (AAMS 627). |
| Whitehorse – Fairbanks | 1947.03.03 | Open PDF | Canadian Pacific Airlines | – | Service type: Air service. Outcome: not established. |
| Whitehorse – Selkirk | 1947.10.01 | Open PDF | Yukon Airways Ltd. | – | Service type: Winter service. Outcome: completed. |
| Whitehorse – Watson Lake | 1942.07.03 | Open PDF | J. FairesCanadian Pacific Air Lines | 4207 Whitehorse–Watson Lake (84 pounds); 4207a Watson Lake–Whitehorse (11 pounds). Quantities are mail weight, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 252.) | Service type: New service. Outcome: completed. All mail on hand was carried, regardless of prepayment. No special markings were applied. AAMS 645. |
| Windsor – Pelee Island | 1947.03.05 | Open PDF | N.G. SeelerLeavens Brothers | 4705: Windsor–Pelee Island (77 pounds of mail); 4705a: Pelee Island–Windsor (20 pounds of mail). Quantities are mail weights, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 259.) | Service type: Winter air mail service. Outcome: completed. The base for the winter air mail service to ice-locked Pelee Island was transferred from Leamington to Windsor with the advent of long-range planes. AAMS 675. |
| Winnipeg – Brandon – Yorkton – Regina | 1948.06.01 | Open PDF | Trans-Canada Air Lines | 4803: Winnipeg–Brandon; 4803b: Brandon–Yorkton; 4803d: Yorkton–Regina. The catalogue says mail carried was very small on all legs; no numerical quantity is given for these legs. (AMCN2, p. 263.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Mail carried was very small on all legs. It is uncertain whether mail was carried from Regina to Yorkton. Brandon covers did not receive the special cachet. Cachet: Yorkton covers showed wheat in a circle with “City of Yorkton – Saskatchewan” above, “First Official Flight – Trans-Canada Airmail” above the design, and “Regina – Yorkton- Winnipeg” below. Brandon and Yorkton were added to the Winnipeg – Regina route. |
| Winnipeg – Churchill | 1947.03.20 | Open PDF | R.C.A.F. | 4707: Winnipeg–Fort Churchill; 4707a: Fort Churchill–Winnipeg. (AMCN2, p. 259.) | Service type: Regular mail service. Outcome: completed. Total weight was limited to 200 pounds. AAMS 676. |
| Winnipeg – Dauphin – The Pas – Flin Flon | 1947.07.14 | Open PDF | K. Groff, D.W. McLeanCanadian Pacific Airways | 4717: Winnipeg–Dauphin (2 pounds); 4717a: Winnipeg–The Pas (10 pounds); 4717c: Dauphin–The Pas (1 pound). These are mail weights, not cover counts; the mapped route is part of the service continuing to Flin Flon. (AMCN2, p. 262.) | Service type: Airmail service. Outcome: completed. D.W. McLean flew Winnipeg – The Pas – Winnipeg; K. Groff flew The Pas – Flin Flon. There were no official cachets. There were a few postmark and backstamp variations. AAMS 351. |
| Winnipeg – Favourable Lake | 1939.04.08 | Open PDF | W.J. BuchananWings Limited | 3909 Winnipeg–Favourable Lake (60 pieces); 3909a Favourable Lake–Winnipeg (60 pieces). (AMCN2, p. 242.) | Service type: Regular service commencement. Outcome: completed. Favourable Lake was made a new post office as of this date. The first flight carried all mail on hand, regardless of prepayment; total mail poundage was 124 pounds from Winnipeg and 28 pounds from Favourable Lake. No special markings were applied. AAMS 625. |
| Winnipeg – Kapuskasing – North Bay | 1939.12.21 | Open PDF | J.A. WrightTrans-Canada Air Lines | 3937 Kapuskasing–North Bay (1 pound); 3937a Winnipeg–Kapuskasing (7 pounds). Quantities are mail weight, not cover counts. (AMCN2, p. 247.) | Service type: Route extension. Outcome: completed. Mail was carried on the eastbound trip only. Kapuskasing was added as a P.O. on the T.C.A. route. AAMS 306. The Quebec North Shore route was extended to Sabalon and included Tabatiere, St. Augustine, Old Fort Bay, and Riv. St. Paul. |
| Yarmouth – Kentville – Moncton – Halifax | 1947.12.05 | Open PDF | W.J. JonesEastern Provincial Airways Ltd. | – | Service type: Air service. Outcome: completed. |