Found in Ebay's Attic....Some Delaware Aviation History

It's amazing what you can find on Ebay. Anybody who has purchased a de-commisioned Kilo class Russain submarine or a Mig-17, or a peice of Britney Spears' chewing gum can tell you that. But it's the little stuff I enjoy...

I found these little peices of history recently while searching the words "Delaware" and "Aviation".



They are envelopes addressed to Elbert Nortrand Carvel, Delaware's 65th Govorner. Of course, what grabbed my interest were the transit stamps on the letters. They are dated in the year 1947, and as you can see they managed to get to New Castle airport via TWA and All American Aviation Air Mail. The latter, hailed as "Delawares only scheduled air service", was purchased and operated by the Dupont family, and was certified for regular passenger, mail and express service flying the DC-3 and the Convair 580. In 1949 they were renamed "All American Airways", until they became "Allegheny Airlines" in 1952. Ultimatly, this company became today's US Airways.

Another claims the town I live in as the "World's Chemical Capital". With the heavy presence of Dupont around here to this day, it's not hard to imagine why, although it seems that Delaware's PR folks may have since decided that isn't the best avenue of promotion for the state...