See how it looked in 1918

Airplane Mail is Inaugurated

Army Aviator Rises From Belmont Part at 11:30 A.M. on First Trip From New York to Washington and Philadelphia.

New York, N.Y. –

Aerial mail service from New York to Philadelphia and Washington was inaugurated at 11:30 a.m. today when an airplane driven by Lieut. Torrey H. Webb of California, an army aviator, arose from Belmont Park, circled twice around the field and headed into the southwest at a height of 5000 feet. He was cheered by a distinguished group of spectators, including New York Public officials and post-office executives.

In the plane were 350 pounds of first-class mail, comprising approximately 13,000 letters. Among them were autographed notes from the Secretary of War to President Wilson and Postmaster-General A.S. Burleson, two copies of Mr. Baker’s book, “Frontiers of Freedom,” and a letter from Charles H. Sabin, President of the Guaranty Trust Company of New York to William O. Potter, of the aircraft section of the War Department.

It was expected the mail would arrive in Washington within about two hours and a half. Lieutenant Webb was to pilot the machine to Philadelphia, where Lieut. J. O. Edgerton was to finish the flight to Washington.